Fiat G.46
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. The first prototype, powered by a Alfa Romeo 115-Ibis engine, made its maiden flight on 25 June 1947.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;G.46-2B
;G.46-3B
;G.46-4B
;G.46-5B
;G.46-4A
Operators
- Argentine Air Force operated 70 Fiat G.46
- Austrian Air Force 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.
- An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the Plaza de los Aviadores in Ciudad Jardin Lomas del Palomar, 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.