The US Air Force (USAF) has received the first of five T-7A Red Hawk aircraft from Boeing. These five Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) aircraft will soon be tested and join the two production representative jets that have already undergone over 500 flights to test their performance and flying abilities.
Test Readiness Review and flight test planning are complete and following acceptance, EMD flight testing is planned to start in St. Louis by the end of summer 2023, before moving on to Edwards Air Force Base. The T-7A program contract was awarded in September 2018 to Boeing Defense, Space and Security, with the aim of delivering an integrated system of 351 aircraft, 46 Ground Based Training Systems, and associated support equipment.
The T-7A Red Hawk is an advanced training system designed to replace the T-38 Talon. Its features include a glass cockpit, stadium seating and embedded training to meet USAF needs for training the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots. Together with advanced ground-based simulators, this aircraft will be a significant step forward in pilot training as the USAF continues to strive for tactical superiority in the face of evolving threats.
“I continue to be amazed by this team,” said Colonel Kirt Cassell, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s T-7 Program Manager. “There has been a lot of effort over the last couple months to get through first flight and now aircraft acceptance. We are excited to get these EMD aircraft into flight test.”
“The Red Hawk Integrated Test Team is ready and looking forward to begin EMD Test and Evaluation” added Dr. Troy C. Hoeger, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Chief Developmental Tester for the T-7A.
