Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-001 Completes a Missed Approach at Bundaberg Airport

On Monday 22 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-001 was noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport.

On this occasion, the Wedgetail flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown via a missed approach at the Sunshine Coast to complete a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport. A30-001 then returned South and completed more airwork including multiple missed approaches at Coffs Harbour before then continuing back to Williamtown.

A30-001 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Wedgetail 01".

Sincere thanks to Dan B from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share this great photos!

Photo taken by Dan B  ©

'New' LifeFlight Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopter (Agusta) AW139 Helicopter VH-XIB Spotted at Bundaberg Airport

On Monday 22 February, LifeFlight Leonardo S.P.A. Helicopters (Agusta) AW139 helicopter VH-XIB was spotted visiting Bundaberg Airport.  It appears to have flown in on a medical evacuation flight from the Sunshine Coast and was heard to be using the flight number and callsign of "Rescue 511".

VH-XIB "Rescue 511" then looked to depart Bundaberg Airport for the Royal Brisbane Hospital Heli-pad.

As mentioned previously, VH-XIB is one of three recently registered rescue helicopters to join the LifeFlight fleet with the AW139 registered to them in September last year.  It previously operated as in China as B-702T for Shanghai Kingwing General Aviation.

The other AW139 helicopters to join the LifeFlight fleet in recent months have been VH-XIA and VH-XIU.

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

All photos taken by Peter Sajko  ©

Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E Bizjet VH-UYX Pops into Bundaberg Airport - Plus More!

On Sunday 21 February, Special Mining Services / Flight Options (Australia) Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300E bizjet VH-UYX was noted visiting Bundaberg Airport. It looked to arrive from Sydney and the Gold Coast.

File photo

After some time on the ground, VH-UYX later departed direct to its Bankstown base.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 21 February, the visiting Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet VH-VGX departed Gladstone Airport for Adelaide.  It had arrived the previous day from Mackay Airport - see Blog posts below!

While the Australian Country Choice Properties (Brisbane) Cessna 560 Citation V Encore bizjet VH-ACC continued its weekend adventures, departing Roma Airport and calling into Dooloogarah, Brindley Park and Opal Creek before then flying back to Brisbane.

And, as it does every weekend, the American-registered Eclipse EA500 bizjet N257AK was noted arriving into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour from Archerfield, also on Sunday 21 February.

Finally, also on Sunday 21 February, three Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) / Qantas Group Pilot Academy Diamond DA-40 Star training aircraft were noted visiting some Central Queensland Airports, all flying out of their Toowoomba-Wellcamp Airport base.  VH-YTZ flew up to Gladstone Airport and then Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport before returning to Wellcamp.  While VH-ERE flew up to Gladstone Airport and back to Wellcamp.  And VH-YTK flew up to Bundaberg Airport and back to Wellcamp.

Sincere thanks to the Sunshine Coast Plane Spotting Facebook page for allowing us to share their great photo of VH-UYX!

Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-VGX Continues from Mackay Airport to Gladstone Airport

After arriving the previous day, on Saturday 20 February, Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet VH-VGX departed Mackay Airport and was noted flying down to Gladstone Airport.

VH-VGX was photographed above and below parked at a wet and miserable Mackay Airport as it prepared for its departure.

As mentioned below, it appears that the Global Express is on a Queensland tour with it originally arriving into Cairns from Melbourne (Essendon) just over a week ago.

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-VGX is staying at Gladstone Airport for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 21 February, VH-VGX departed Gladstone Airport for Adelaide.

Meanwhile, after arriving there also on the previous day, also on Saturday 20 February, Australian Country Choice Properties (Brisbane) Cessna 560 Citation V Encore bizjet VH-ACC was noted departing Wellclose and flying to Dooloogarah before continuing to Roma Airport.

Finally, also on Saturday 20 February, Brisbane-based Pilatus PC-12/47E VH-AAC (not to be confused with the Citation Encore VH-ACC above!) was noted flying across from Brunette Downs in the Northern Territory to Mount Isa and Archerfield.

All photos taken by 'JM'  ©

Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFB Calls into CQ Airports with "Paul Kelly and Friends 11 July Dirranbandi" Sticker

Over the latter part of this week, Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 VH-JFB was noted visiting a couple of Central Queensland Airports with it noted wearing a new sticker on its forward port-side adverting an upcoming charity concert by iconic Australian rock music singer-songwriter, Paul Kelly.

VH-JFB is shown above departing Brisbane Airport early on Saturday 20 February.  It appears to have emerged from the hangar with the sticker during the middle part of this last week and has visited both Gladstone and Moranbah Airports since then.  

The 'Paul Kelly and Friends' Concert is a locally organised fundraising initiative hosted by the Dirranbandi Pastoral and Agricultural Association. This event will raise much needed funds that will ensure the sustainability of opportunities to access future pathways in Agriculture for the local youth in this region and beyond. As a small, rural community, Dirranbandi is committed to giving their youth every opportunity possible to develop knowledge, skills as well as gain experience in local industry.

Several acts including Paul Kelly, Ian Moss, Kasey Chambers, The Wolfe Brothers, Hope D, and many more are expected to perform on the night. 

For more information, visit   http://www.paulkellyandfriends.com/

Tickets are on sale now through   https://outbacktickets.com.au/

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Bizjet VH-VGX Arrives into Mackay Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 19 February, Pratt Aviation Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express bizjet VH-VGX was photographed parked at a wet and miserable Mackay Airport, after it had earlier arrived from Townsville.

It appears that the Global Express is on a Queensland tour with it originally arriving into Cairns from Melbourne (Essendon) exactly a week ago.

At the time of writing, it appears that VH-VGX is staying at Mackay Airport for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Saturday 20 February, VH-VGX departed Mackay Airport and called into Gladstone Airport where it again seems to be spending the night - see Blog post above!

UPDATE!  On Sunday 21 February, VH-VGX departed Gladstone Airport for Adelaide.

Meanwhile, another bizjet to be noted visiting the region, also on Friday 19 February, was Australian Country Choice Properties (Brisbane) Cessna 560 Citation V Encore bizjet VH-ACC.  It looked to depart from Brisbane and call into Wellclose before flying to Charleville Airport and then back to Wellclose.

Finally, a couple of light General Aviation (GA) visitors to the region, also on Friday 19 February, included NQ Goldfields Beech 58 Baron VH-SNZ which visited Gladstone Airport from its Charters Towers Aerodrome base. 

While the Queensland Police Service (Airwing) (State of Queensland) Raytheon B1900D VH-PSK looked to arrive into Rockhampton Airport from Cairns and later depart to Brisbane.  Later, it flew up to Mackay Airport before then returning to Cairns via Townsville.

Photo taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules Transport Aircraft A97-440 Completes Airwork and Training at CQ Airports

Just over a week after its previous visit to the region, on Friday 19 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft A97-440 was again noted completing airwork and training at some Central Queensland Airports.

It was flying as "Trojan 54" and looked to originally depart from Hobart in Tasmania before flying all the way up to Townsville.  From Townsville, it then flew down and completed a missed approach at Hamilton Island Airport before then being spotted and videoed completing low-level airwork at a very cloudy and rainy Mackay Airport.

A97-440 was then due to complete further airwork at Rockhampton Airport but encountered a technical problem and ended up flying down to RAAF Base Amberley.

Of interest, A97-440 as "Trojan 33" completed airwork at some CQ Airports last Wednesday 10 February - see Blog post below!

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter 'JM' who was at the right place at the right time and sharing with us the photo and video!

Photo and video taken by 'JM'  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail A30-003 Completes Missed Approach at Bundaberg Airport

On Friday 19 February, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 was noted completing a missed approach at Bundaberg Airport.

File photo

It appears that the Wedgetail flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown at Newcastle direct to Bundy. After completing the airwork, A30-003 departed Bundaberg Airport and returned back directly to Williamtown.

Of interest, A30-003 was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Mitchell 14".

Photo taken by Scott Harris  ©

AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 550 Citation II Bravo Bizjet VH-HVM Spotted at Clermont Aerodrome - Plus More!

On Thursday 18 February, AAA Aircraft / Flight Options (Australia) Cessna 550 Citation II Bravo bizjet VH-HVM was photographed by me arriving into my local Clermont Aerodrome. It completed the short hop up from Emerald Airport where it had arrived the previous day - see Blog post below!

VH-HVM came to town to collect passengers from Hinterland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan VH-LZK which arrived from Rockhampton Airport and the Labona Station Airstrip within Adani Australia's (Bravus Mining & Resources) Carmichael Coal Mine as HND350/351. VH-LZK then returned to Rocky.

VH-LZK was spotted by me at Clermont Aerodrome earlier on Thursday 18 February as it made an early departure to Labona as HND3101. It had earlier arrived from Rockhampton Airport but as HND310.

Meanwhile, also noted visiting my local Clermont Aerodrome, also on Thursday 18 February, was Redjet Aviation Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-PJU. It looked to arrive from and then later depart back to its Toowoomba base.

Finally, as mentioned below, also at Clermont Aerodrome but much earlier on Thursday 18 February, Brescon (Toowoomba) Beech B200 King Air VH-WXN departed back to Toowoomba-Wellcamp after arriving from there the previous day - see Blog post below!

Four Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook Helicopters Call into Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport

Seen on the ground at Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport on Thursday 18 February were four Australian Army Boeing CH-47F 'Foxtrot' Chinook helicopters.

Their exact movements are not known but it believed they flew down from and later returned to their Townsville base.

Shown above is one of the four which appears to be A15-306.

Photo taken by Matthew Light  ©