Australia April 2011

[andrewn]

Seen at a brief stopover at RAAF Amberley,QLD on Tuesday 12th April were the following:
1 Sqn mks - F/A-18F Super Hornet: A44-208, A44-204 "Cannon 21&22"
3 Sqn mks - F/A-18A Hornet: A21-21, A21-39 "Cobra 11&12"
77 Sqn mks - F/A-18A Hornet: A21-46 "Cobra 14"

A morning spent at RAAF Williamtown,NSW on Friday 15th April was more productive with the following seen flying between 0900 and 1100hrs:
2 Sqn - Wedgetail: A30-001 "Wedgetail 07"
75 Sqn mks - F/A-18A Hornet: A21-35 "Hunter 11"
77 Sqn mks - F/A-18A Hornet: A21-16, A21-19, A21-20, A21-5 "Shogun 11-14", A21-1 "Despot 11", F/A-18B A21-105 "Hunter 12" (RTB as 'PAN' with LH engine shutdown)

2 OCU mks - F/A-18B Hornet: A21-109 "Hunter 13", A21-108, A21-118 "Hipshot 21&22"
Seen in a hangar was A21-37 (3 sqn mks)

Williamtown is a busy base and the ramps and Hangars were full of Hornets as well as Hawk 127's and PC-9's as well as a further Wedgetail. Being a Friday the flying was done by about 2pm.

Outside the Fighterworld museum near the viewing area was a Vampire T11 (A79-822).

A brief visit to RAAF Richmond,NSW on Monday 18th April found the following RAAF 37Sqn Hercules:
C-130H: A97-001, A97-002 (Flying), A97-003, A97-004, A97-005, A97-011 plus A97-010 and A97-012 both stored minus engines

C-130J-30: A97-442, A97-448, A97-449, A97-450 (Hercules 50th Annvy mks), A97-465, A97-468

Flying circuits was RAAF/34 Sqn B-737 A36-002 and stored were ex-RAAF B-707's A20-623, A20-624 (sp.mks) and A20-629

An unidentified RAAF/92Wg AP-3C Orion in 11 Sqn mks was also seen on the field

Richmond is a good place for spotting with the main Richmond-Windsor road being a good vantage point for both the flightline and any movements with the runway being parallel to the road.