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The Fairchild Republic T-46 (nicknamed the 'Eaglet') was a light jet trainer aircraft of the 1980s that was cancelled, with only three aircraft being produced. In order to validate the proposed aircraft's design, and to explore its flight handling characteristics, Fairchild Republic contracted with Ames Industries of Bohemia, New York to build a flyable 62% scale version. Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) in Mojave, California was contracted to perform the flight test evaluations, with test pilot Dick Rutan doing the flying.* The scale version was known at RAF as the Model 73 NGT. The plane was the winner of the US Air Force's competition to build the Next Generation Trainer ('NGT') program to replace the Cessna T-37. The aircraft first flew in 1985 but was cancelled a year later, for reasons that largely remain controversial. The T-46 was the last project of the Farchild 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 in Farmingdale, New York, bringing 60 years of Fairchild aircraft manufacturing to an end. The aircraft itself featured a side by side configuration, a twin (or "H") tail (similar to the company's A-10, ejection seats, pressurization, and two turbofan engines. Had it gone into full production the NGT program called for over 600 aircraft being built up to 1993. There was potential for some overseas sales as well, such as in the light ground attack role in addition to its role as a trainer. A remaining T-46 can be seen at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
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