These photos were found among my late Dad’s collection. They are a walk-around of the NZAI CT-4A Airtrainer, built at Rukuhia just down the road from here, and they were taken whilst it was still on the NZ Civil Register as ZK-DTQ (just after it was built in 1974)
It became serial F16-015/17, coded RR.015 / 15 with the RTAF. It’s construction number was CT4-018. It first flew on the 6th of August 1974.
This could be a colourful option for modellers making the upcoming Kiwi Resins CT-4 kits in 1/48th. Any RTAF fans out there? Are any still active there? I believe the Thai Police also got at least one Airtrainer too.
By: Malcolm McKay - 31st January 2006 at 11:01
Not actually an Airtourer. Though similar to look at the Airtrainers are a completely different design. The design of the Airtrainer was done here in NZ by New Zealand Aerospace Industries (now Pacific Aerospace) in the 1970’s, some time after NZAI’s predecessor New Zealand Aero Engines Ltd had bought the rights to build Airtourers for the worldwide market.
Victa had no real input into the development of the Airtourer once the design was sold to NZ, that was also done in NZ with a succession of bigger engines being installed on the airframe, and Victa had nothing whatsoever to do with the design of the Airtrainer as sen above, despite what the Aussie books tell you.
Between these two designs was the Aircruiser, which was designed by Victa as a four seat Airtourer, but this was actually developed and built only in small numbers by NZAI. This formed a starting point to go with in developing an all new military trainer. Though the outline was used as a starting point, the internal structure was redesigned by the NZAI team, lead by British-Kiwi designer Patrick Monk.
So, if you put a CT-4A or CT-4B beside an Airtourer, at first glance you think they’re the same, but closer inspection tells many many differences. Nowadays Pacific Aerspace makes the CT-4E which is turboprop powered.
That’s OK Dave, whatever you Kiwis call it, it will always be the Victa Airtourer to me. 🙂
One day I might mention the one that someone was sick in and then parked in the sun with the canopy closed. Lovely thing for a student pilot to be faced with. :rolleyes:
By: Dave Homewood - 29th January 2006 at 11:48
Not actually an Airtourer. Though similar to look at the Airtrainers are a completely different design. The design of the Airtrainer was done here in NZ by New Zealand Aerospace Industries (now Pacific Aerospace) in the 1970’s, some time after NZAI’s predecessor New Zealand Aero Engines Ltd had bought the rights to build Airtourers for the worldwide market.
Victa had no real input into the development of the Airtourer once the design was sold to NZ, that was also done in NZ with a succession of bigger engines being installed on the airframe, and Victa had nothing whatsoever to do with the design of the Airtrainer as sen above, despite what the Aussie books tell you.
Between these two designs was the Aircruiser, which was designed by Victa as a four seat Airtourer, but this was actually developed and built only in small numbers by NZAI. This formed a starting point to go with in developing an all new military trainer. Though the outline was used as a starting point, the internal structure was redesigned by the NZAI team, lead by British-Kiwi designer Patrick Monk.
So, if you put a CT-4A or CT-4B beside an Airtourer, at first glance you think they’re the same, but closer inspection tells many many differences. Nowadays Pacific Aerspace makes the CT-4E which is turboprop powered.
By: Malcolm McKay - 29th January 2006 at 11:21
I remember those when they were the humble Victa Airtourer – did my flying lessons in one. 😀
It was later discovered that as a pilot I would really be a greater menace to those on the ground than seagulls are to bald heads. 😮
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January 29, 2006 at 11:06 am