PAC CT/4 Airtrainer

Pacific Aerospace Corporation predecessor, AESL, derived the CT/4 from the earlier four-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, which built a total of 80 Airtourers at its 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—designed in an aerofoil shape. Structurally there are changes to the skin and upgrades of the four longerons in the fuselage from sheet metal to extrusions. The CT/4 prototype first flew on 23 February 1972. ==Variants==

• CT/4: Two prototypes, the first example was used by AESL to develop the CT/4 to meet RAAF requirements, retained by AESL/NZAI until NZAI bankruptcy in 1982. The second example the only single control CT/4 built, presented by NZAI to the Thai King, later used by the Royal Thai Police. • CT/4A: Powered by a 210 hp Continental piston engine. The initial production design, 75 built, 24 for the RTAF and 51 for the RAAF. • CT/4B: Powered by a 210 hp Continental piston engine. A version of the CT/4A with minimal changes to suit the RNZAF, 19 built for the RNZAF, 6 for the RTAF and 12 for Ansett/British Aerospace Flying Academy (now BAE Systems) at Tamworth, New South Wales. • CT/4C: Powered by an Alison 250 turboprop and with a three-bladed propeller, a single prototype was rebuilt from a damaged RNZAF CT/4B. After a successful flight-test programme and unsuccessful marketing programme the prototype CT/4C was returned to CT/4B standard. Not put into production • CT/4CR: A proposed retractable undercarriage Alison 250 turboprop powered model that was never built. • CT/4D: Original designation for RNZAF model • CT/4E: Powered by a 300 hp Lycoming and with a three-bladed propeller and the wing moved 5 cm rearwards to compensate for the altered centre of gravity. The CT/4E was a significant update designed to compete for a USAF requirement. 1 aircraft was converted from an ex-RAAF CT/4A and the remaining 41 were new built CT/4Es. 13 for the RNZAF, 24 for the RTAF, 2 for the SYFC, 1 for an Israeli customer and a demonstrator built for PAC in 2007, the 155th and last CT/4 built to date. • CT-4F "Akala": 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. One demonstrator converted in May 2007 from the CT/4E prototype, itself originally a RAAF CT/4A. • B.F.16: () Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the CT/4A and CT/4B. • B.F.16A: () Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the CT/4E. ==Operators==

; • Royal Australian Air Force • One CT/4A is preserved airworthy at the RAAF Museum and operated by No. 100 Squadron RAAF (the RAAF's heritage squadron) ==Former operators==

; • Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School (in conjunction with BAE Systems, Tamworth, New South Wales) • No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF • Aircraft Research and Development Unit, RAAF • Central Flying School RAAF • RMIT University ; • Royal New Zealand Air Force • Central Flying School and Pilot Training Squadron formerly pooled 13 aircraft. Retired on 4 December 2014. ; • Royal Thai Air Force Aircraft decommissioned 2020 • Royal Thai Police – one aircraft only. ; • Singapore Youth Flying Club 2 aircraft operated between 2002 and 2010 ==Specifications (CT4E)==

File:PAC CT-4 RNZAF.jpg|CT-4B at Tauranga, New Zealand, 2006 ==References==