The United States Air Force (USAF) launched its Next Generation Trainer (NGT) program to replace the Cessna T-37 Tweet primary trainer in 1981.[1] Fairchild-Republic submitted a shoulder-winged monoplane with a twin tail, powered by two Garrett F109turbofans and 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 of Bohemia, New York to build a flyable 62% scale version. Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory 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 Rutan as the Model 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 1985 Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act mandated 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. Rourke cancelled 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 in Farmingdale, New York, bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end.
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 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]
"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.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild T-46.
Global Security Article on the T-46
Includes photo of RAF Model 73 flown by Dick Rutan
Aircraft Procurement: Development and Production Issues Concerning the T-46A Aircraft
January 01, 1970
fairchild, american, light, trainer, aircraft, 1980s, cancelled, 1986, with, only, three, aircraft, being, produced, edwards, role, trainer, aircraft, manufacturer, fairchild, aircraft, first, flight, october, 1985, status, cancelled, 1988, primary, user, unit. The Fairchild T 46 was an American light jet trainer aircraft of the 1980s It was cancelled in 1986 with only three aircraft being produced T 46 A T 46 out of Edwards AFB Role Jet trainer aircraft Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft First flight 15 October 1985 Status Cancelled in 1988 Primary user United States Air Force Number built 3 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operators 3 Aircraft on display 4 Specifications T 46 performance estimated 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development editThe United States Air Force USAF launched its Next Generation Trainer NGT program to replace the Cessna T 37 Tweet primary trainer in 1981 1 Fairchild Republic submitted a shoulder winged monoplane with a twin tail powered by two Garrett F109 turbofans and 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 of Bohemia New York to build a flyable 62 scale version Burt Rutan s Rutan Aircraft Factory 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 Rutan as the Model 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 1985 Gramm Rudman Hollings Balanced Budget Act mandated 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 Force Russell A Rourke cancelled 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 in Farmingdale New York bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end nbsp Two T 46 aircraft circling 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 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 edit nbsp United States United States Air ForceAircraft on display editAll three prototypes have been preserved 84 0492 can be seen at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base California 84 0493 is under restoration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force 10 85 1596 can be seen at the AMARG Celebrity Row during the AMARG bus tour from the Pima Air Museum Arizona The Model 73 NGT Flight Demonstrator can be seen at the Cradle of Aviation Museum New YorkSpecifications T 46 performance estimated edit nbsp T 46 X 32 and YF 23 in the restoration area of the National Museum of the United States Air Force Data from Tweety Bird Replacement 11 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 29 ft 6 in 8 99 m Wingspan 38 ft 7 3 4 in 11 779 m Height 9 ft 11 3 4 in 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 100 turbofans 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 editJPATS Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era T 37 Tweet T 6 Texan IIReferences editNotes edit Braybrook 1985 p 274 a b Braybrook 1985 p 275 Braybrook 1985 pp 275 276 Flight International 17 July 1982 p 122 a b c d Mormillo 1986 p 650 Flight International 26 October 1985 p 8 Mormillo 1986 pp 651 652 Flight International 8 November 1986 p 9 Warwick 1985 p 29 Fact Sheet FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC T 46A National Museum of the USAF Retrieved 14 July 2017 Braybrook 1985 p 276 Taylor 1986 p 402 Bibliography edit 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 International 26 October 1985 p 8 Taylor John W R editor Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1986 87 London Jane s Yearbooks 1986 ISBN 0 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild T 46 Global Security Article on the T 46 Includes photo of RAF Model 73 flown by Dick Rutan Aircraft Procurement Development and Production Issues Concerning the T 46A Aircraft Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairchild T 46 amp oldid 1176802637, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
