Iconic Military Trainer Aircraft Marks 50 Years of Service

New Zealand – The aviation industry is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CT-4 Airtrainer — a New Zealand-designed basic trainer aircraft that has played a significant role in military pilot training across the Asia-Pacific region

• First developed in Hamilton in the early 1970s, more than 150 CT-4 units have been produced and operated by air forces in New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, and Singapore, with additional evaluations conducted by the UK, USA, Israel, and South Africa.

• The Royal Thai Air Force has operated the CT-4 continuously since 1973, making it one of the longest-serving basic trainers still in use globally.

• The aircraft continues to be manufactured and maintained at its original production site, now managed by NZAero. Earlier this year, NZAero signed a multi-million-dollar upgrade deal with the Royal Thai Air Force to retrofit CT-4s with digital avionics and modernised systems.

• Australia marked the milestone with a commemorative event at Tamworth Airport from October 17 to 19, hosted by the Airtourer Association. The site once hosted the BAE Ansett flying school, where CT-4Bs trained generations of pilots.

• NZAero CEO Stephen Burrows noted the aircraft’s exceptional service record and significance: “For fifty years this aircraft has introduced thousands of pilots to flight. Its simplicity, aerobatic performance and reliability have made it a trusted training platform for air forces and aviation schools around the world.”

Source: NZAero