5 June 2026

120 ‘Desert Giants’ Squadron

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Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia: October 2025 – April 2026 N132CG/BOMBER 132 Lockheed C-130H Hercules (MSN 382-4338) of Coulson Aviation, at Busselton Airport - 18 February 2021. Based at Busselton during the 2020/21 fire season, under contract to the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Carries 15,000 Litres of fire retardant foam or water and is seen here at 4:17pm, performing one of its weekly test drops. Built in 1969, previously serial number 956 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick.

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia: October 2025 – April 2026

8 October 2025
June 2024 aircraft photos ZK-TXA Boeing 737-8BK(BCF) of Texel Air (Team Global Express), named 'Karen', at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 13 June 2024. Flight TFX12 from Melbourne, on approach to runway 03 at 7:29am. This was its third visit - it previously visited on 11 and 12 June 2024.

June 2024 aircraft photos

30 June 2024
Historic first: Qantas Boeing 787‑9 from London diverts to Karratha Airport VH‑ZNE Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner Skippy of Qantas at Karratha Airport, Western Australia, 1 June 2024. This marked the first direct flight from London Heathrow and the first visit to Karratha by a Boeing 787. Many local residents gathered at Karratha Airport to witness this rare event. Flight QF10 from London Heathrow to Perth landed on Karratha’s runway 08 at 11:19am after being diverted due to a loss of pressure in Perth Airport’s refuelling system. Passengers remained on board the 787 while it was refuelled at Karratha. It is seen here at 12:46pm taxying out to runway 08 to depart to Perth. It took off at 12:49pm. Perth Airport was closed from 7:26am until just before midday, resulting in 59 flight cancellations and multiple diversions and delays.

Historic first: Qantas Boeing 787‑9 from London diverts to Karratha Airport

2 June 2024
Karratha Airport aircraft photos May – June 2024 VH-VKQ Airbus A320-232 of Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and VH-PXE Leonardo AW139 operated by CHC Helicopters (Lloyd Helicopters) at Karratha Airport, Western Australia - 31 May 2024. VH-VKQ: Flight VA1723 from Perth landing on runway 08 at 8:33am. On 12 March 2025, Virgin announced the withdrawal of A320s from the Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) fleet by June 2026. The same day, VH-VKQ flew Perth - Cairns - Majuro - Kona - Coolidge Municipal Airport (Arizona). where it is stored. VH-PXE: Lifting the nosewheel off the ground before taking off from taxiway F (which used to be the runway) at 8:33am, departing to Learmonth, (1 hour 7 minutes flying time).

Karratha Airport aircraft photos May – June 2024

1 June 2024