The first flight of the US Air Force’s first T-7A Red Hawk was accomplished by Boeing and the service on June 28, marking the commencement of the programme’s engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase.
During the flight, Major Bryce Turner of the 416th Test Squadron of the United States Air Force and Chief Test Pilot Steve Schmidt of the Boeing T-7 were able to validate essential components of the aircraft and display the power and agility of the Air Force’s first advanced trainer that was digitally planned, constructed, and tested. This aircraft is one of five EMD aircraft that will be transferred to the Air Force Air Education and Training Command for them to perform additional testing on the plane.
The Tuskegee Airmen pioneered military aviation for African-Americans in the US. They flew red-tailed fighters during World War II and were the first African-American military aviators in the United States. The brilliant red tails of the T-7A are a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen.
Training for warfighters will be improved because of the T-7A’s capabilities to improve mission readiness, safety and adaptability, says Boeing release.
The brand-new advanced pilot training system offers robust and realistic integrated live, virtual, and constructive training capabilities. These capabilities are made possible by using high-resolution ground-based training equipment and simulators.
Model-based engineering was used to test the aircraft at every stage of its design and production to guarantee it would be safe for flight before it took off. The T-7A’s cockpit egress mechanism is the most secure of any trainer on the market, says the release.
The T-7A can accommodate the training of various fighter and bomber pilots because of its open architecture software and digital fly-by-wire controls. Additionally, the T-7A is flexible enough to adapt to changing technologies, threats, and training requirements.
According to Evelyn Moore, vice president and programme manager of Boeing T-7 Programmes, this first flight with the Air Force highlights the team’s dedication to providing a new level of safety and training for fighter and bomber pilots. Moore stated that the team’s goal is to provide a new level of safety and training for fighter and bomber pilots. He goes on to say that the company is still dedicated to finding new ways to improve how warfighters are trained for ever-changing operational requirements and new dangers as they emerge.
Col. Kirt Cassell, the programme manager for the US Air Force T-7A Red Hawk, has indicated that the digital design of the Red Hawk, which incorporates sophisticated training capabilities, will considerably improve pilot training for the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots.
The T-7A moved from having a strong concept through flight testing in 36 months. Using model-based engineering, three-dimensional design, and advanced manufacturing techniques increased first-run quality by 75% and reduced assembly time by 80%.
Much delayed
In 2018, the United States Air Force presented Boeing with a deal of $9.2 billion to purchase 351 T-7A advanced trainers, 46 simulators, and support services. The T-7A will eventually replace the outdated T-38 aircraft in the Air Force.
Production of the T-7A “Red Hawk” advanced trainer jet, initially scheduled to begin at the end of last year but delayed until 2024, has been postponed until 2025. Due to issues with the ejection seat and other components of the escape system, the US Air Force has delayed the production decision and delivery of the T-7A.
The T-7 “Red Hawk” advanced trainer aircraft is derived from the Boeing-Saab T-X, which Boeing and Saab of Sweden developed. Its principal competitors were the Lockheed Martin-Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 “Golden Eagle,” the Italian Leonardo T-100 (M346 variant), and the Northrop Grumman Model 400 “Swift” aircraft.
On December 20, 2016, and April 24, 2017, two Boeing-Saab T-X proposal demonstration prototypes made their maiden flights. However, unveiling the first “engineering and manufacturing development” aircraft was delayed until April 2022, and the production target set of batch aircraft was uncertain.
Nevertheless, earlier reports indicated that the T-7’s emergency escape system might be “potentially perilous” for some pilots in 2021. Some pilots may experience a concussion during parachute jumping, hazardous overload during the parachute’s opening, and mask separation. Boeing stated in late 2022 that modifications, including software for flight control, would be tested earlier this year.
Since the production decision won’t be made until 2025, the USAF will propose procurement funding for the T-7’s initial low-rate production in the fiscal year 2024 budget. According to the documents accompanying the budget request for the 2023 fiscal year, the estimated cost of acquiring the T-7 during the 2024 fiscal year is $322 million.