A Pair of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' Helicopters N48-002 & N48-003 Pop into Rockhampton Airport

On Wednesday 11 December, a pair Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopters were photographed passing through Rockhampton Airport.  They were identified as N48-002 (Code 902) as "Poseidon 02" and N48-003 (Code 903) as "Tiger 03".

Both helicopters looked to fly down from Townsville and then depart to RAAF Base Amberley.

It is believed that the RAN 816 Squadron Seahawks had disembarked the Royal Australian Navy Canberra-class landing helicopter dock's (LHD) HMAS Adelaide (L01) which is in port at Townsville.

Sincere thanks to local photographer Steve V for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Steve Vit  ©

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-004 Calls into Rockhampton Airport

On Saturday 2 November, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-004 was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.

It was heard to be flying as "Dragon 50" and flew down from Darwin where it looked to arrive a couple of days prior.

After completing some unloading and re-loading, the KC-30A then departed to Brisbane.

We suspect it may have brought in some personnel and equipment to the area to participate in a joint military Exercise Trident in the following couple of weeks where Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will participate alongside their Singapore Armed Forces compatriots within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

Photos taken by Steve Vit and John Lee  ©

Exercise Wallaby 2024 - Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE (with 'RB50' logo) Calls Into Rockhampton Airport as Fourth and Final Wave of Heavy Jet Passenger Charter Flights Begin!

On Friday 1 November, the 'extended' fourth and final wave of heavy jet passenger charter flights in and out of Rockhampton Airport in support of the Singapore Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby 2024 (XWB24) commenced as personnel and equipment headed home following the end of the third and final phase of the Exercise.

Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE touched down at Rockhampton Airport, flying in direct from Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei as RBA4361.

V8-DLE is one of two Royal Brunei B787-8 Dreamliners to wear the airline's 'RB50' emblem, commemorating their 50-year legacy of connecting Brunei with the world.

The Dreamliner was parked on Gate 6 on the Southern end of the Rockhampton Airport parking apron and looked to load a fairly full flight of personnel and their bags.

The Royal Brunei Airlines B787-8 Dreamliner V8-DLE eventually departed Rockhampton Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport as RBA4362.

Information suggests that on Saturday 2 November, the Royal Brunei Dreamliner V8-DLE will again arrive into and then depart Rocky for Changi at similar times to Friday.  It also appears that a second Royal Brunei Dreamliner will also visit Rockhampton Airport on Saturday but arriving in the late afternoon and then departing later that evening.  The same pair of Dreamliners will make similar visits also on Sunday 3 November and also into the new week.

Of interest, some flights in this wave will be bring in personnel and equipment to participate in a short follow-up joint military exercise with the Singapore Armed Forces joining elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for Exercise Trident again in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

Stay tuned to the CQ Plane Spotting Blog for all the latest news and updates via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/

Sincere thanks to local plane spotter Katrina A for allowing to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Katrina Millhouse  ©

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' Helicopter N48-003 (903) Pops into Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 16 October, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopter N48-003 (Code 903) was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport.  It was heard to be flying as "Tiger 03".

It looked to fly in from off the coast North-East of Bundaberg, firstly heading South-West to near Bundaberg before it then turned North and tracked up the coast low level to land at Rockhampton Airport.

A short time later, N48-003 departed the Rockhampton area for the North-East.

It is believed that N48-003 - seemingly of the RAN's 816 Squadron - is off a Royal Australian Navy ship which appears to be in waters off the Central Queensland coast.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 16 October, fellow RAN Seahawk helicopters N48-002 as "Poseidon 02" and possibly N48-001 "Poseidon 01" were heard and seen on radar in the area.

Meanwhile, during the evening and into the night, also on Wednesday 16 October, a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were noted and spotted completing airwork and landing at a couple of Central Queensland Airports. 

A34-010 as "Wallaby 56" looked to complete airwork around Taroom Aerodrome while on a flight out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

While A34-003 as "Wallaby 57" and A34-009 as "Wallaby 70" both flew up from Amberley and completed airwork around the Wide Bay area.

As shown, A34-003 "Wallaby 57" completed airwork before then landing at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport.  It then returned to Amberley.  

While A34-009 "Wallaby 70" completed airwork at Hervey Bay and Bundaberg Airports before it too returned to Amberley. 

Photos taken by Steve Vit and James Hackett  ©

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 - Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-040 "Bushman 83" Crashes in the Whitsundays - 4 Lives Lost

During the late evening, just after 10.30pm on Friday 28 July, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-040 "Bushman 83" ditched into waters close to Hamilton Island.

The four-crew helicopter was engaged in a two-helicopter mission, part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23).  A40-040 had only just passed through Rockhampton and Gladstone Airports (pictured) while flying up to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport where it and other MRH-90s were operating from.

An extensive search and rescue mission commenced in the Whitsundays immediately following the crash.  This involved United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed MC-130J Commando II Hercules and Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider gunship Hercules aircraft.  See our Blog post below for more information and photos!

Since Friday night, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Queensland’s Emergency Services have directed a continuous and co-ordinated maritime and air search and rescue mission in the Whitsundays region involving more than 800 personnel.

Sadly, it seems that the four soldiers from the Australian Army’s 6th Aviation Regiment lost their lives.

On Sunday 30 July, it was reported that a large part of the wreckage had been located with sections of the fuselage brought to the mainland.  They showed the helicopter serial to be A40-040.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Brisbane, along with the US Navy ship USS Miguel Keith were all deployed to the search, along with specialist divers.

RAN sailors from HMAS Huon have been conducting search operations near Lindeman Island.  HMAS Huon is a Huon class minehunter coastal, with underwater sensor, sonar detection, clearance diving and remotely-operated vehicle capabilities.

UPDATE!  On Wednesday 2 August, the HMAS Huon’s remotely operated underwater vehicle discovered parts of the cockpit and human remains close to the crash site.

Of special interest, since their introduction to service in 2007, the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters have presented ongoing technical and cost challenges for the ADF.  It is understood Defence planners opposed the original Howard government decision to purchase the choppers.

On multiple occasions, the helicopters have been grounded on safety concerns.  In March this year, the fleet was grounded after an MRH-90 suffered engine failure and ditched into the water at Jervis Bay in NSW during a counter-terrorism training exercise.

Our thoughts and prayers go to all the family and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 - Australian Army MRH-90 Helicopter A40-040 "Bushman 83" Crashes in the Whitsundays - The Grim Search Begins for Wreckage and Crew - Plus More!

Late on Friday 28 July, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-040 "Bushman 83" ditched into waters close to Hamilton Island during low-level flight operations in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 (TS23).  

Almost immediately, a search and rescue operation commenced involving several military aircraft and helicopters from both the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and United States Armed Forces, as well as several civilian aircraft and helicopters.

United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider gunship Hercules aircraft 18-5891 "Jackal 92" was on the scene on Friday night searched the area most of the night before then being spotted at Mackay Airport taking on fuel.  It then departed to RAAF Base Richmond where it has been deployed to during TS23.

On Saturday 29 July, fellow USAF AC-130J Ghostrider Herc 18-5905 "Jackal 93" looked to fly out of Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport and also search in the area of crash.

Later, USAF Lockheed MC-130J Commando II Hercules 11-5731 "Rogue 72" came up from Richmond to search and then land at Mackay Airport as pictured below.

While fellow Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-029 looked to join the search while on a flight out of Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport.  There seems to be several MRH-90s based at Prosie at the moment.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft A47-007 as "Rescue 251" flew up from RAAF Base Edinburgh and then RAAF Base Amberley to the search area at the Whitsundays.

And it appeared that RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft A41-208 as 'ASY667' did a low pass over the search area while flying from Canberra to Townsville.

Meanwhile, some of the civil aircraft and helicopters noted in the search efforts, also on Saturday 29 July, included the Cairns-based Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) (Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-XNC as "Rescue 440" which flew down and spent several hours seemingly coordinating some of the search efforts.

Careflight Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter VH-IME "Careflight 2" operated in the search area out of Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport - where it seems to be currently deployed for TS23.

And the two Central Queensland Rescue (CQ Rescue) (Babcock Mission Critical Services Australasia) Bell 412 helicopters VH-CQJ and then VH-VAU were both noted in the search area as "Rescue 412" while on flights out of and back to Mackay Airport.

Finally, also on Saturday 29 July, while it seemed that most flying for the day was called off out of respect of the overnight incident, there was still some action around the Lakeside Airpark and other large airports nearby as the United States Marine Corps (USMC) looked to complete troop insertion and extraction exercises.

United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lockheed KC-130J Hercules 165735 (Tail Code QB-5735) was noted departing Proserpine Airport for the North. It looked to use the radio callsign of "Raider 51".

USMC Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft 168243 (EP-00) and 168217 (EP-01) of VMM-265 'Dragons', flew as "Bowser 31" from the United States Navy (USN) amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) to Rockhampton Airport before then departing up to Lakeside Airpark.

They both then flew down to Mackay Airport and landed for a short time to refuel.  

They later returned to Rockhampton Airport for the night.

While after dark, three MV-22B Ospreys of VMM-363 'Lucky Red Lions' appeared to depart Lakeside Airpark and also then arrive into Mackay Airport for the night.

UPDATE!  Early on Sunday 30 July, the three Ospreys were identified as 168687 (YZ-13) "Dumptruck 11", 168686 (YZ-11) "Dumptruck 12" and 168234 (YZ-03) "Dumptruck 13".

These Ospreys are a part of the latest Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) and have deployed from the top end to RAAF Base Scherger in Far North Queensland for TS23.

And finally, some more ADF action saw Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopter N48-018 (Code 918) "Tiger 18" visit Mackay Airport.

It is believed that the Seahawk arrived from and departed back to the Royal Australian Navy's Hobart-class air warfare destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) which is in the area.

And a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Lockheed C-130J-30 Hercules transport aircraft looked to also visit Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport during the day with A97-442 as "Trojan 04" noted departing to Richmond, while A97-468 as "Trojan 03" looked to visit from RAAF Base Scherger.

Thanks to the local plane spotters and enthusiasts for their help in compiling this post!

Photos taken by 'AC', Steve Vit, Dan Bishop and 'JM'  ©