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Fairchild T-46

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(Redirected from Fairchild Republic T-46)
T-46 "Eaglet"
A T-46 out of Edwards AFB
Type Jet trainer aircraft
Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft
Maiden flight October 15 1985
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 3

The Fairchild T-46 (nicknamed the "Eaglet") was a light jet trainer aircraft of the 1980s. It was cancelled in 1986 with only three aircraft being produced.

Design and Development

In order to validate the proposed aircraft's design, and to explore its flight handling characteristics, Fairchild Republic contracted with Ames Industries of Bohemia, New York to build a flyable 62% scale version. Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) in Mojave, California was contracted to perform the flight test evaluations, with test pilot Dick Rutan doing the flying. The scale version was known at RAF as the Model 73 NGT.

The plane was the winner of the US Air Force's competition to build the Next Generation Trainer (NGT) program to replace the Cessna T-37 Tweet. The aircraft first flew on October 15 1985, but was cancelled a little more than a year later, for reasons that largely remain controversial. The T-46 was the last project of the Fairchild Republic Corporation, and after the program termination it had no more income. Without any new contracts and the NGT program cancelled, the company closed the Republic factory in Farmingdale, New York, bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end.

File:Fairchild T-46-2.jpg
Two T-46 aircraft circling the Edwards AFB

The aircraft itself featured a side by side configuration, a twin (or "H") tail (similar to the company's A-10), ejection seats, pressurization, and two turbofan engines. Had it gone into full production the NGT program called for over 600 aircraft being built up to 1993. There was potential for some overseas sales as well, such as in the light ground attack role in addition to its role as a trainer.

A remaining T-46 can be seen at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and in the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.

Aircraft Serial Numbers
  • 84-0492 / 84-0493
  • 85-1596 / 85-1605 (only 85-1596 completed)

Specifications (T-46)

File:070329-F-1234P-019.jpg
T-46, X-32 and YF-23 in the restoration area of the National Museum of the United States Air Force

General characteristics

  • Crew: two; trainer, student
  • Length: 19 ft 9 in (8.99 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 7 in (11.78 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
  • Wing area: 160.9 ft² (14.95 m²)
  • Empty weight: 5,172 lb (2,351 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,802 lb (3,092 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Garrett F109-GA-100 two-shaft turbofans, 1,326 lbf (5.9 kN) each
  • * Aspect ratio: 9.3
  • Internal fuel capacity: 1,258 lb (572 kg)

Performance


External Links

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Designation sequence

See also

Template:USAF trainer aircraft

ja:T-46 (練習機)