New Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VC First Visit into CQ at Mackay Airport

On Saturday 18 October, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VC was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport. It operated as VOZ609/610 from and back to Brisbane.

File photo

VH-8VC was delivered into Brisbane from the USA on Wednesday 1 October as VOZ9947.  It then entered service a week later on Wednesday 8 October.

The aircraft was named 'Torquay Beach' and is the 14th and final B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLC and V8-DLE Call into Rockhampton Airport Again and Again and Again!

As mentioned below, all this week, two Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft - V8-DLE and V8-DLC - have both called into Rockhampton Airport each day transporting personnel and equipment in and of Rocky in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25).

On Wednesday 15 October, V8-DLC visited Rockhampton Airport from Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4249/4250.  V8-DLE visited from Changi but as RBA4257/8.

On Thursday 16 October, VH-DLC arrived from Changi as RBA4251 but then departed back to Changi and onwards to Brunei as RBA4252/4.  V8-DLE visited from Changi as RBA4259/60.

On Friday 17 October, only V8-DLE visited Rockhampton Airport arriving from Changi as RBA4261 and departing back there and then Brunei as RBA4262/4.

And with that, this rather large wave of personnel and equipment movements comes to a close.

File photo taken by Darren Massie  ©

Kahu NZ Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter ZK-HKU Spotted at Longreach Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 17 October, Kahu NZ Sikorsky EH-60A Black Hawk helicopter ZK-HKU was spotted passing through Longreach Airport while flying up from Roma to Burketown.  It reportedly left New Zealand on Wednesday, and is off to fight bushfires in Indonesia.

And New Zealand-based Tecnam P2002 Sierra Mk II ZK-EVE which landed at Agnes Water yesterday from Boonah and Southport, departed there to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 19 October, ZK-EVE departed Shute Harbour for Cooktown.

UPDATE!  Over the weekend on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, ZK-EVE was noted visiting Longreach Airport and then Roma Airport while seemingly returning to Boonah.

Meanwhile, also on Friday 17 October, Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" arrived in Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Archerfield.  It then departed to Newcastle (Williamtown) before returning to Archerfield.

Australian based but American registered Eclipse Aviation EA550 Very Light jet (VLJ) bizjet N771MT  flew up from Sunshine Coast to the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 19 October, N771MT departed Shute Harbour for Bankstown.

While Narrabri based Betty Freckle Aviation Cessna A185F VH-FIB visited Rockhampton Airport from Warialda.

Cleveland Bay Aviation (Townsville) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-CYY flew up to Townsville from Bankstown via Roma Airport.  It flew down over the same route the previous day.

Edwards Coaches Cessna 441 Conquest II VH-OXY flew up to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Armidale before then flying down to Warrnambool and then back to Armidale.

And Aero Logistics / Bayswater Road Aerial Surveys Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II VH-AL3 flew up to Mackay Airport from Archerfield.

Photo taken by Liam Sellick  ©

Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200C King Air VH-PUY as "Machflight 313" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 16 October, Machjet (Machjet International) Beech B200C King Air VH-PUY as "Machflight 313" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and then departed to Townsville.  During the afternoon, it reversed the flight. 

While Brescon Beech B300 Super King Air VH-WXS visited Dysart Aerodrome from Archerfield.

FlyPelican (Pelican Airlines) British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3206 (Jetstream 32) turboprop aircraft VH-OTD was noted visiting Emerald Airport from Archerfield via Toowoomba-Wellcamp.  It also visited late on Wednesday 15 October on the weekly Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter run.

And after flying South in June, Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service (CQ Rescue) / CQ Aeromedical Leonardo AW139 helicopter VH-XQ9 flew back up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport via Gladstone Airport.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 16 October, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield to Mackay Airport before then flying down to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Archerfield. 

While Air AP / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-AP7 departed Hamilton Island Airport for Brisbane before then heading over the Queenstown in New Zealand and then flying to Melbourne (Essendon).  It had arrived into Hamo from Adelaide at the start of the week.

And Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Bundaberg Airport, the Sunshine Coast and Orange.  It had flown out to Emerald Airport from Orange via the Sunny Coast and Bundy on Tuesday 14 October (we missed it!).

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 "Envoy 51" Calls into CQ Airports - Spotted at Mackay Airport

On Thursday 16 October,  Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 was spotted visiting Mackay Airport.  It was flying as "Envoy 51" and looked to be completing a training flight up and down the Queensland coast.

On Wednesday 15 October, A62-001 "Envoy 51" flew up from Canberra and RAAF Base Williamtown to land at Bundaberg Airport.  It then continued to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and then later to Townsville.

On Thursday, it departed Townsville and landed at Mackay Airport as shown before then flying down to the Sunshine Coast and back to Canberra.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C/D Block 52 Version+ Fighting Falcon Jets Take to the Air From Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

After almost a week of R&R, on Thursday 16 October, three of the four The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) F-16C/D+ (F-16C/D Block 52+ Version) Fighting Falcon jets took to the air for the first time since arriving into Rockhampton Airport to participate in the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25). 

During the morning and again the afternoon, the three F-16s flew as 'SAF3511' from Rocky down to RAAF base Amberley and back on a diversion training flight.

It is expected that proper sorties as a part of Exercise Wallaby 2025 should start in the coming days.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 16 October, and about at the same time as the F-16 flights, the RSAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft '730' completed yet more sorties to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) from and back to Rockhampton Airport again as "RIDER18/28/38".

Be sure to stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotter John L for taking the time to capture and send through these great photos!

All photos taken by John Lee  ©

Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E Bizjet N227SJ Spotted at My Local Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Wednesday 15 October, I was able to photograph Victoria Based USA Registered Embraer 505 Phenom 300E bizjet N227SJ parked up at Clermont Aerodrome.  It had earlier flown up from its Warrnambool in Victoria.

Of interest, it appears that N227SL has 'replaced' the fellow American-registered Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet N227SL which has seemingly moved up to Archerfield - it also visited the region on Wednesday 15 October - see below!

UPDATE!  On Thursday 16 October, N227SJ departed Clermont Aerodrome and returned to Warrnambool.

As mentioned, also on Wednesday 15 October, now-Archerfield based American-registered Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet N227SL also visited the region, flying up from Archerfield to Rockhampton Airport before heading West to Emerald Airport and then back to Archerfield.

While McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY "Machflight 41" flew into Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from Ingham and departed to Brisbane. It had earlier flown up from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

Pilatus Australia (South Australia) Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet VH-DMS flew up from Cessnock to Mackay Airport before then heading across to Alice Springs and Perth.

And New South Wales based DG Flugzeugbau DG-1000 M VH-IXZ is returning home from Far North Queensland flying down from Cloncurry Airport to Longreach Airport with plans to continue into New South Wales as the week goes on.

And finally, late on Tuesday 14 October, Meandarra Aerial Spraying Air Tractor AT-802 VH-8WU arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Moree and parked at R-Mach Aviation.

Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" Arrives into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 14 October, Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield. 

File photo

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 15 October, VH-SHI "Navair 173" departed Rockhampton Airport for Mackay Airport before then flying down to Archerfield. 

While Brisbane-based Teys Australia Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 bizjet VH-TEY arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and Biloela / Thangool Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 15 October, VH-TEY departed Rockhampton Airport and returned to Archerfield.

And Seair Pacific / Istlecote Textron Aviation (Cessna) 208B Caravan VH-TLH flew up from Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and Maryborough Airport to Middlemount Aerodrome before then flying to Rockhampton Airport and then back to Hervey Bay Airport.

Finally, also on Tuesday 14 October, an unknown Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Jet was noted completing a low overshoot at Rockhampton Airport as 'BRUTAL 31'.  The Growler had earlier flown North from RAAF Base Amberley and was returning there when it surprised everyone at Rocky!

'BRUTAL31' at Rockhampton Airport

Of interest, several RAAF jets were heard and seen flying North to both Townsville and Cairns on Monday 13 October with two pairs of jets as 'SAVAGE' and 'SABRE' both heard flying near Emerald while heading North.

Photos taken by Trevor Hardsman and Clint Ryan  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2025 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliners V8-DLC and V8-DLE Call into Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 14 October, two Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft - V8-DLE and V8-DLC - both called into Rockhampton Airport again transporting personnel and equipment in and of Rocky in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2025 (XWB25).

V8-DLC arrived from Brunei as RBA4247. It then departed to Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4248.

And V8-DLE also arrived into Rocky (as pictured) also from Brunei but as RBA4255. It then departed to Changi as RBA4256.

At this stage, it looks like both Royal Brunei Dreamliners will return to Rockhampton Airport on Wednesday 15 October and Thursday 16 October.

It's also worth mentioning that over the weekend on Saturday 11 October, V8-DLC completed what looks like a 'one off' run from Brunei to Singapore and then Rockhampton Airport and then back to Singapore and Brunei as RBA4241/3/4/6.

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter John L for allowing us to share these great photos!

File photos taken by John Lee  ©

Air AP / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 Bizjet VH-AP7 Arrives into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 13 October, nice Air AP / Australian Corporate Jet Centres Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 bizjet VH-AP7 was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Adelaide.

VH-AP7 at Adelaide Airport last week.

The sleek Global 6000 bizjet looks to have had a paint-job since we last noted it visiting the region back in April.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 13 October, Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Archerfield to Hamilton Island Airport before it then headed out to Natal Downs.  VH-JSZ then flew down to Dalby before then flying back up to Natal Downs and then back down to Archerfield. 

And Nioa Aviation (Avcair) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 bizjet VH-NJR visited Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©