Plane sailing from here on in for retired aircraft - Royal Flying Doctor Service.

THE Royal Flying Doctor Service has farewelled one of their most valued team members - aeromedical plane Foxtrot Romeo Zulu.

The Beechcraft Super King Air B200 Aircraft was being sent to Bundaberg for light duties after clocking up over 12,000 hours in Townsville.

Foxtrot Romeo Zulu had been helping the service transport patients and provide healthcare to remote Queenslanders for the past six years, moving more than 9000 patients.

Senior pilot Bruce Waller said it will be sad to see the aircraft go but "it's time for it to get a bit of a break in Bundaberg".

Nurse manager Loretto Harvey was also sad to see the aircraft leave after treating many patients in it.

"I remember we had one patient who was 18 that we picked up from Mackay who had petrol burns to 60 per cent of his body," she said.

"We were able to get him to Brisbane hospital within two hours, which probably saved his life."

The aircraft will be replaced by a newer model named Foxtrot Delta Bravo.

Townsville is one of the busiest Royal Flying Doctor bases in Queensland and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, transporting more than 1900 patients annually.

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au