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Fairchild T-46

TheFairchild T-46is an American light jettrainer aircraftof the 1980s. It was cancelled in 1986 with only three aircraft being produced.

T-46
A T-46 out of Edwards AFB
General information
TypeJettrainer aircraft
ManufacturerFairchild Aircraft
StatusCancelled in 1988
Primary userUnited States Air Force
Number built3
History
First flight15 October 1985

Design and development

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TheUnited States Air Force(USAF) launched itsNext Generation Trainer(NGT) program to replace theCessna T-37 Tweetprimary trainer in 1981.[1]Fairchild-Republic submitted a shoulder-wingedmonoplanewith a twin tail, powered by twoGarrett F109turbofansand with pilot and instructor sitting side by side.[2]Part of the rationale was an expectation of increasing levels of general aviation traffic. A pressurized trainer would permit training at higher altitude, leading to fewer restrictions on the new pilots.

In order to validate the proposed aircraft's design, and to explore its flight handling characteristics, Fairchild Republic contracted with Ames Industries ofBohemia, New Yorkto build a flyable 62% scale version.Burt Rutan'sRutan Aircraft FactoryinMojave, Californiawas contracted to perform the flight test evaluations, with test pilotDick Rutandoing the flying. The scale version was known at Rutan as theModel 73 NGT,this flying on 10 September 1981.[3]One requirement was for the aircraft to be able to go into a spin, but to also have easy recovery from the spin. This was demonstrated using the Model 73 NGT.

Fairchild's design, to be designated T-46, was announced winner of the competition on 2 July 1982,[2]with the USAF placing an order for two prototypes and options for 54 production aircraft.[4]It was planned to build 650 T-46s for the USAF by 1991.[5]

The aircraft first flew on 15 October 1985,[6]six months later than originally programmed date of 15 April. Costs had increased significantly during the development process, with the predicted unit cost rising from $1.5 million in 1982 to $3 million in February 1985.[5]The 1985Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Actmandated spending cuts for the US government in an attempt to limit the national debt,[5]and while testing did not reveal any major problems,[7]Secretary of the Air ForceRussell A. Rourkecancelled procurement of the T-46, while allowing limited development to continue.[5]While attempts were made in Congress to reinstate the program, which resulted in the FY 1987 budget being delayed, an amendment was passed to the 1987 Appropriations Bill to forbid any spending on the T-46 until further evaluation of the T-46 against the T-37 and other trainers took place.[8]

The project was cancelled a little more than a year later,for reasons that largely remain controversial[citation needed].The T-46 was the last project of the Fairchild Republic Corporation, and after the program termination Fairchild had no more income. Without any new contracts and the NGT program cancelled, the company closed the Republic factory inFarmingdale, New York,bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end.

Two T-46 aircraft circlingEdwards AFB

The aircraft itself featured a side-by-side configuration, a twin (or "H" ) tail (similar to the company'sA-10),ejection seats,pressurization, and twoturbofanengines. Had it gone into full production the NGT program called for 650 aircraft being built up to 1992. 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.[9]

Operators

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United States

Aircraft on display

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All three prototypes have been preserved:

Specifications (T-46) (performance estimated)

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T-46,X-32andYF-23in the restoration area of theNational Museum of the United States Air Force

Data fromTweety-Bird Replacement[11]

General characteristics

  • Crew:2
  • Length:29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
  • Wingspan:38 ft7+3⁄4in (11.779 m)
  • Height:9 ft11+3⁄4in (3.042 m)
  • Wing area:160.9 sq ft (14.95 m2)
  • Aspect ratio:9.28:1
  • Airfoil:NASA LS(1)[12]
  • Empty weight:5,275 lb (2,393 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight:6,962 lb (3,158 kg)
  • Fuel capacity:200 US gal (170 imp gal; 760 L)
  • Powerplant:2 ×Garrett F109-GA-100turbofans,1,330 lbf (5.9 kN) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed:397 kn (457 mph, 735 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
  • Cruise speed:333 kn (383 mph, 617 km/h) at 45,000 ft (14,000 m)
  • Range:1,190 nmi (1,370 mi, 2,200 km)
  • Service ceiling:46,500 ft (14,200 m)
  • Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m):1,520 ft (460 m)

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

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Notes

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  1. ^Braybrook 1985, p. 274.
  2. ^abBraybrook 1985, p. 275.
  3. ^Braybrook 1985, pp. 275–276.
  4. ^Flight International17 July 1982, p. 122.
  5. ^abcdMormillo 1986, p. 650.
  6. ^Flight International26 October 1985, p. 8.
  7. ^Mormillo 1986, pp. 651–652.
  8. ^Flight International8 November 1986, p. 9.
  9. ^Warwick 1985, p. 29.
  10. ^Fact Sheet: FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC T-46A ".National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  11. ^Braybrook 1985, p. 276.
  12. ^Taylor 1986, p. 402

Bibliography

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  • Braybrook, Roy. "Tweety-Bird Replacement".Air International,June 1985, Vol 28, No. 6. pp. 273–280.
  • "Fairchild wins NGT".Flight International,17 July 1982, p. 122.
  • Mormillo, Frank B. "T-46A: The Trainer of the Future?"Aircraft Illustrated,December 1986, Vol. 19, No. 12. pp. 648–653.
  • "T-46A is flown".Flight International26 October 1985, p. 8.
  • Taylor, John W. R.(editor)Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1986–87.London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1986.ISBN0-7106-0835-7.
  • "USAF trainer contest opened to all"Flight International,8 November 1986, p. 9.
  • Warwick, Graham"T-46: A Class Apart".Flight International,13 April 1985, pp. 24–29.
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