CT4A A19-027
Developed in New Zealand by New Zealand Aerospace Industries as a military training version of the Australian-designed Victa Aircruiser, the prototype of the CT4 first flew on 23 February 1972. Ordered by the RAAF as a replacement for the Winjeel, the first of 51 CT4s arrived in Australia in January 1975, with the final aircraft delivered in June 1982. Nicknamed the "Plastic Parrot" in RAAF service, because of its lightweight construction (when compared to the Winjeel), and its green-and-yellow colour scheme, the CT4 commenced service as a basic training aircraft at No 1 Flying Training School (No 1 FTS) at Point Cook in late 1975. In addition to service at No 1 FTS, the CT4 was also operated by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at Edinburgh in South Australia and the Central Flying School (CFS) at East Sale for training RAAF flying instructors. The retirement of the CT4 from service in 1992 also meant the end of military flying training at Point Cook, an activity which had continued unbroken since 1914.
A19-027 was the first CT4 received by the RAAF, and served as a test aircraft at ARDU from January 1975 until October 1981 when it was transferred to CFS. It returned to ARDU in February 1982. A19-027 was transferred to No 1 FTS where it served until retirement in 1992. Although the CT4 fleet transitioned to the orange-and-white 'Fanta can' colours in October 1981, A19-027 returned to the original green-and-yellow colour scheme in September 1992 to mark the retirement of the type. A19-027 was transferred to the RAAF Museum in November 1992 and has been on static display ever since.