Boeing and the U.S. Air Force have achieved a significant milestone with the successful inaugural flight of the first T-7A Red Hawk aircraft. This flight marks the commencement of the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the program, showcasing the aircraft’s advanced capabilities. One of the notable features of the T-7A is its focus on safety. Model-based engineering enabled rigorous testing throughout the aircraft’s design and construction process, ensuring safety before its first flight. The T-7A’s cockpit egress system is regarded as the safest among trainers, providing added reassurance to pilots.
During the 1-hour and 3-minute flight, U.S. Air Force Maj. Bryce Turner and Steve Schmidt, Boeing T-7 chief test pilot, validated crucial aspects of the aircraft while demonstrating the power and agility of the Air Force’s first digitally designed, built, and tested advanced trainer. The aircraft is one of five EMD aircraft that will be delivered to the Air Force Air Education and Training Command for further testing. The T-7A’s eye-catching red tails pay homage to the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American U.S. military aviators who flew red-tailed fighters during World War II.