In a remarkable feat, the inaugural Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has successfully completed an extensive 1,400-mile cross-country flight, marking a significant milestone for the U.S. Air Force's cutting-edge training initiative. The journey culminated at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where the aircraft, known as APT-2, is now poised to enter the next phase of intensive flight testing.
Guided by a skilled joint U.S. Air Force and Boeing aircrew, the T-7A Red Hawk strategically made stops at Air Force bases in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. These layovers served not only for refueling purposes but also provided an exclusive opportunity for base personnel to witness the capabilities of this new advanced trainer up close before its final leg to Edwards.
Boeing officially delivered the inaugural Red Hawk to the Air Force on September 15, marking the commencement of a series of comprehensive tests and evaluations. Addressing the ongoing test programs, Col. Kirt Cassell, the division chief of the U.S. Air Force T-7A Red Hawk program, expressed confidence in the team's ability to address any challenges that may arise swiftly.
"This is a pivotal moment for the T-7 program," emphasized Evelyn Moore, vice president and program manager of T-7 programs. Bringing the T-7A Red Hawk to the core of the U.S. Air Force's test community at Edwards for dynamic flight testing aims to substantiate the jet's performance as an agile and safe trainer for aspiring pilots.
The Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, initially recognized as the Boeing T-X, stands as an American/Swedish supersonic advanced jet trainer resulting from collaboration between Boeing and Saab. Selected by the U.S. Air Force for the T-X program in 2018 to replace the aging Northrop T-38 Talon, the aircraft is now set to undergo a comprehensive testing phase.
As Air Force test pilots acquaint themselves with the T-7A Red Hawk, the flight envelope will progressively expand, starting with flutter testing. Subsequent phases of testing will involve two additional Red Hawks, systematically assessing various flight attributes and systems as part of a meticulous series of evaluations.
In a landmark contract awarded in 2018, the Air Force allocated $9.2 billion to Boeing for the production of 351 T-7A advanced trainers, in addition to 46 simulators and support. This substantial investment underscores the Air Force's commitment to replacing the aging T-38 aircraft with the cutting-edge T-7A.
The aircraft was officially named the "T-7A Red Hawk" on September 16, 2019, in homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, renowned for painting their airplanes' tails red. Additionally, the name pays tribute to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, an aircraft flown by the 99th Fighter Squadron, the U.S. Army Air Force's first black fighter squadron.
Looking ahead, Boeing envisions the T-7A Red Hawk playing a pivotal global role by offering an armed version to replace aging Northrop F-5 and Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet fleets. As the aircraft undergoes dynamic testing at Edwards Air Force Base, its capabilities as an advanced trainer are poised to set new standards for the U.S. Air Force and beyond.
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Air Force