Monday, August 29, 2016

Seair Pacific de Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-ZKF

Coolangatta / Gold Coast Airport based airline Seair Pacific / Istlecote has been expanding their fleet in recent months with de Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter VH-BVS and VH-ZKF the most recent addition to the airline's fleet.

With both aircraft rolling-off the production line in 1967, these machines are by no means young aircraft, however, reportedly received attention before being delivered to Seair Pacific where they are now predominately used to ferry tourist to Lady Elliot Island from Coolangatta / Gold Coast, Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast, Redcliffe, Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast and Bundaberg Airport.

It remains unclear at this stage if Seair Pacific has intentions to source additional Twin Otters, and if they will either complement or partially replace the company's Britten-Norman BN2A Islander's and Cessna 208 Caravan's.          

According to the AVTRAC Maintenance Tracking Facebook page, it appears VH-ZKF was restored / refurbished a couple of years ago by PremiAir Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia.

A complete history of VH-ZKF's career can be found by clicking onto the link :

http://www.twinotterarchive.com/MSN_43-19MAY2012_ORG.pdf   

You will note VH-ZKF was also once registered VH-TZL, and operated by several airlines including AeroPelican, Noosa Air, Sunstate Airlines, Flight West Airlines, Whitaker Air Charter and Karratha Flying Services during that time.  
 
 
 
 

 
On another note, Bundaberg planespotter Micah S has also shared photo's depicting a couple of Becker Helicopters Bell 206 choppers that were also recently captured at the rum city.

For readers who may not be familiar, Becker Helicopters is a Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast Airport based Helicopter Pilot Academy and regularly conduct training flights to Bundaberg using the airports Non-Directional Beacon as part of the academy's curriculum.   
 
 



 
All photo's contributed by Micah S.

C.P. Group Dassault Falcon 2000EX N688CP visits Bundaberg

Among some special visitors at Bundaberg Airport in recent days (more about this soon) was a brief stopover by C.P. Group Dassault Falcon 2000EX N688CP, and local planespotter Micah S was on hand to capture the aircraft.
 
Owned by Thailand's largest privately owned company, Charoen Pokphand Group, the Dassault Falcon touched down at Bundaberg from Cairns on Thursday, August 25, and after about three hours on the ground, departed further south to Brisbane.   
 
Upon remaining parked at the Queensland capital for the evening, N688CP flew to Melbourne on Friday, August 26 where it also remained overnight before returning to Thailand via Darwin on Saturday, August 27.
 
It is believed N688CP originally arrived in Australia (Cairns) from Don Muang Intl Airport, sometimes known as Old Bangkok Intl Airport.     
 












 
All photo's contributed by Micah S.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Mile High Av. Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain VH-SIK

Since commencing operations with a single aircraft at Maryborough Airport in 2015, Mile High Aviation has gone from strength to strength, and now not only operate a modest fleet of single and twin engine powered aircraft, but have a base at Archerfield, Bundaberg and Maryborough Airports, which are supported by a satellite operation at Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast and Coolangatta / Gold Coast Airport.
 
The most recent aircraft to join the Mile High Aviation fleet was Piper Chieftain PA-31-350 VH-SIK, and will complement Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II VH-SRT, Cessna 172L VH-DMP and Cessna 172N VH-DZW, all which have come online at different stages as the company has grown.     
 
At present, Mile High Aviation provides a variety of aerial services including scenic flights, general air charter, aerial surveys & photography, fire spotting, powerline & pipeline inspections, aswell as cargo & passenger transfers. And, further growth opportunities are currently being evaluated.

To learn more about Mile High Aviation and services offered by the locally owned company, their official website can be located by clicking onto the link below :

http://www.milehighaviation.com.au/index.html

Mile High Aviation can also be found on Facebook :

https://www.facebook.com/milehighaviation.com.au

Alternatively, the helpful staff can be contacted directly by ringing 0407 902 030.
 








 
All photo's contributed by David Geck of Maryborough Aviation Services.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Interior photo's - Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1124A Westwind II VH-IER

Following up on a previous post about Maryborough Aviation Services (MAS) recently entering the jet age when Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) 1124A Westwind II VH-IER was relocated to it's new base at Maryborough Airport in July, David G has now kindly shared a number of interior photo's of the aircraft.

For a number of years, VH-IER was based at Illawarra Airport, Wollongong, however it is reported the owners of the aircraft (Capital Jet Resources) have purchased Maryborough Aviation Services, hence why the modified Westwind II will now be housed, maintained and operated from Maryborough Airport.

Manufactured in 1982 and powered by a pair of Garrett TFE 731-3-1G turbofans, VH-IER is a specialist medical retrieval and evacuation (medivac) aircraft and one model type of several including Pilatus PC-12NG, Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, Raytheon Hawker 800XP and Cessna Citation C680's operated by Inflight ER.

Of interest, Inflight ER is short for Inflight Emergency Room, and more information about the aerial medical provider can be found at : http://www.inflighter.com.au/

Additionally, the Maryborough Aviation Services Facebook page is located below :
 


 








 
All photo's contributed by David Geck.

Vanderfield Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH visits Central Queensland

Vanderfield Pty Ltd Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH has become a semi-regular sight in Central Queensland over the past couple of months, and it's most recent visit to the region was arguably the busiest. 

Departing it's home base at Toowoomba on Saturday, August 20, VH-WPH made stops at Biloela / Thangool, Emerald, Mackay and Bundaberg before finishing the day at Gympie.

After an overnight stay, the single engine turboprop powered plane departed Gympie on Sunday, August 21 for Mackay and then continued onwards to Emerald, Biloela / Thangool, Bundaberg and eventually back to Toowoomba.   
 




 
File photo's contributed by 'AC'.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-NEQ visits Hervey Bay

VH-NEQ Pty Ltd Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-NEQ was captured by local planespotter Ben May arriving at Hervey Bay on Saturday, August 20 from New Sales Wales.

It appears the small business jet had a busy day operating Bankstown - Orange - Bankstown - Tamworth before flying north to the Fraser Coast. Remaining on the tarmac for about one hour, VH-NEQ departed for Newcastle / Williamtown before travelling to Coffs Harbour and back to Bankstown.

One makes you wonder what the little jet was up to for the day !  
 




 
All photo's contributed by Ben May.