View source for Fiat G.46

{{Short description|Italian military trainer aircraft family}}
{{More footnotes|date=June 2009}}

<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 |name=G.46
 |image=Fiat G.46.JPG
 |caption=
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
 |type=Military trainer
 |manufacturer=[[Fiat Aviazione|Fiat]]
 |designer=[[Giuseppe Gabrielli]]
 |first flight=25 June 1947
 |introduced=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary user=''[[Aeronautica Militare]]''
 |more users=
 |produced=
 |number built= 223<ref name="Aerei Italiani">[http://www.aerei-italiani.net/Militari_Dal_Secondo_Dopoguerra_Fiat_G.46_Aerei_Italiani.html Aerei Italiani]</ref>
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}

The '''Fiat G.46''' was a military [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]] developed in [[Italy]] shortly after [[World War II]].

==Design and development==
The G.46 was a conventional, low-wing [[monoplane]] with [[Conventional landing gear|tailwheel undercarriage]], the main units of which retracted inwards. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem under a long [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]].<ref name="aijul95 p40">Vigna ''Air International'' July 1995, p. 40.</ref> The first prototype, powered by a {{convert|205|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Alfa Romeo 115]]-I''bis'' engine, made its maiden flight on 25 June 1947.<ref name="aijul95 p38">Vigna ''Air International'' July 1995, p. 36.</ref>

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==
[[File:Fiat G.46.jpg|thumb]]
;G.46-1B
:two-seater with [[Alfa Romeo 115]]bis 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==
[[File:G.46-4B Austria.JPG|thumb|Austrian Fiat G.46]]
;{{flag|Argentina}}
*[[Argentine Air Force]]  operated 70 Fiat G.46<ref>[http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/museoVdV/collezione_aeromobili/hangarBadoni/Pagine/FiatG46.aspx Official website Aeronautica Militare] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213015151/http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/museoVdV/collezione_aeromobili/hangarBadoni/Pagine/FiatG46.aspx |date=2014-12-13 }}</ref>
;{{flag|Austria}}
*[[Austrian Air Force]] operated five former Italian Air Force G-46Bs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/user/every/all-time-aircraft-used-list-austrian-air-force.htm|title = All-Time Aircraft Used List &#124; Austrian Air Force}}</ref>
;{{flag|Italy}}
*[[Italian Air Force]]  operated 141 Fiat G.46 from 1949 until 1960<ref name="Aerei Italiani"/>
;{{flag|Syria}}
*[[Syrian Air Force]] operated 12 G.46-2B aircraft.

== Surviving aircraft ==
[[File:E.a-441_Fiat_G-46-5B_(8164148796).jpg|thumb|Ex-Argentine Air Force, Museo Nacional de Aeronautica, 2012]]
[[File:Fiat G-46.jpg|thumb|Ex-Argentine Air Force, in [[Ciudad Jardin Lomas del Palomar]]]]
* An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the [[Museo Nacional de Aeronautica de Argentina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eam.iua.edu.ar/rumbos/Revista-18/RevistaRumbos18-Nota8.htm |title=Un millón de personas visitaron el Argentina Air Fest 2010 |last1=FERNANDEZ VIVAS |first1=Leandro |language=es |website=Rumbos Aeronauticos (Issue 18, Year 9) |publisher=Fuerza Aerea Argentina |access-date=2016-07-27 |archive-date=2016-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817023838/http://www.eam.iua.edu.ar/rumbos/Revista-18/RevistaRumbos18-Nota8.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* An ex-Argentine Air Force aircraft is displayed at the Plaza de los Aviadores (Aviators Square) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/ww2-aircraft.html|title=Military Aviation Museum l WWII Aircraft|website=www.militaryaviationmuseum.org|access-date=2017-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009074012/http://militaryaviationmuseum.org/ww2-aircraft.html|archive-date=2013-10-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Specifications (G.46-4B)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54'' <ref name="JAWA53 p161">Bridgman 1953, p. 161.</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=8.48
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=10.40
|span ft=
|span in=
|height m=2.40
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=16.0
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=1110
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=1410
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|160|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Alfa Romeo 115]]-1''ter''
|eng1 type=air-cooled 6-cylinder inline engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=225<!-- prop engines -->


|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=311
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=263<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed note=(80% power)
|range km=900
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=5300
|ceiling ft=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=350
|time to altitude=<br/>
**7 min 23 s to {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
**20 min 7 s to {{convert|4000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=

|avionics=
}}

== References ==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book |last= Bridgman|first= Leonard|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54|year=1953 |publisher=Jane's All The World's Aircraft Publishing Company|location=London }}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |page=389 }}
* {{cite magazine|last=Vigna|first=Achille|title=Juan Peron's Gift to Italy|magazine=[[Air International]]|date=July 1995|volume= 49|issue= 1|pages=38–42|issn=0306-5634}}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |chapter=File 894 Sheet 22 }}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fiat G.46}}
* [http://www.aldini.it/g46/index.html G.46 restoration project]
* [https://archive.today/20121224034404/http://www.happyorange.org.uk/fiat-g46-3b/ Sounds of a G.46 during an air display]

{{Fiat aircraft}}
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[[Category:Fiat aircraft|G.046]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:1940s Italian military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1947]]