Beechcraft B350i Super King Air VH-SQR visits Gladstone

Painted in striking colours, Royal Flying Doctor Service (South East Section) Beechcraft B350i Super King Air VH-SQR spent most of the day parked at Gladstone Airport on Thursday, February 25, after an early morning arrival from Roma where it had overnighted at the end of a flight from Moomba, SA the previous day. 

 

During the later parts of the afternoon, VH-SQR departed the port city for Adelaide, SA which took the Super King Air nearly four hours to complete.   

 

Manufactured in 2014, VH-SQR was delivered to the RFDS in January 2015 and has since been an occasional visitor to Central Queensland, particularly Gladstone.

All photo's in this post were captured during a previous visit to Gladstone in November 2015. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early morning planespotting at Gladstone Airport

With the month of summer still producing very warm days, early morning or late afternoon planespotting is more preferrable this time of the year, and over the past couple of days, have taken advantage of beautiful mornings in Central Queensland to capture some early arrivals at Gladstone Airport. 

 

Among the sightings include QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 (NG) VH-LQH arriving at Gladstone from Brisbane as QF2382 on Tuesday, February 23.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virgin Australia Embraer 190-100 (IGW) VH-ZPN arriving at the port city from Brisbane as VA1707 on Wednesday, February 24.

 

 

 

 

 

And also arriving from Brisbane on Wednesday, February 24 was QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 VH-QOD as QF2332. 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia by Seaplane Cessna U206F VH-FKS

Currently based at Gladstone Airport and predominately used to provide passenger transfers between the port city and Heron Island is Australia by Seaplane operated Cessna U206 Floatplane VH-FKS and de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Mk1 VH-IDO.

Of interest, both aircraft can also be chartered for scenic flights of Lake Awoonga, Gladstone Harbour, Boyne Island / Tannum Sands, the Collosseum, Mt Larcom, Curtis Island, Facing Island and many other locations in the region including extended flights capable of taking in the sights of Great Keppel Island or 1770 / Agnes Waters.

 

Furthermore, passengers can be collected from and delivered to many waterways throughout the region however please be mindful all flights will only operate subject to weather and tidal conditions.

Manufactured in 1976 and powered by a Teledyne-Continental, IO-520, 6-cylinder piston engine - Cessna U206F VH-FKS is configured to seat four people (one pilot / three passengers) and while it is currently loaned for operations with Australia by Seaplane at Gladstone Airport, is listed as owned by Fraser Coast Seaplanes Pty Ltd of Tin Can Bay.

 

For more information or make a booking, Australia by Seaplane can be contacted on (07) 4972 1940 or 0432 328 813. Alternatively, their website can be located at :

 

http://www.australiabyseaplane.com.au/

To learn more about a plane with much character, de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver Mk1 VH-IDO, click onto the link below :

 

http://airqueensland.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/australia-by-seaplane-gladstone-airport.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

R-Mach Aviation Lancair 4 VH-XVP recieves a new engine, and avionics update

While visiting Rockhampton Airport earlier this month, was fortunate to catch up with a number of local operators including aerial agricultural company, R-MACH Aviation.

Nestled among other aircraft in the R-MACH Aviation hangar was a very interesting aircraft indeed, Lancair 4 (IVP) VH-XVP.

Purchased used from a United States based company and ferried to Australia from California via Hawaii, Tarawa and Cairns in September 2013, this high performance little plane was registered N43D until listed on the Australian register a few months later as VH-XVP. 

As present, VH-XVP is undergoing a fairly big overhaul which includes the installation of a new twin-turbo charged, Continental TSIO-550, 6-cylinder piston engine and propeller, as well as an avionics update among other improvements.

Manufactured in 1994 and configured to seat 4 people (incl pilot) in a pressurised cabin, VH-XVP is capable of cruising at 310 knots. Wow ... that is very quick for a little, piston powered plane.

To learn more about R-MACH Aviation, click onto the link below :

http://airqueensland.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/r-mach-aviation_7.html      

 

RAAF Boeing 737-700 (BBJ) A36-001 makes an appearance in Central Queensland

Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and entourage, as well as other members of Parliament have spent the first part of this week visiting a number of Queensland cities with Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737-700 (BBJ) A36-001 and A36-002 transporting the VIP's around the state.

Presumably flying north from Canberra, A36-001 touched down at Mackay on Monday, February 15 and after spending number of hours on the ground, departed for the short hop to Rockhampton for an overnight stay.

After Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and entourage satisfied a number of commitments at the beef capital, A36-001 departed Rockhampton on Tuesday, February 16, for Bundaberg were local planespotter, Micah S, was on hand to capture some absolutely truly wonderful photo's of the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) while parked at the airport.

As can be seen in a number of images, A36-001 made a late afternoon / early evening departure from the rum city that day.

Meanwhile, sistership A36-002 is noted to have made a presence at the North Queensland cities of Cairns and Townsville earlier this week as well.

Of interest, A36-001 and A36-002 are operated by No.34 Squadron at Canberra International Airport, and were accepted into service by the Royal Australian Air Force as VIP aircraft in 2002.

 

Boeing Business Jets are primarily 737 airframes (although other Boeing models are available) encorporating modifications that include the fitment of facilities such as conference suites, tables and seats as well as secure satellite and communication capabilities.

 

Additionally, other enhancements include blended winglets for improved fuel economy, self-contained stairs and additional fuel tanks to allow intercontinental range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photo's contributed by Micah S.