While thoroughly enjoying some planespotting at Townsville Airport, North Queensland in October 2014, we located the old Hawker Pacific hangar which reportedly, now owned by Townsville based property development, shipping, manufacturing and mining project company - Curtain Bros Pty Ltd.
Upon taking control of the old HP hangar, the facility became home for two Curtain Bros operated aircraft, Beechcraft B200C Super King Air VH-CBZ and Beechcraft 1900D VH-VPZ, as well as the base for two local aviation businesses whom each lease a section of the hangar to support their own operations.
On the day of our presence, Curtain Bros Beechcraft B200C Super King Air VH-CBZ was away on a job, however, secured and resting peacefully in the hangar was Beechcraft 1900D VH-VPZ.
Reguarly used to transport company employees between Townsville and Port Moresby, PNG among other locations, VH-VPZ is an 1998 manufactured aircraft powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67D turboprop engines.
While not necessarily specific to VH-VPZ, the Beechcraft 1900D is capable of cruising at 280 knots (518 km/h, 322 mph), certified to a service ceiling of 25000 ft (7620 m) and achieve a range with full load (typical layout in airline configuration for 19 passengers) in excess of 1000 km (620 miles).
