A gift that flies, lands and saves lives
Help bring the first RFDS King Air 260C home this Christmas
A gift that flies, lands and saves lives
Help bring the first RFDS King Air 260C home this Christmas
The Flying Doctor needs to reach every corner of Queensland—whatever the weather.
For nearly 20 years, we have relied on our fleet of B200 aircraft to reach rural and remote airstrips. They’ve been the quiet heroes of our Queensland skies.
Some of them have flown for 20 years and done 20,000 hours in the air. Older aircraft demand more resources, time and manpower to maintain—making operations less efficient over time. As we look to the future, we’re ensuring our fleet continues to meet the evolving needs of our patients. That’s why we need to begin an historic fleet upgrade.
“We’re not just upgrading machines – we’re elevating our commitment to safety and service excellence.”
Nick Tully
RFDS Deputy Head of Flying Operations.
Only one aircraft can take the place of this workhorse of the outback—the King Air 260C.
This Christmas, please will you help bring the first RFDS Beechcraft King Air 260C aircraft to Australia, ready to connect families in the bush with life-saving care?
Elle-Jay had reached week 36 of a low-risk pregnancy. Everything had gone smoothly—so far.
But then ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit Queensland, causing widespread flooding that left roads impassable and families isolated for days.
From their home on Wombula Station—1,000 km west of Brisbane and a nine-hour drive from Elle-Jay’s obstetrician in Toowoomba—Elle-Jay and her husband, Mack, watched the water rise and communications falter.
Thankfully, the Flying Doctor team was already in touch.
“They rang to check on me. Then they called again to say a charter flight was leaving Thargomindah. My due date was still a month away, but it gave me peace of mind to get out while I could.”
Elle-Jay’s brother-in-law Jake, a chopper pilot, flew her off the station to the airstrip in time to meet the aircraft. Her hospital bag was left behind, but our crew made sure she received a backpack of essentials—nappies, breast pads, even a tiny Flying Doctor singlet for baby Lachlan.
“I cried when I opened it. It meant so much knowing the RFDS were looking out for us.”
For nearly 20 years, the Flying Doctor’s fleet of B200 aircraft has been doing exactly that—reaching families like Elle-Jay’s on red-earth airstrips delivering care where it’s needed most.
But these trusted workhorses have now clocked up around 20 years of service and 20,000 hours in the air.
It’s time for the next chapter.
The King Air 260C is the future of our fleet: purpose-built for the outback, equipped with advanced cockpit technology like synthetic vision to aid navigation in poor weather, and more powerful and efficient engines to reduce time in the air.
It’s the only aircraft capable of taking over from our B200s—and continuing the Flying Doctor mission for generations to come.
This Christmas, your gift can help bring the first RFDS King Air 260C to Australian soil—an historic milestone that will keep families like Elle-Jay’s connected to life-saving care, no matter where they live or what the weather brings.
Elle-Jay had reached week 36 of a low-risk pregnancy. Everything had gone smoothly—so far.
But then ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit Queensland, causing widespread flooding that left roads impassable and families isolated for days.
From their home on Wombula Station—1,000 km west of Brisbane and a nine-hour drive from Elle-Jay’s obstetrician in Toowoomba—Elle-Jay and her husband, Mack, watched the water rise and communications falter.
Thankfully, the Flying Doctor team was already in touch.
“They rang to check on me. Then they called again to say a charter flight was leaving Thargomindah. My due date was still a month away, but it gave me peace of mind to get out while I could.”
Elle-Jay’s brother-in-law Jake, a chopper pilot, flew her off the station to the airstrip in time to meet the aircraft. Her hospital bag was left behind, but our crew made sure she received a backpack of essentials—nappies, breast pads, even a tiny Flying Doctor singlet for baby Lachlan.
“I cried when I opened it. It meant so much knowing the RFDS were looking out for us.”
For nearly 20 years, the Flying Doctor’s fleet of B200 aircraft has been doing exactly that—reaching families like Elle-Jay’s on red-earth airstrips delivering care where it’s needed most.
But these trusted workhorses have now clocked up around 20 years of service and 20,000 hours in the air.
It’s time for the next chapter.
The King Air 260C is the future of our fleet: purpose-built for the outback, equipped with advanced cockpit technology like synthetic vision to aid navigation in poor weather, and more powerful and efficient engines to reduce time in the air.
It’s the only aircraft capable of taking over from our B200s—and continuing the Flying Doctor mission for generations to come.
This Christmas, your gift can help bring the first RFDS King Air 260C to Australian soil—an historic milestone that will keep families like Elle-Jay’s connected to life-saving care, no matter where they live or what the weather brings.