The Victa Aircruiser was a 1960s Australian four-seat touring monoplane designed by Henry Millicer and built as a single prototype by Victa Ltd. Victa completed certification work but did not place the aircraft into production. The design rights were later sold to Aero Engine Services Limited (AESL) in 1969 and formed the basis of the PAC CT/4 military trainer.
Following the success of the earlier Victa Airtourer two-seat trainer, Millicer designed a four-seat derivative designated the Aircruiser. The prototype, registered VH-MVR, first flew in July 1966. Like the Airtourer it was a low-wing aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear and was powered by a Continental IO-360 piston engine. Unlike the AirtourerâÂÂs sliding canopy, the Aircruiser featured a fixed cabin roof with a conventional door on the left-hand side.
Although Victa completed certification testing, the Aircruiser did not proceed to production. Victa closed its aviation division after failing to obtain financial assistance from the Australian government. Both Victa and Transavia Corporation sought subsidies for Australian-designed and built light aircraft; Victa sought support of up to 60 per cent of factory cost, but the proposal was rejected.
After AESL acquired the Airtourer rights, the Aircruiser rights were also sold to AESL in 1969. Under AESL, chief designer Pat Monk reworked the concept into the AESL CT/4 Airtrainer, a fully aerobatic military trainer.
In 2013, Brumby Aircraft Australia announced that it had acquired the type certificate for the Aircruiser as the basis for a modernised derivative, the Brumby Aircruiser.