RAAF bids farewell to CT4A trainer after 50 years

“Introduced into Air Force service in 1975, the Australian-built CT4A became the first military aircraft that thousands of aviators would fly. For decades, it provided the foundation upon which operational careers were built,” Defence said.

“For many aviators, the distinctive silhouette and bright colours of the CT4A became synonymous with the beginning of a military flying career, with the aircraft being the catalyst for members to fly some of Australia’s most advanced air combat, air mobility, maritime patrol and rotary-wing capabilities.

“Its final display flight over Point Cook represented a tribute to the instructors who taught from its cockpit, the engineers who sustained it, the air traffic controllers who guided it and the generations of aviators who took their first steps towards operational service behind its controls.”

The last flight was operated by Wing Commander David Chaplin, who said being entrusted with the responsibility carried “significant emotional weight”.

“There’s a whole lot of air power that has come from this aircraft. It was the first powered aircraft I flew. I joined the Air Force here at Point Cook in January 1980, and when we arrived on base, all we could see were CT4s flying around,” he said.

“Pretty much everybody who came through the services completed training on that aeroplane – Army, Navy and Air Force.

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“When the commanding officer asked me to conduct the flying display for the CT4’s final day, it was a little emotional.

“After the display, I started thinking about all the people who had trained on the aircraft and all those who had supported it over the years – engineers, administrators, air traffic controllers and instructors.”

Aside from its service at Point Cook, the CT4A was also employed at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit in Edinburgh, South Australia, and at the Central Flying School in East Sale.