The T-7A Red Hawk, Boeing’s latest trainer aircraft, has successfully completed a month-long trial at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, testing the aircraft’s instrumentation and electronics under extreme weather conditions.
The tests, which ended on February 23, 2024, were conducted in a 55,000 square foot (5,110 square meters) test chamber, where the aircraft was subjected to 110°F (43°C) and -25°F (-31°C) temperatures and heavy humidity conditions. The campaign ensured that the aircraft would be safe to operate in most United States Air Force (USAF) bases.
“We need to know the T-7A can operate in the environmental conditions it will encounter at pilot training bases around the country,” said Dr. Troy Hoeger, Chief Development Tester for the T-7 with the USAF Lifecycle Management Center, in a statement.
Following the tests, the T-7A will undergo further evaluation to ensure technical orders are safe and accurate for operators and maintainers.
The Red Hawk is the result of a partnership between Boeing and the Swedish manufacturer Saab. The duo won the TX competition, which aimed to find a replacement for the Cold War-era Northrop T-38 Talon. In 2018, the USAF awarded Boeing a $9.2 billion contract for 351 T-7A advanced trainers to replace the Talon fleet.
