Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
Boeing and the United States Air Force have completed the inaugural flight of the service’s first T-7A Red Hawk, marking the start of the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the program.
Boeing and the United States Air Force have completed the inaugural flight of the service’s first T-7A Red Hawk, marking the start of the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the program.
Already have an account? Sign in below:
As part of the test flight which lasted a little over an hour, US Air Force Major Bryce Turner, 416th Test Squadron, and Steve Schmidt, Boeing T-7 chief test pilot, validated key aspects of the aircraft and demonstrated the power and agility of the Air Force’s first advanced trainer to be digitally designed, built, and tested.
The T-7A’s vibrant red tails are a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American US military aviators who flew red-tailed fighters during World War II.
Major Turner said, “The stable performance of the aircraft and its advanced cockpit and systems are game changers for US Air Force student pilots and instructors alike. We’ve come a long way in training since my family role models flew.”
The T-7A is designed to enhance warfighter training through:
Evelyn Moore, vice-president and program manager, Boeing T-7 Programs, said, “This first flight with the Air Force represents our team’s commitment to delivering a new level of safety and training for fighter and bomber pilots. We remain focused on engineering ways to better prepare warfighters for changing mission demands and emerging threats.”
Colonel Kirt Cassell, US Air Force T-7A Red Hawk program manager, reinforced the importance of this program and its rapid delivery, saying, “This is an exciting time for the entire team. The Red Hawk’s digital design integrating advanced training capabilities will drastically improve pilot training for the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots.”
The T-7A moved from firm concept to flight testing in 36 months. A combination of model-based engineering, 3D design, and advanced manufacturing increased first-time quality by 75 per cent and reduced assembly hours by 80 per cent.
Subscribe to the Defence Connect daily newsletter.
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the defence industry.
In 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing a US$9.2 billion contract for 351 T-7A advanced trainers, 46 simulators, and support. The T-7A will replace the Air Force’s ageing T-38 aircraft.
Photo essay: The history of Australia’s fifth-generation F-35s
Avalon 2019 Photo Essay: Celebrating the future of air power
Photo Essay: RAAF training capabilities on show
Photo essay: Australia’s air lift capabilities
Photo Essay – Five years on, Operation MANITOU continues to deliver
View all photo essays >
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the defence industry.
Recent Comments