T-7A Red Hawk Trainers Take Flight After Simulator Course

Boeing's T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer has reached another milestone in its development, as a group of instructor pilots completed a 31-day simulator course at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas. This marks an important step towards training aircrews for the U.S. Air Force's new advanced trainer.

The seven contract instructor pilots who completed the simulator course were part of the first group to use the recently installed T-7A ground-based simulators at the base. They will now move on to teaching other aircrew, who will eventually train future fighter and bomber pilots and weapons systems officers.

According to Boeing, the simulators use 8K imagery and integrated live, virtual and constructive training to familiarize crews with the aircraft before they fly it. This is a significant development for the program, which has been years in the making.

Flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California has reached the test points needed for the graduates to begin training in a T-7A delivered to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The Air Force's programme of record includes 351 aircraft and 46 simulators.