PAC CT/4 Airtrainer

The Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 Airtrainer series are all-metal construction, single-engine, two place side-by-side seating, fully aerobatic, piston engined, basic training aircraft manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand.

History
PAC's predecessor, AESL, derived the CT/4 from the earlier 4 seat prototype Victa Aircruiser, itself a development of the original Victa Airtourer two seat light tourer, 172 of which had been built in Australia from 1961 to 1966 before the rights to the Airtourer and Aircruiser were sold to the New Zealand company AESL, who built a total of 80 Airtourers at their factory at Hamilton in the 1970s.

In 1971, the Royal Australian Air Force had a requirement for the replacement of the CAC Winjeels used as basic trainers at RAAF Point Cook. AESL's chief designer, P W C Monk, based the new aircraft on the stronger airframe of the Aircruiser. Externally the CT/4 differs from the Airtourer and Aircruiser designs by its larger engine and the bubble canopy&mdash;designed in an aerofoil shape. Structurally there are changes to the skin and upgrading of the four longerons in the fuselage from sheet metal to extrusions.

The CT/4 prototype first flew on February 23, 1972. Two prototypes were built, at which point AESL became New Zealand Aerospace Industries Ltd. Production was launched against an order for 24 from the Royal Thai Air Force. The type was then selected as the primary trainer for the Royal Australian Air Force. The 62nd machine was the first CT/4B, with detail improvements, mostly in instrumentation. The CT/4B was ordered by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (19) and 14 were ordered ostensibly by a Swiss company, Breco Trading Co, on behalf of a Swiss flying club. Breco was discovered to be a sanctions busting front for the Rhodesian Air Force. These aircraft were then embargoed by the New Zealand government after being built and spent 6 years in storage before being sold to the Royal Australian Air Force. This caused financial difficulties for the manufacturer, which lead to the firm re-emerging as the Pacific Aerospace Corporation.

For several years Airtrainer production ceased, although the type remained nominally available for orders. In 1991, in an attempt to win a lucrative USAF contract, two new developments of the CT/4 airframe were flown&mdash;the CT/4C turboprop and the CT/4E with a 300 hp piston engine, a 3-bladed propellor, 100 mm longer fuselage and wing attachments moved rearwards. Neither attracted production orders at the time but, in 1998, CT/4E production commenced with orders for the Royal New Zealand Air Force for 13 and Royal Thai Air Force for 16. Both nations used the CT/4E to replace their earlier model CT/4A and B.



The CT/4 proved to be an agile and capable military training aircraft. It is currently in use with the RNZAF and the RTAF and was formerly used by the RAAF (until primary training was sub contracted). In Australia the type is commonly known as the plastic parrot, (a reference to its gaudy RAAF colour scheme&mdash;the aircraft is, in fact, of all-aluminium construction). Many former RAAF and RNZAF aircraft are owned by private pilots and by companies contracted to provide training for airforces or airlines. Some new-build CT/4s have also been produced for such private owners.

Not counting the converted Aircruiser prototype, a total of 153 aircraft had been made by January 2005 when low volume production was continuing for the RTAF and Singapore.

Variants

 * CT/4A: Powered by a 210 hp Continental piston engine. The initial production design, 78 built for RTAF and RAAF and civilian operators.
 * CT/4B: Powered by either a 210 hp or 225 hp Continental piston engine. A version of the CT/4A with minimal changes to suit the RNZAF, 38 built for RNZAF, RTAF and civilian operators. This is also used by the RAAF, through the BAe College in Tamworth, as a basic trainer and for the Pilot Selection process
 * CT/4C: A turboprop variant, rebuilt from an RNZAF CT/4B, that never reached production. After a successful flight-test programme and unsuccessful marketing programme the prototype CT/4C was returned to CT/4B standard.
 * CT/4D: (aka CT/4CR) A proposed retractable undercarriage model that has never flown.
 * CT/4E: Powered by a 300 hp Lycoming and with a three-blade propeller, the CT/4E was a significant update designed to compete for a USAF requirement. Though not selected by the U.S. the type has been ordered by the RTAF, RNZAF and Singapore. It is the current production model, with 37 built to date.
 * CT/4F: A 300 hp version offered for an RAAF requirement, in conjunction with Raytheon Australia, with glass cockpit avionics from the Hawker Beechcraft T-6B T-6 Texan II, underwing hardpoints, air conditioning, and centre of gravity moved rear. One demonstrator built in May 2007.
 * CT/4G: A CT/4E based aircraft with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit.

Operators

 * Royal Australian Air Force (former RAAF/RNZAF aircraft and new-build machines are used for privately contracted RAAF training)
 * ADF Basic Flying Training School
 * Central Flying School RAAF
 * RMIT University
 * (A single CT/4E)
 * Royal New Zealand Air Force
 * Pilot Training School and Central Flying School share 13 aircraft
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Royal Thai Police
 * Thai Border Patrol Police - Former operator, one aircraft only.
 * Republic of Singapore Air Force and Singapore Youth Flying Club
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Royal Thai Police
 * Thai Border Patrol Police - Former operator, one aircraft only.
 * Republic of Singapore Air Force and Singapore Youth Flying Club
 * Republic of Singapore Air Force and Singapore Youth Flying Club