Air Force's T-7A Trainer to Begin Next Phase of Flight Testing

The Red Hawk jet will replace the 1960s-era T-38 trainer and was designed to train both fighter and bomber pilots.

Thursday, November 09, 2023 at 11:40 AM ET

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The first T-7A Red Hawk, piloted by U.S. Air Force test pilot Major Jonathan “Gremlin” Aronoff and Boeing test pilot Steve “Bull” Schmidt, soars over Edwards Air Force Base, California, on November 8, prior to arrival. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's first T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has completed its inaugural cross-country flight and arrived at Edwards Air Force Base to commence its next phase of developmental flight testing.
Designed to replace the 1960s-era T-38, the T-7A will train fighter and bomber pilots, with its distinctive red-tail livery honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.
The Air Force's acquisition of the T-7A program is valued at $9.2 billion, encompassing 351 jets, 46 simulators, and support.
The testing phase at Edwards AFB will involve Air Force test pilots expanding the flight envelope and integrating additional aircraft for comprehensive systems and flight attribute testing.

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The U.S. Air Force’s first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has logged its first cross-country flight and is set to begin the next phase of flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The T-7A—known as APT-2—was designed to train Air Force fighter and bomber pilots and replace the 1960s-era T-38 trainer. Its iconic red-tail livery honors the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces’ first Black aviation unit to serve.