Red Hawk will prepare future fighter pilots well into the 22nd century

On 8 November 2023, the 416th Flying Training Squadron, part of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB (CA), received its first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk.

While the milestone delivery journey from its birthplace St.Louis (MO) to Edwards included stops at Vance AFB (OK), Kirtland AFB (NM) and Luke AFB (AZ), the Red Hawk was received in good order at the Californian test base.

With current and future technological developments, it is imaginable that the trainer will be used well into the 22nd century. Its predecessor, the Northrop T-38 Talon, made its maiden flight in 1959, some 64 years ago. On 15 September 2020, Scramble Magazine wrote about the Red Hawk being USAF's first aircraft designed using the digital approach.

On 28 April 2022, during a ceremony, the first Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) T-7A made its debut at Boeing's plant near St. Louis (MO). With the first Red Hawk, with serial number 21-7002 now having arrived at Edwards, this paves the way for developmental flight tests and certifying the aircraft.

Almost simultaneously, other tests with the Red Hawk are also being conducted. For example, T-7A 21-7001 is now under the auspices of the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin AFB (FL). At Eglin, the Red Hawk is put to the test. One of the tests involves exposing the aircraft to extreme temperature differences in a so-called climate chamber.

It is expected that another three Red Hawks (21-7003 - 21-7005) will be delivered in due time. Under terms of a USD9,2 billion contract awarded to Boeing in September 2018, it is initially planned that 351 aircraft will be delivered to the USAF.

Credit photos: USAF / Credit patch: https://www.reaperpatches.com