T-7A Red Hawk, named to honor Tuskegee Airmen, arrives at Edwards for flight test

The first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk successfully arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023.

This milestone formally commences the Air Force’s developmental flight test campaign for the aircraft, aimed at fielding a replacement pilot training capability for the 1960s-era Northrop T-38 Talon.

The aircraft, known as APT-2, is the first production representative jet off the assembly line and was piloted by a joint U.S. Air Force and Boeing aircrew. The journey to Edwards included stops at Vance AFB, Okla., Kirtland AFB, N.M., and Luke AFB, Ariz.

The first T-7A Red Hawk, piloted by USAF test pilot Maj. Jonathan “Gremlin” Aronoff and Boeing test pilot Steve “Bull” Schmidt, soars over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023, prior to arrival. (Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett)

“This arrival marks an exciting transition into the next phase of developmental flight” noted Maj. Jonathan “Gremlin” Aronoff, T-7A test pilot. “The T-7A gives immense capability updates that will allow the Air Force to train the next generation of combat aviators. Success of first delivery is truly a testament to the joint U.S. Air Force-industry team we have in place” added Aronoff.

The collaboration in the cockpit represents the construct of the T-7A Integrated Test Force, which will see Air Force and Boeing team members working shoulder-to-shoulder to rapidly test and certify the aircraft. The T-7A team has been leveraging digital transformation through Distributed Test Operations since 2019. This method allows seamless networked capability between Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis and mission control rooms at Edwards. The T-7A ITF is part of the larger Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force at Edwards, in association with the 416th Flight Test Squadron.

“This is a pivotal moment for the T-7 program,” said Evelyn Moore, vice president and program manager, T-7 programs at Boeing. “Bringing the T-7A Red Hawk to the heart of the U.S. Air Force’s test community at Edwards for dynamic flight testing will prove the jet’s performance as an agile and safe trainer for future pilots.”

The first T-7A Red Hawk arrives at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023. The aircraft’s test campaign is being executed by the T-7A Integrated Test Force, part of the Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force in association with the 416th Flight Test Squadron. The Integrated Test Force is a partnership between the U.S. Air Force and T-7A manufacturer, Boeing. (Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth)

Test pilots have been busy rehearsing missions in the simulator and will quickly begin to fly up to three times daily, utilizing APT-2 for envelope expansion testing before moving into mission systems. The T-7A ITF will utilize a mix of both Air Force and contractor-owned aircraft to swiftly bring cutting edge capability to train the next generation of warfighters.

The T-7A notched its first Air Force-piloted flight on June 28, 2023, in historic fashion. The name “Red Hawk” honors the legacy of Tuskegee Airmen and pays homage to their signature red-tailed aircraft from World War II.

The first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk successfully arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023. This milestone formally commences the Air Force’s developmental flight test campaign for the aircraft, aimed at fielding a replacement pilot training capability for the 1960s-era Northrop T-38 Talon.

“This arrival marks an exciting transition into the next phase of developmental flight” noted Aronoff, T-7A test pilot. “The T-7A gives immense capability updates that will allow the Air Force to train the next generation of combat aviators. Success of first delivery is truly a testament to the joint U.S. Air Force-industry team we have in place” added Aronoff.

Col. Christopher L. Manning, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 412th Test Wing Commander, and Col. Ahave Brown Jr., take a closer look at the T-7A Red Hawk after it arrived at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

“Like most test programs, we’ll have discovery and we’ll overcome it quickly,” said Col. Kirt Cassell, division chief, U.S. Air Force, T-7A Red Hawk program. “This is the right team to go after any challenges we find.”