Photograph:
PAC CT-4C ZK-FXM (c/n 088) during flight testing near Hamilton, New Zealand (PAC via A Thoresen)
Country of origin:
New Zealand
Description:
Two/three-seat light training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 313 kw (420 shp) Allison 250-B17 turboprop
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.92 m (26 ft)
- Length: 7.14 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 11.98 m² (120 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 434 km/h (260 mph)
- Max speed at 3,050 m (10,000 ft): 445 km/h (276 mph)
- Max speed at 6,100 m (20,000 ft): 422 km/h (262 mph)
- Stalling speed at sea level, flaps down: 82 km/h (51 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 930 m/min (3,050 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 9,900 m (32,500 ft)
- Range with max fuel at 75% power with no reserves at 3,050 m (10,000 ft): 1,342 km (834 miles)
- Loaded weight: 1,202 kg (2,650 lb)
History:
The Airtrainer series was developed by AESL from the Victa Aircruiser, production proceeding for some years, the type still being in limited production. Subsequently the Company’s name was changed to the Pacific Aerospace Corporation. Over the years work proceeded on the development of the series to meet the requirements for civil flying schools, and the requirements of air forces which are unable to meet the cost of high performance trainers such as the Pilatus PC-9 and the Embraer Tucano. To this end three variants were developed and offered to prospective operators: the CT-4C with a 313 kw (420 shp) Allison 250-B17 turboprop with a fixed undercarriage; the CT-4CR with the Allison turboprop and a retractable undercarriage; and the CT-4D with a 211 kw (283 hp) Textron Lycoming IO-360 four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
The prototype of the new series, a CT-4C, made its first flight on 21 January 1991. This was airframe c/n 088, a CT-4B (ex NZ1940), which had been damaged in a take-off accident at Whitecliffs near Christchurch in 1977. Reduced to spares, it was rebuilt as the prototype for the new series. The programme continued for some time, with approximately 26 flights being made, the engine being run up at one stage to 224 kw (300 shp). However, no examples of the turbine power-plant model were sold and the aircraft eventually reverted to being fitted with a piston engine.