Touchdown Helicopters Bell Helicopter UH-1H Iroquois VH-OXE temporarily based at Rockhampton Airport

It was with interest to learn very recently that Touchdown Helicopters Bell Helicopter UH-1H Iroquois VH-OXE of Illawarra Regional Airport, Wollongong is currently being utilised (leased) by Stirling Helicopters of Rockhampton as a fire fighting and heavy lift platform and reportedly (at the time of writing) will be based at Rockhampton Airport until August / September 2015. 

 

However, depending on operational requirements and continued availability of the chopper, the lease may be extended. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Snifter" the Mustang captured at Mackay Airport

Mike Manning of "Mackay and SE Queensland Storms" has very kindly allowed Air Queensland.blogspot to share some absolutely superb photo's of Caboolture based, Mustang Flights Australia CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT (commonly known as "Snifter") captured at Mackay Airport on Saturday, April 25 while participating in the 100th Commemoration of the Gallipoli landings in 1915.

VH-MFT spent the previous day at Bundaberg before heading further north to Mackay.

Based on the North American P-51D Mustang and powered by a Packard Merlin, 12 cylinder, liquid cooled engine - VH-MFT was manufactured in Australia in 1947 by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) where the all-round fighter served as A68-110. However, you will note 'Snifter' is painted to represent A68-769, the personal aircraft of the Commanding Officer of No.82 Squadron in Japan.

 

Research revealed the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation built 200 Mustang aircraft at Fishermans Bend, Victoria under licence from North American Aviation in the USA.

The decision to manufacture Mustang aircraft in Australia was reportedly made during World War II as a result of the outstanding success achieved by the type as a long-range escort fighter on missions in Europe and the Pacific and commonly regarded as the best all-round fighter of World War II.

To learn about the brief history of each individual Mustang that was operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, you will find the link below of interest :

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a68c.htm

Meanwhile, "Mackay and SE Queensland Storms" by Mike Manning can be found by clicking onto the following link :  https://www.facebook.com/mackaystorms

On a final note, Air Queensland.blogspot would like to sincerely thank Mike for allowing us to share photo's of such a graceful 'ole lady of the skies.

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

(Mike Manning) 

 

(Mike Manning)

 

 

(Mike Manning)

More marvellous photo's of CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT aka "Snifter" in Mackay

To great delight and fanfare here at Air Queensland.blogspot and hopefully equally so for our followers, Mackay planespotter 'AC' has forwarded more truly superb photo's of CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT aka "Snifter" while getting airborne at the sugar city on Sunday, April 26.

It is reported "Snifter" was also on location during the day at nearby Palmyra Airfield for the Mackay Aero Club's Flying Competition and no-doubt provided local planespotters and aviation enthusiasts alike plenty of opportunity to take some great photo's.

Many thanks to 'AC' for not only taking the time to capture and forward these fantastic images of VH-MFT, but for his continued support of the blog.

 

 

(AC)

 

(AC)

 

(AC)

 

(AC)

 

(AC)

 

(AC)

Wing shots galore - Qantas Airways Boeing 737-800 VH-VZC - Brisbane to Melbourne

The second sector while travelling from Gladstone to Melbourne via Brisbane in February 2015 to attend the Australian International Airshow 2015 was aboard Qantas Airways Boeing 737-800 VH-VZC which covered the distance from Brisbane to the Victorian capital in less than two hours.

The previous flight from Gladstone to Brisbane was aboard QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 VH-QOE. If you missed that article, the post can be found by clicking onto the link below :

http://airqueensland.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/prop-shots-galore-qantaslink-bombardier.html