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 Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynami ...

, the main units of which retracted inwards. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem under a long canopy.Vigna ''Air International'' July 1995, p. 40. The first prototype, powered by a Alfa Romeo 115-I''bis'' engine, made its maiden flight on 25 June 1947.Vigna ''Air International'' July 1995, p. 36. 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 Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

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 The de Havilland Gipsy Queen is a British six-cylinder aero engine of capacity that was developed in 1936 by the de Havilland Engine Company. It was developed from the de Havilland Gipsy Six for military aircraft use. Produced between 1936 a ...

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

; * Argentine Air Force operated 70 Fiat G.46 ; *

Austrian Air Force The Austrian Air Force (german: Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte, , Austrian Air Combat Force) is a component part of the Austrian Armed Forces. History The Austrian Air Force in its current form was created in May 1955 by the victorious Al ...

operated five former Italian Air Force G-46Bs. ; * Italian Air Force operated 141 Fiat G.46 from 1949 until 1960 ; * Syrian Air Force operated 12 G.46-2B aircraft.

Surviving aircraft

* An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the

Museo Nacional de Aeronautica de Argentina Museo may refer to: * Museo, 2018 Mexican drama heist film *Museo (Naples Metro) Museo is a station on line 1 of the Naples Metro. It was opened on 5 April 2001 as the eastern terminus of the section of the line between Vanvitelli and Museo. O ...

. * An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the Plaza de los Aviadores (Aviators Square) in

Ciudad Jardin Lomas del Palomar Ciudad () is the Spanish word for City Ciudad may also refer to: *La Ciudad (archaeological site), Hohokam ruins in Phoenix, Arizona *La Ciudad, district of Durango City, Mexico *''La ciudad'', novel by Mario Levrero 1970 *La Ciudad ''The City'' ...

, Buenos Aires. * A flightworthy G-46-3B which has been converted to a single-seat aircraft is on display at the Frasca Air Museum in Champaign, 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.

Specifications (G.46-4B)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

G.46 restoration project

Sounds of a G.46 during an air display
{{Portal bar, Italy, Companies, Aviation G.046 Low-wing aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft 1940s Italian military trainer aircraft