PAC CT/4

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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.

PAC's predecessor, AESL, derived the CT4 from the earlier 4 seat prototype Victa/AESL Aircruiser, itself an upgrade of the basic Victa/AESL Airtourer, production of which had started in Australia in the 1960s, then shifted across the Tasman, where were 87 manufactured in Hamilton in the 1970s. Externally the CT/4 differs from the Airtourer and Aircruiser designs by its larger engine and bubble canopy, (designed in an aerofoil shape to generate additional lift).

The CT/4 prototype ZK-DGY 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 Australian Air Force. The 62nd machine was the first CT4B, with detail improvements, mostly in instrumentation. The CT4B was ordered by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (19) and the Royal Rhodesian Air Force (14). The Rhodesian aircraft were 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 which lead to the firm re-emerging as the Pacific Aerospace Corporation. For several years air trainer production ceased although the type remained nominally available. In 1991 in an attempt to win a lucrative USAF contract, two new developments of the CT4 airframe were flown; the CT4D turboprop, and the CT4E with 300 hp piston engine, 3 bladed propellor, 10cm longer fuselage and wing attachments moved rearwards. Neither attracted production orders at the time, but in 1998 CT4E production commenced with orders for the Royal New Zealand Air Force for 13 and Royal Thai Air Force for 16. Both nations used the CT4E to replace their earlier model CT4s.

The CT/4 proved to be an agile and capable military training aircraft. It is currently in use with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), and formerly used by the Royal Australian Air Force, (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 - the aircraft is in fact all aluminium). Many former RAAF and RNZAF aircraft are owned by private pilots and companies contracted to provide training for airforces or airlines. Some new build CT4s 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.

[edit] Variants

CT-4A : Powered by a 210 hp Continental piston engine.

The first ever CT-4E model Airtrainer circa 1994

The initial production design, 78 built for RTAF and RAAF and civilian operators.
CT-4B : Powered by a 225 hp Continental piston engine.
A version of the CT4A with minimal changes to suit the RNZAF, 38 built for RNZAF, RTAF and civilian operators.

This is also used by the RAAF as a basic trainer and for the Pilot Selction process

CT-4C : a turboprop variant rebuilt from an RNZAF CT4B that never reached production. After a successful flight test programme and unsuccessful marketing programme, the prototype CT4C was returned to CT4B standard.
CT-4D : (aka CT4CR) a proposed retractable undercarriage model that has never flown.
CT-4E : Powered by a 300 hp Lycoming and with a three blade propeller, the CT4E was a significant update, designed to compete for a USAF requirement. Though not selected by the US, the type has been ordered by the RTAF, RNZAF, Singapore and BAe pilot training, it is the current production model, with 37 built to date.