In 1982, the US Air Force issued a Next Generation Trainer (NGT) competition for primary flight instruction that intended to replace the Cessna T-37. Initially it was planned that the Air Force would purchase 650 of the trainers through 1993 and that they would serve well into the 21st century. In order to validate the proposed aircraft's design, and to explore its flight handling characteristics, Fairchild Republic contracted with Ames Industries to build a flyable 62% scale testbed, the Model 73. The Model 73 won the competition and designated T-46 Eaglet. The T-46 prototype was first flight tested at Edwards AFB on 15 October 1985. The plane performed beyond expectation during the testing phase. However, due to budget constraints, the Air Force cancelled the T-46 program in 1986 after only three aircrafts had been completed. 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, bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end.

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Basic trainer

To entry the US Air Force's Next Generation Trainer (NGT) competition to replace the Cessna T-37 Tweet

38ft.7in

19ft.9in.

12ft.8in.

2x Garrett F109-GA-100 turbofans

454 mph

2

None

The Fairchild T-46 Eaglet is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Post war & modern U.S. trainer

North American T-6 Harvard

Beech T-7 Navigator

Beech T-11 Kansan

North American T-28 Trojan

Convair T-29 Flying Classroom

Douglas T-30

Fairchild T-31

Lockheed T-33 Silver Star

Beech T-34 Mentor

Temco T-35 Buckaroo

Cessna T-37 Tweety Bird

Northrop T-38 Talon

Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner

Lockheed T-40 Jetstar

Cessna T-41 Chickenhawk

Beech T-42 Cochise

Boeing T-43 Gator

Beech T-44 Pegasus

McDonnell-Douglas / BAe T-45 Goshawk

Fairchild T-46 Eaglet

Cessna T-47 Citation