New QantasLink Dash-Q400 Next Gen VH-84N (ex C-FWEZ) First Flight into CQ at Moranbah Airport on a FIFO Run

On Thursday 14 August, recently delivered QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-84N completed its first ever revenue flight, and it happened to be into CQ, with it touching down at Moranbah Airport on a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flight as QLK2810/1 from and back to Brisbane.  It had earlier flown up on a positioning flight from Canberra.

The second-hand Dash-8-Q400 is the sixth of 12 (or 14) aircraft that the Qantas Group has purchased from Canadian operator WestJet Encore. VH-84N previously operated as C-FWEZ and operated with the airline from December 2014 until June 2023.

The Dash-8 arrived into Australia via Brisbane on Sunday 3 August before then flying down to Canberra on Monday 4 August, with it still wearing its Canadian registration marking of C-FWEZ, completing a delivery flight from Canada across the Pacific.

It was promptly placed on the Australian Aircraft Register and also given the name 'Devonport'.

UPDATE!  On Friday 15 August, VH-84N flew back into the region, passing through Rockhampton and Mackay Airports while flying up from Brisbane to Townsville and Cairns.

Photos taken by 'AC', Darcy Stevens and Dylan Hardie  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IF First Visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport

On Friday 8 August, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IF was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport. It operated the early morning VOZ601/4 service from and back to Brisbane.

VH-8IF was delivered into Brisbane from the USA on in mid-May 2024 before entering service only days after being delivered. The aircraft was named 'Maroochydore Beach' and is the 6th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IC First Visit into Central Queensland at Rockhampton Airport

On Monday 4 August, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IC was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Rockhampton Airport. It operated the early morning VOZ1231/4 service from and back to Brisbane.

VH-8IC was delivered into Brisbane from the USA in late September 2023 before entering service only days after being delivered. The aircraft was named 'Kirra Beach' and is the 2nd B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

ASL Airlines Australia Boeing B737-800(BCF) VH-CYK Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Friday 1 August, ASL Airlines Australia Boeing B737-800(BCF) VH-CYK was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.

It appeared to visit from Brisbane as "PARTEC9804/3".

Meanwhile, also on Friday 1 August, Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) SAAB 340B+ turboprop VH-VEB, which landed at Longreach Airport from Brisbane last night, departed Longreach Airport to Birdsville, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga and then back to Brisbane. 

Finally, also on Friday 1 August, American-registered Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 bizjet N18HA departed Hamilton Island Airport for Cairns.  As mentioned below, it had arrived a couple of days prior.

And over the last couple of weeks, we continued to see multiple visits by two out of the four LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjets.

VH-OFC "Ambulance 634" visited Biloela / Thangool, Hervey Bay, Blackall and Gladstone Airports - with multiple visits to Mackay and Rockhampton Airports.

VH-OFB "Ambulance 624" visited Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Emerald, Longreach, Bundaberg, Charleville, Barcaldine and Proserpine Airports.

While VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" seemed to spend time in the hangar and VH-URR "Ambulance 604" continued to operate overseas.

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

All photos taken by Scott Harris  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737 MAX 8 VH-8IA Makes First Visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport

On Thursday 31 July, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IA was noted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Mackay Airport. It operated the VOZ613/6 service from and back to Brisbane.

VH-8IA was delivered into Brisbane from the USA in late June 2023 before then entering service just over a week after being delivered. The aircraft was named 'Monkey Mia' and is the 1st B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

File photo taken by Tony Haynes  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules A97-447 "Trojan 26" Spotted at Rockhampton Airport

Also on Thursday 31 July, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft A97-447 was spotted also visiting Rockhampton Airport.

A97-447 was flying as "Trojan 26" and flew down from Townsville to a position North of Mackay where it then descended to 900ft off the coast and passed Mackay over water and continued on to Williamson Airfield within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

The Herc then flew down and landed at Rockhampton Airport.

During the afternoon, A97-447 "Trojan 26" then departed Rockhampton Airport and flew low level down the highway to a complete a loop at Bajool to then head over to the coast and complete a loop over Port Alma before continuing onwards to fly along Gladstone Harbour waters then climbing to flight levels and eventually to RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Alliance Airlines (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N239JB Arrives into Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 31 July, Alliance Airlines (ex JetBlue Airways - USA) Embraer ERJ-190AR N239JB arrived into Rockhampton Airport at the end of a delivery flight as 'SXI2532' / "Southern Cross 2532".

It arrived from Brisbane having started its delivery flight at San Jose (Costa Rica) and flying via Oakland, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

File photo

As shown, N239JB was delivered in full Alliance Airlines livery and looks to be going to be placed on the Australian Aircraft register as VH-A2K - as shown on the front of the aircraft.

N239JB was promptly parked inside the Alliance Airlines hangar at Rockhampton Airport.

Photos taken by Scott Harris and Nick Dean  ©

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-200 NZ7572 Arrives into Rockhampton Airport as "Kiwi 287"

On Thursday 31 July, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-2K2 NZ7572 was spotted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.

It arrived from RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai) and Townsville and was heard to be flying as 'KIW287'.

At the time of writing, it appears that the RNZAF B757 is staying for at least the night.

UPDATE!  On Friday 1 August, RNZAF B757 NZ7572 "Kiwi 287" departed to Townsville before heading over the RNZAF Base Ohakea and back to RNZAF Base Auckland.

Of interest, both the B757-200 - as well as their new C-130J Hercules transport aircraft - are flown by the RNZAF’s No. 40 Squadron based at RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai.

 

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Virgin Australia Boeing B737 MAX 8 VH-8IE Makes First Visit into Central Queensland at Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 30 July, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-8MAX VH-8IE was spotted making its first visit into Central Queensland at Rockhampton Airport. It operated the early morning VOZ1231/4 service from and back to Brisbane.

VH-8IE was delivered into Brisbane from the USA on in early July 2024 before entering service only days after being delivered. The aircraft was named 'Brighton Beach' and is the 5th B737-8MAX delivered to Virgin Australia.

Nice!

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©

Hersing Corporation (Singapore) American Registered Bombardier Global 5000 Bizjet N18HA at Hamilton Island Airport - Plus More!

On Tuesday 29 July, Hersing Corporation (Singapore) American registered Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 bizjet N18HA arrived into Hamilton Island Airport from Brisbane.  **Photo update - it was still parked up on Thursday 31 July.

UPDATE!  On Friday 1 August, N18HA departed Hamo and looked to head North to Cairns where it was spotted below touching down on Runway 15.

And  Bowenville based (operated by Real Time Aviation - Brisbane) Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ bizjet VH-JSZ visited Clermont Aerodrome from Toowoomba-Wellcamp.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 29 July,  American-registered Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 N35GA flew down from Cairns to complete survey work around the Mackay area before later returning to Cairns.

And a pair of Queensland Government (QGAir) Rescue (State of Queensland) Agusta AW139 helicopters were spotted at Emerald Airport. VH-EZJ flew down from Townsville and then onwards to Archerfield, while VH-ESH arrived from Archerfield and departed to Townsville.

Photos taken by James Kirk and Jonathan Williams  ©