Interair (Essendon) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU at Rockhampton Airport Completing Aerial Survey Flights - Plus More!

On Sunday 14 June, Interair (Essendon) Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU completed an aerial survey flight out of and back to Rockhampton Airport.

It has been operating out of Rockhampton Airport for some time.

While Flight One (Services) Cessna 172s VH-NOR, VH-LOK and VH-EOV departed Rockhampton Airport for Bundaberg Airport and then Archerfield.  They had arrived into Rocky yesterday afternoon from Mackay Airport.  

All three Cessnas had flown up on Friday 12 June from Archerfield to Biloela / Thangool Airport and then Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.

Finally, on Saturday 13 June, NSW based Blue Sky Airways' Piper PA-31-350 Navajo VH-MKC flew up from Cessnock to complete airwork at Tamworth and then to land at Roma Airport.  It then departed and completed more airwork at Emerald Airport and then to land at Clermont Aerodrome.  VH-MKC then continued on to Mareeba.

File photo taken by David Treddle  ©

United States Air Force (USAF) Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit 'Stealth Bomber' 88-0328 as 'SMOG11' Spotted Over Rockhampton - Plus More!

On Thursday 11 June, United States Air Force (USAF) Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit 'stealth bomber' 88-0328 as 'SMOG11' flew up from RAAF Base Amberley and was photographed circling overhead Rockhampton while it waited for air-to-air fuel tanker support.

It is believed the 32-year-old multi role heavy bomber to be from the USAF Global Strike Command - 509th Bomb Wing -13th Bomb Squadron - based out of at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.  It is believed to have flown across from there the previous day touching down at Amberley in the wee small hours of Thursday morning.

Defence image...

UPDATE!  Once returning from its sortie, the B-2 departed Amberley and returned back to Whiteman AFB.

Meanwhile, after the B-2 completed a couple of circuits, USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 59-1502 was spotted also overhead Rockhampton after it too flew up from Amberley but as "FRESH33".

Both aircraft continued North.

Of interest, another two KC-135R Refuellers also arrived into Amberley in support of the B-2 deployment with 58-0050 "Fresh 31" and 58-0104 "Fresh 32" also touching down.

Meanwhile, also on Thursday 11 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-211 as "Stallion 45" looked to have completed low level airwork around Fraser Island.

And McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 06" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from the Sunshine Coast then departed to Mareeba and then back to Sunshine Coast.

VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-EXG flew down from Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport to Melbourne (Essendon). It had arrived from there on Wednesday 10 June.

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Dan B for allowing us to share these great photos!

Photos taken by Daniel Bishop  ©

Skytrans Airlines Dash-8s at a Couple of CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Wednesday 10 June, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8Q200 VH-TQX as SKP551 landed at Longreach Airport from Ballera.  It had flown to there from Moomba as SKP136.

File photo

VH-TQX later departed Longreach Airport for Cairns.

Also Skytrans Dash-8-100 VH-QQB as SKP532 arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and a bit later fellow Dash-8-100 VH-QQC departed Rockhampton Airport for Cairns as SKP531. 

Robindale Group / Air Link Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-CMK departed Emerald Airport for Bundaberg Airport, the Sunshine Coast and Orange. It appeared to arrive from these places on Monday 8 June.

Southern Air Services Piper PA-46-701TP Malibu VH-8CX landed at Longreach Airport from Dalby.

And new Pilatus PC-12/47G PRO N81DW visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from the Sunshine Coast.

Finally, on a quiet Tuesday 9 June, Stroud Aviation and Transportation (Boonah) / Navair Flight Operations Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-SHI as "Navair 173" visited Bundaberg Airport from Archerfield.

Photo taken by Bernie Proctor  ©

Three RAAF Super King Air Turboprops A32-671, A32-021 & A32-670 All Complete Airwork & Land at CQ Airports - UPDATED!

On Tuesday 9 June, three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beech B350 Super King Air turboprops were noted completing airwork and landing at some Central Queensland Airports.

A32-671 as "Beaufort 01" flew up from RAAF Base East Sale via Canberra and Tamworth to Townsville.  While A32-021 as "Hudson 28" and A32-670 as "Hudson 27" both also flew up from East Sale but to Dubbo and then Rockhampton Airport.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 10 June, A32-021 as "Hudson 28" and A32-670 as "Hudson 27" departed Rockhampton Airport to Longreach Airport via a touch and go at Emerald Airport.  They both then departed to the Sunshine Coast via a touch and go at Taroom. 

While also on Wednesday 10 June, A32-671 as "Beaufort 01" departed Townsville to Weipa.

Photo taken by Liam Sellick  ©

Business Aviation Solutions Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 Bizjet VH-MOU Calls into Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 8 June, Business Aviation Solutions Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-MOU was noted arriving into Hamilton Island Airport from Cairns.

It then departed to Brisbane.

And Torres Strait Air Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander VH-TRS landed at Emerald Airport from Charters Towers Aerodrome.

Photo taken by Jonathan Williams  ©

NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Bizjet VH-8GK Pops into Rockhampton and Longreach Airports

On Sunday 7 June, NQ Heli-Worx (Townsville) Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 bizjet VH-8GK arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

File photo

It then departed to Longreach Airport before it then continued to Alice Springs.

And Machjet (Machjet International) Cessna 525 Citation CJ1 bizjet VH-SIY as "Machflight 01" visited Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  

Meanwhile, Flyon Helicopters in Mackay has taken delivery of AgustaWestland AW109SP GrandNew helicopter VH-NZU with it noted flying around the region this week.  We assume it will replace previous similar older AW109 helicopters on their marine pilot transfer flights they complete from Mackay Airport and then out to ships out to sea.

UPDATE!  It also appears that Flyon has also taken delivery of Agusta AW109SP helicopter VH-NZW which is currently registered to PHI International Australia in Western Australia - what looks like a significant helicopter operator in the West.

Photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

HELIVIDA Indonesia Aerospatiale AS350BA Ecureuil Helicopter PK-HCY Passes Through CQ Airports - Plus More!

On Friday 5 June, HELIVIDA Indonesia Aerospatiale AS350BA Ecureuil helicopter PK-HCY was noted flying North from the Sunshine Coast to Gladstone Airport and then Mackay Airport.

It had flown down to Sunshine Coast in October 2024.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 June, AS350 PK-HCY departed Mackay Airport to Townsville and Cooktown. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 3 June, former Stirling Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N137WZ was spotted passing through Emerald Airport.  It arrived from the Sunshine Coast and then departed to Longreach Airport.

It is also believed that Touchdown Helicopters Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter N4875A passed through Birdsville Airport while ferrying from Shell Harbour in NSW to Indonesia for their firefighting season.

While Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 Citation Jet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ flew up from Dalby to Mackay and Collinsville Airports and then Natal Downs and this afternoon reversed the flight. 

VIP Aviation (A.C.T.) / Australian Corporate Jet Centres (Melbourne) Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign bizjet VH-EXG visited Mackay Airport from Melbourne (Essendon).  

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 June, VH-EXG flew up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport from Essendon.  On Monday 8 June, VH-EXG departed Prosie and flew back to Essendon.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 bizjet VH-SUY as "Machflight 01" flew up from the Sunshine Coast to complete airwork at Maryborough Airport.  It then returned to the Sunshine Coast. 

At the same time, fellow McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 bizjet VH-PIY as "Machflight 06" flew up to Hamilton Island Airport from the Sunshine Coast.  It then returned south to Brisbane but as "Machflight 01". 

UPDATE!  On Saturday 6 June, Citation VH-PIY as "Machflight 41" visited Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield.  Then in the afternoon, Citation VH-PIY now as "Machflight 01" flew up to Mackay Airport from Brisbane then flew down to the Sunshine Coast.

And now former Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 now registered N770XT (ex 9V-JSX/VH-X3P) departed Alice Springs to Cairns.  

UPDATE!  On Friday 5 June, A320 N770XT departed Cairns to Kiribati and Honolulu.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Jonathan Williams  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VE First Visit into CQ at Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 4 June, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8VE was spotted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Rockhampton Airport.  It operated as VOZ1231/4 from and back to Brisbane.

VH-8VE was delivered into Brisbane from the USA on at the end of last month.  It only entered service yesterday on Wednesday 3 June.

The aircraft was named 'Kingscliff Beach' and is the 18th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC Starts FIFO Charter Flights to Moranbah Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 2 June, Western Australia based Nexus Airlines (Aviair) Dash-8-Q400 VH-8XC started a new Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights run between Brisbane and Moranbah Airport - as pictured below.

It flew up and back as CT865/6 and is due to return to Moranbah Airport again early on Wednesday 3 June as CT861/2 - as pictured below.

Of interest, VH-8XC flew across from Perth to Brisbane via Ayers Rock over the weekend as CT602 - as pictured below.

Nexus Airlines is an Australian regional airline based in Kununurra, Western Australia. A subsidiary of the HMC Group, it commenced operations in July 2023 and operates in Western Australia and formerly the Northern Territory.  This is its first foray outside of WA.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 2 June, another (not quite) first-time visitor to the region was Crockett Aviation Group / Navair Flight Operations 'new' Beech B200 King Air VH-8EJ as "Navair 179" which looked to fly up to Moranbah Airport from Archerfield and Brisbane before later flying down to the Sunshine Coast and back to Archerfield.  VH-8EJ was registered in March and looked to complete a couple of test flights including one to Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport late last month. 

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-002 as "Envoy 05" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RAAF Base Amberley on a reported training flight and a bit later, it departed to Canberra.

Photos taken by 'AC' and Dylan Hardie  ©

Melbourne-based Raytheon Hawker 800XP Bizjet VH-OFJ Calls into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Monday 1 June, ADD Aviation Services / CML No.1 P/L Raytheon Hawker 800XP bizjet VH-OFJ visited Bundaberg Airport from Brisbane.

https://www.facebook.com/Bundaberg.Aviation.Fuel

Parklea (Air Services) (of Victoria) Leonardo AW109SP helicopter VH-87M landed at Gladstone Airport from the Sunshine Coast before it then departed to Hamilton Island Airport.

While new and just registered to Sutcliffe P/L Mackay, Tecnam P-2012 VH-HID, which landed in country last night from Norfolk Island into Brisbane and then the Gold Coast, departed to Goldie for Mackay Airport.

Finally, on Sunday 31 May, Skytrans Airlines Dash-8-Q200 VH-TQG arrived into Roma Airport from Cairns before then departing to Sydney all as SKP552.