The arrival marks the formal begin of the Air Power’s developmental flight take a look at marketing campaign for the brand new coach plane.

After struggling with multiple delays, the T-7A Crimson Hawk lastly landed at Edwards Air Power Base, California, on Nov.8, 2023. The plane, generally known as APT-2, is the primary manufacturing consultant jet off the meeting line and was piloted by a joint U.S. Air Power and Boeing aircrew throughout a journey which included stops at Vance AFB, Oklaoma, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and Luke AFB, Arizona, supported by one among Boeing’s Challenger 600 jets.

“The ferry to Edwards marks a significant milestone for the T-7 Program as we enter Developmental Flight Take a look at to seek out out simply what this plane can do,” stated Col. Kirt Cassell, Air Power Life Cycle Administration Middle T-7 Program Supervisor. “I’ve challenged the collective workforce to maintain up the momentum and teamwork as we nonetheless have a protracted solution to go.”

Crimson Hawk leaves its nest!

👋 Farewell to the primary T-7A #RedHawk prepared for its new residence at @EdwardsAFB to start out Part III testing with the @USAirForce. As soon as Air Power take a look at pilots are conversant in the plane, they may broaden the flight envelope. pic.twitter.com/ygMOTTBFrm

— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) November 9, 2023

This milestone formally commences the Air Power’s developmental flight take a look at marketing campaign for the plane, aimed toward fielding a alternative pilot coaching functionality for the 1960’s-era Northrop T-38 Talon, which is shortly reaching the top of its service life after 60 years. The Air Power accepted the first of five T-7A Red Hawk Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) aircraft from Boeing in September.

“This arrival marks an thrilling transition into the following part of developmental flight” famous Maj. Aronoff, T-7A take a look at pilot. “The T-7A provides immense functionality updates that can permit the Air Power to coach the following era of fight aviators. Success of first supply is really a testomony to the joint USAF-industry workforce we’ve in place”.

NEWS: One other #aerospace milestone! The primary @BoeingDefense T-7A Crimson Hawk has landed at Edwards, strikes instantly into subsequent part of testing. Congratulations to the 416th FLTS! @HQ_AFMC @AFTestCenter @usairforce #AFMC https://t.co/fZRwMqFRjG pic.twitter.com/kMYYe8A6n0

— Edwards Air Power Base (@EdwardsAFB) November 9, 2023

The collaboration within the cockpit represents the assemble of the T-7A Built-in Take a look at Power, which can see Air Power and Boeing workforce members working shoulder-to-shoulder to rapidly test and certify the aircraft. This primary plane is instrumented particularly for flight take a look at and analysis, because the testing program will embrace flying qualities, structural hundreds, and flutter to find out if the plane complies with each contractual and army plane specs.

Take a look at pilots have been busy rehearsing missions within the simulator and can shortly start to fly as much as 3 times each day, says the Air Power, using APT-2 for envelope growth testing earlier than shifting into mission techniques. The T-7A ITF will make the most of a mixture of each Air Power and contractor-owned plane (T1 and T2 prototypes are still flying) to swiftly obtain an Preliminary Operational Functionality, at the moment deliberate for 2024.

All 5 EMD plane are anticipated to be delivered by the top of the 12 months, with the second additionally flying to Edwards AFB and the third going to Eglin AFB, Florida, for local weather testing on the McKinley Climatic Laboratory. The vacation spot of the opposite two has not but been disclosed.

In the mean time, throughout this week’s Worldwide Fighter Convention in Madrid, Spain, an Air Power official stated the service is actively contemplating an armed variant of the Red Hawk, dubbed F-7, which might doubtlessly exchange older F-16s. Whereas the Air Power mentioned in regards to the future capabilities of the T-7, an armed variant was not thought-about as far as the main focus is to shortly discipline the brand new coach earlier than the T-38 turns into not possible to maintain.

Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist primarily based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally finding out to attain a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT methods utilized to the world of army operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.