EGLIN AFB, Fla. - The Air Force’s new soon--to-be trainer aircraft, the T-7 Red Hawk, arrived mid-December at Eglin Air Force Base to begin a series of climate testing at the base's McKinley Climatic Lab.
The purpose of the testing is to verify the T-7A’s system functionality while operating in extreme environmental conditions.
The T-7A is to be the replacement aircraft of T-38C fleet. The T-7A will drastically improve training for the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots.
[The 14th Operations Group at Columbus, AFB, Miss., have already leaned forward in pilot training advancements in the form of changes to current curriculum such as Fighter/Bomber Fundamentals (F/BF) and Task Force 14, an innovation program that approaches pilot training holistically. Col. Alexander Heyman, 14th OG commander, described the goal and vision for the new F/BF program that will translate to the T-7A trainer and align with future fighter type aircraft to focus on a more advanced training program in an interview earlier this year. - CAFB media release]
At Eglin, the Red Hawk "must withstand a range of environments from sitting on the ground in the Texas heat to flying at altitude,” said Dr. Troy C. Hoeger, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s T-7A chief developmental tester.
“The climatic lab helps us do this in a deliberate and methodical way and will give us confidence that our new aircraft meets requirements.”
The McKinley Lab has been climate-testing aircraft since World War II to "ensure they will operate in real world conditions.” Hoeger said. (Eglin AFB 12/20/23) Red Hawk readies for climate chamber testing > Air Force > Article Display (af.mil)
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