Early morning planespotting at Gladstone

Braved the chilly conditions on Wednesday, June 29 and ventured to Gladstone Airport to capture the early morning activity which included filming the landing, and eventual departure of Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-VUH. Two short video's can now be viewed at our associated Facebook page.

 

Among the activity was the departure of Virgin Australia ATR 72-500 VH-FVH to Brisbane as VA1708. The aircraft had arrived from Brisbane the previous evening. 

 

 

Another early morning departure to Brisbane was QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8-Q400(NG) VH-LQL as QF2331. This aircraft had also arrived from Brisbane the previous evening.

 

 

Arguably the most notable movement was the arrival of Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-VUH from Brisbane as VA1707. Spending a little over an hour on the ground, VH-VUH eventually departed back to the state capital as VA1710.

 

Also arriving from Brisbane was QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 VH-QOW and touched down at the port city QF2331. Later returned to Brisbane as QF2332.

 

Royal Australian Navy Bell 429 Global Ranger's pass through Central Queensland

There has been plenty of military movement through Central Queensland in recent days and among the activity was Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Bell 429 Global Ranger N49-049 and N49-050.

 

While ferrying from RAAF Base Amberley to Townsville on Wednesday, June 22, N49-049 made a stop at Bundaberg to take onboard fuel, while N49-050 flew a little further to Gladstone to do the same.

 

Eventually, both helicopters continued onwards to Mackay for another fuel stop before making the final hop to Townsville.

 

Under contract, Raytheon Australia currently supplies the Australian Navy with four Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopters (N49-047, 048, 049 & 050) to allow junior aircrew to consolidate and improve thier skills before advancing to operational helicopters such as the Seahawk and MRH-90.

Based at HMAS Albatross near Nowra, south of Sydney, the Global Rangers are operated alongside AS350 Squirrels with 723 Squadron.

Air Queensland.blogspot would like to sincerely thank Phil Munsel Photography for allowing us to share these magnificent photo's captured at Rockhampton Airport in October 2015.

Phil Munsel Photography can also be followed at CQ Plane Spotters (the other side of the fence) :

 

https://www.facebook.com/Cq-Plane-spotters-the-other-side-of-the-fence-158905974131396/       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queensland Maroons Fan Day at Gladstone

The mighty Queensland Maroons State of Origin Rugby League team travelled to Gladstone for a Fan Day on Tuesday, June 14 and tasked to fly the boys including associated sponsors and media personnel to the port city was Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 VH-XWN.  

 

Touching down at Gladstone at 10.00am, VH-XWN remained parked on Bay 3 until departing back to Brisbane shortly after 4.00pm.

 

To operate the charter flight on behalf of the Queensland Maroons, VH-XWN ferried from Townsville to Brisbane during the earlier parts of the morning, and eventually back to the North Queensland city late that afternoon.   

 

During the fan day visit at Gladstone, the Maroons took part in a street parade along Goondoon Street, a luncheon and auction at the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre, followed by a junior coaching clinic and autograph signing at Marley Brown Oval and Briffney Creek Junior Rugby League Fields.

 

 

Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-X (G450) VH-MBP visits Rockhampton

Presumably chartered by one of the major political parties and on the campaign trail, Marcplan Charter Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-X (G450) VH-MBP touched down at Rockhampton just before midday on Sunday, June 12 after operating from Brisbane as Envoy 29.

 

Remaining on the ground for less than two hours, VH-MBP was back in the air again but this time to make a trip across the continent to Kununurra in the far north-eastern parts of Western Australia.