Fiat G.46

G.46
Role Military trainer
Manufacturer Fiat
Designer Giuseppe Gabrielli
First flight 25 June 1947
Primary user Aeronautica Militare
Number built 223[1]

The Fiat G.46 was a military trainer developed in Italy shortly after World War II.

Design and development

The G.46 was a conventional, low-wing monoplane with tailwheel undercarriage, the main units of which retracted inwards. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem under a long canopy.[2] The first prototype, powered by a 205 hp (153 kW) Alfa Romeo 115-Ibis engine, made its maiden flight on 25 June 1947.[3]

Testing revealed excellent flying characteristics and suitability for aerobatics, and the type was ordered into production.

Apart from the 150 ordered by the Aeronautica Militare, 70 aircraft were exported, to Austria, Argentina and Syria.

Variants

G.46-1B
two-seater with Alfa Romeo 115bis engine, one prototype and initial production of 25 for the Italian Air Force.
G.46-2B
two-seater with de Havilland Gipsy Queen engine for the Argentine Air Force, 70 built with an additional 12 for the Syrian Air Force.
G.46-3B
two-seater with Alfa Romeo 115ter engine for the Italian Air Force, 25 built.
G.46-4B
two-seater with Alfa Romeo 115ter engine for the Italian Air Force, 55 built.
G.46-5B
two-seat navigation trainer (prototype only)
G.46-4A
single-seater with Alfa Romeo 115ter engine for the Italian Air Force, 35 built.

Operators

Austrian Fiat G.46
 Argentina
 Austria
 Italy
 Syria

Survivors

Ex-Argentine Air Force, Museo Nacional de Aeronautica, 2012
  • An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the Museo Nacional de Aeronautica de Argentina.[5]
  • A flightworthy G-46-3B which has been converted to a single-seat aircraft is on display at the Frasca Air Museum in Champagne, Illinois. The aircraft was originally in the service of the Italian air force.
  • A G-46-3B is currently on display and undergoing restoration to airworthy at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[6]

Specifications (G.46-4B)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two, pilot and instructor
  • Length: 8.48 m (27 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.40 m (34 ft 1¼ in)
  • Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 16 m2 (173 ft2)
  • Empty weight: 1,110 kg (2,442 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,410 kg (3,102 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Alfa Romeo 115-1ter air-cooled 6-cylinder piston engine, 168 kW (225 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 311 km/h (194 mph)
  • Cruising speed: 263 km/h (164 mph)
  • Range: 900 km (560 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 5,300 m (17,400 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.8 m/s (1,150 ft/min)

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Aerei Italiani
  2. ↑ Vigna Air International July 1995, p. 40.
  3. ↑ Vigna Air International July 1995, p. 36.
  4. ↑ Official website Aeronautica Militare Archived 2014-12-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ FERNANDEZ VIVAS, Leandro. "Un millón de personas visitaron el Argentina Air Fest 2010". Rumbos Aeronauticos (Issue 18, Year 9) (in Spanish). Fuerza Aerea Argentina. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  6. ↑ "Military Aviation Museum l WWII Aircraft". www.militaryaviationmuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  7. ↑ Bridgman 1953, p. 161.

Bibliography

  • Bridgman, Leonard (1953). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54. London: Jane's All The World's Aircraft Publishing Company.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 389.
  • Vigna, Achille (July 1995). "Juan Peron's Gift to Italy". Air International. Vol. 49 no. 1. pp. 38–42. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • "File 894 Sheet 22". World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing.
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