Fairchild-Republic T-46A : the debacle of the NGT winner

[Stargazer]

Ah! So both my guesses were true. Very interesting! Thanks a lot folks for the explanations.

 

[fightingirish]

Source: Interavia (Germany) - March 1983 - pages 227-229

 

[bigvlada]

A slight typo, the pictures are named as being taken from March 1938 Interavia .

 

[Archibald]

How about that. Add a bunch of 0.303 machine guns underwings, and that unfortunate T-46 could have decimated the whole Luftwaffe, including those peskies Me-262s. ;D He was just born at the wrong time...

 

[fightingirish]

Interesting article of the Fairchild T-46 Eaglet in the newest issue of the German magazine "Klassiker der Luftfahrt 05-2011".

Source (in German):
Klassiker der Luftfahrt 05/2011 - Fairchilds letztes Flugzeug - Fairchild T-46

 

[Stargazer]

Nice set of pics, thanks a lot for scanning and sharing! Just for the record, last picture shows the subscale demonstrator built by Ames Industrial with help from Rutan Aircraft Factory.

I have more about this one on my website here: http://stargazer2006.online.fr/aircraft/pages/ngt.htm
And though not Rutan-related, I also have a page on the T-46: http://stargazer2006.online.fr/derivatives/pages/eaglet.htm

 

[hesham]

Brilliant find my dear Rolf.

 

[Dynoman]

Here's some great photos during model testing and construction:

 

[Dynoman]

T-46A Mockups and simulator:

 

[Dynoman]

Electronic Mockup, ejection seat trainer, and cockpit simulator:

 

[Dynoman]

Static test article, fuselage construction, and roll out ceremony:

 

[AeroFranz]

Great pictures. I never knew winglets were considered.

 

[LowObservable]

With the understanding of winglets at the time, they could have improved the performance, done nothing or made it worse, but probably not by a significant amount compared with FR's other errors.

 

[Dynoman]

The T-46A's design was heavily influenced by the SAAB-105. Fairchild and SAAB had entered into a partnership to build the SAAB Fairchild SF340 turboprop commuter aircraft and collaborated on the T-46A. The SAAB 105's lines are readily apparent in the T-46A's layout. The H-tail was probably used over the SAAB's T-tail to increase spin recovery and effective control at high angels-of-attack. The winglets, I'm assuming, was to increase fuel economy at altitude as the Eaglet was supposed to be pressurized and cruise up to 41,000ft.

The T-46A was cited by the USAF as having a number of deficiencies. The largest problem was the amount of drag that it produced. I can imagine that the drag issue came up during wind tunnel tests and as a means to reduce drag and increase performance the winglets could have been considered. Ultimately, after the design was frozen FRC had chosen the Garrett F109 engines with a thrust of 1,330 lb st each. The USAF wanted FRC to use the TFE76 demonstration engine of 1,500 lb st. due to concerns over potential weight increases, but FRC decided a use a smaller engine in development with Garrett.

The GAO highlighted these performance deficits:
1. High drag
2. Lack of adequate stall warning
3. Roll trim issues
4. Speed brake buffet
5. Airframe weight increases

Program mismanagement was also cited as a severe problem in the T-46A program at FRC, with slipped delivery dates and substantial cost overruns.

 

[elmayerle]

I believe it was a less-powerful version of the same basic engine rather than a smaller one. Both are turbofan derivatives of TPE331 turboprop. It could be that the F109 was fully certified while the TFE76 was still a demonstration engine and FRC decided to play it safe there.

 

[flateric]

http://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19840702/#!&pid=36

 

[ScrutorAudax]

I found these.

 

[RAP]

...

 

[Dynoman]

The FRC 225 was to be nearly identical to the T-46A version except with four hard wing points for pylons with plumbing for fuel tanks and wiring to release its weapons. The cockpit would include an optical gun sight. FRC was looking to flight test the 225 by July of 1985.

 

[RAP]

...

 

[RipSteakface]

God i wish the Air Force had bought these. Might still be seeing new planes roll out of Hagerstown if they did.

 

[Archibald]

But Republic screwed up very badly. That's why the plane was rejected and why they went under. They were like freakkin' WWII Curtiss - once great, now dismal.

Of course had Republic not botched the job like they did the plane would have been a fine little trainer.

 

[VictorXL188]

Whilst looking up anything to do with the T.46 and AST-412 (yes it was in the list) I found this little jewel that you might appreciate.

Aircraft procurement : development and production issues concerning the T-46A aircraft.

 

[Hood]

This was the verdict of the T-46A as tendered to AST.412 in 'An Assessment of the Technical and Cost Implications of Refurbishing or Replacing the Jet Provost Basic Training Fleet', compiled by J. E. Rossiter (FMA1), 15th Feb 1984, TNA AVIA 69/24

 

[VictorXL188]

This was the verdict of the T-46A as tendered to AST.412 in 'An Assessment of the Technical and Cost Implications of Refurbishing or Replacing the Jet Provost Basic Training Fleet', compiled by J. E. Rossiter (FMA1), 15th Feb 1984, TNA AVIA 69/24

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Thanks for this, I hoped that something might come of my request!

 

[Cjc]

I had never heard of this plane before, but it is shocking. How in the hell did Fairchild go from the A-10 to this in less then a decade? Seriously this plane looks so smiler to the swedish saab 105 biult two decades before hand and they managed to completely fail at it? Honestly stunning.