During the first wave of large chartered passenger aircraft transporting Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to Central Queensland in mid-September, Air Queensland.blogspot had the pleasure to photograph Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZI, and if by chance you missed the post, here it is again :
Two weeks later at the beginning of October, the second wave of large chartered aircraft operated between Singapore and Rockhampton, and an Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was again tasked with the transportation of Singaporean troops in support of 'Exercise Wallaby 2016'.
On Monday, October 03, Air Queensland.blogspot travelled to Rockhampton with the main objective to not only capture the final departure of six RSAF Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle fighter jets (more about this soon), but the third arrival to Rockhampton in as many days by Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZJ.
Alongside fellow Air New Zealand sistership Boeing 777-200 ZK-OXE, ZK-NZJ has been busy in recent days flying three return Singapore - Rockhampton chartered troop flights on behalf of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Touching down at the beef capital about mid-afternoon from Singapore as ANZ1925, ZK-NZJ remained parked until departing back to Singapore later that evening as ANZ1926. Here, it is expected the Dreamliner will re-enter normal RPT operations.
Of interest, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a twin-engine, widebody, long-range airliner that is pioneering the use of composite material as the primary material in the construction of it's airframe. Designed to replace the Boeing 767, the Boeing 787 is reportedly upto 20% more fuel efficient than it's intended predecessor, and features a mostly electrical flight system, swept wingtips and noise reducing chevrons on the engine nacelles.
Air New Zealand currently has eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in service with four additional aircraft on order. It is reported the 'on order' Dreamliners will replace three remaining Boeing 767-300ER's still in operation with the airline in 2017.
