In short:
The CT4A trainer aircraft flew its final military flight above RAAF Base Point Cook on June 18, retiring after years of service with 100 Squadron. The farewell at Point Cook, the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force, honoured the Air Force and civilian personnel who maintained, restored and flew the historic aircraft.
100 Squadron honours aircraft
RAAF Base Point Cook farewelled the CT4A trainer aircraft on June 18, when the aircraft completed its final military flight above the historic airfield.
The flight closed a chapter in Australian military aviation history at a base with deep ties to the origins of the Air Force. RAAF Base Point Cook, in Melbourne’s west, is widely recognised as the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force and remains one of the oldest continually operating military airfields in the world.
For 100 Squadron chief engineer Tim O’Connor, the retirement carries personal weight. He has overseen the maintenance and restoration of the CT4A for six years, working alongside the squadron’s team of Air Force and civilian personnel.
“It’s certainly a little sad to see it go,” Mr O’Connor said.
“But that is a testament to the people behind the aircraft. The care and hard work that has been invested in maintaining it over the years have made it far more than just a platform to us.”
Mr O’Connor said the greatest achievement was what the 100 Squadron team continued to accomplish together at Point Cook.
“It’s about bringing everyone in and enjoying what we do along the way,” he said.
“The best part is seeing everyone come together, and watching what we are able to achieve as a team when we get those planes in the air.”
Commanding Officer 100 Squadron Wing Commander Richard Brougham said the CT4A’s farewell at Point Cook honoured the squadron’s people as much as the aircraft itself.
“It is a tribute to the incredible efforts of our people that the CT4A continued its service and achievements in this capacity,” Wing Commander Brougham said.
“To respectfully retire this aircraft in the presence of those who restored, maintained and flew it is both a privilege and a fitting way to celebrate an important part of our history.”
100 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Point Cook, continues to maintain a fleet of 11 national heritage aircraft. The squadron commemorates those who have fallen in service, promotes today’s Air Force, and works to inspire future generations under the motto “Then. Now. Always.”
