• The briefing for the formation flypast was very professional and took around one hour to do.
    The briefing for the formation flypast was very professional and took around one hour to do.
  • CT4s being readied for the mass flypast.
    CT4s being readied for the mass flypast.
  • The military portion of the formation shows how precisely the parrot can be flown.
    The military portion of the formation shows how precisely the parrot can be flown.
  • Parrot 049, better known as VH-PTM was dressed with the coat of arms of the Maintenance Squadron East Sale especially for the event.
    Parrot 049, better known as VH-PTM was dressed with the coat of arms of the Maintenance Squadron East Sale especially for the event.
  • 037 tied down in the BAe Systems shelters.
    037 tied down in the BAe Systems shelters.
  • Parrot 046 bearing the symbol of the Aircraft Research and Development unit (ARDU) of the RAAF.
    Parrot 046 bearing the symbol of the Aircraft Research and Development unit (ARDU) of the RAAF.
  • How they got their name. The original green and yellow livery reminded pilots of a parrot, and the apparent flimsiness compared to the outgoing Winjeel gave rise to the moniker Plastic Parrot.
    How they got their name. The original green and yellow livery reminded pilots of a parrot, and the apparent flimsiness compared to the outgoing Winjeel gave rise to the moniker Plastic Parrot.
  • The BFTS squadron coat of arms on the tail of a BAe aircraft.
    The BFTS squadron coat of arms on the tail of a BAe aircraft.
  • Goodbye Tamworth! The Parrots roll in for a farewell pass across the city.
    Goodbye Tamworth! The Parrots roll in for a farewell pass across the city.
  • A very impressive sight as the formation cruises over the airport.
    A very impressive sight as the formation cruises over the airport.
  • How it looked from inside.
    How it looked from inside.
  • A CT4 in BAe Systems livery waits for the order to start.
    A CT4 in BAe Systems livery waits for the order to start.
  • A very special one-off livery on a BAe aircraft.
    A very special one-off livery on a BAe aircraft.
  • A selection of the many liveries that CT4s have carried into the sky.
    A selection of the many liveries that CT4s have carried into the sky.
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With the Royal Australian Air Force moving basic training to East Sale and adopting the new Pilatus PC-21 as a basic trainer, the venerable CT4 Airtrainer reached the end of its RAAF association 43 years after it first entered service. Since the early 1990s, the CT4 has been doing flight screening and basic training at Basic Flight Training School (BFTS) Tamworth under the expert guidance of BAe Systems. On 21 September this year, it was time to say goodbye to the aircraft that became known as the Plastic Parrot, and a mass formation flyover of Tamworth and the airport was a fitting way to retire from service an aircraft that was greeted with derision in 1975 and farewelled with affection in 2018.

Thanks to Michelle Schiffer (VH-PTM A19-049) and Murray Gerraty for supplying these images from the day.

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