Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      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, California, Nov. 8, prior to arrival. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. (Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett)The first T-7A Red Hawk, piloted by Maj. Jonathan Aronoff, 416th Flight Test Squadron pilot, and Steve Schmidt, Boeing test pilot, soars over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023, prior to arrival. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

T-7A Red Hawk arrival at Edwards AFB reflects integrated team effortPublished Nov. 9, 2023
                    
                    By Chase Kohler
                    
                    
                    412th Test Wing
            **EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --**The first Boeing **T-7A Red Hawk** successfully arrived at **Edwards Air Force Base**, Nov. 8. The milestone formally commences the Air Force’s developmental flight test campaign for the aircraft, aimed at fielding a replacement pilot training capability for the 1960’s-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 AFB included stops at **Vance AFB**, Oklahoma, **Kirtland AFB**, New Mexico, and **Luke AFB**, Arizona.

“This arrival marks an exciting transition into the next phase of developmental flight,” Maj. Jonathan Aronoff, T-7A test pilot, said. “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 USAF-industry team we have in place” Aronoff added.Col. Christopher, 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, California, Nov. 8. 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 USAF and T-7A manufacturer, The Boeing Company. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)Col. Christopher Manning, individual mobilization augmentee to the 412th Test Wing commander, and Col. Ahave Brown Jr., 412th Maintenance Group commander, take a closer look at the T-7A Red Hawk after it arrived 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 USAF and T-7A manufacturer, The Boeing Company. (U.S. Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    The first T-7A Red Hawk taxis at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 8. 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 USAF and T-7A manufacturer, The Boeing Company. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)The first T-7A Red Hawk taxis 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 USAF and T-7A manufacturer, The Boeing Company. (U.S. Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    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, California, Nov. 8, prior to arrival. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. (Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett)The first T-7A Red Hawk, piloted by Maj. Jonathan Aronoff, 416th Flight Test Squadron pilot, and Boeing test pilot Steve Schmidt, soars over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023, prior to arrival. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

The aircrew collaboration in the cockpit represents the structure 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 AFB. The T-7A ITF is part of the larger **Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force** at Edwards AFB, in association with the 416th Flight Test Squadron.

Test pilots have been busy rehearsing missions in a T-7A 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 **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.LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



T-7A 



Red Hawk 



APT-2 



Edwards AFB 



412 TW 



416 FTS 



aircraft testing 



Boeing 



pilot training 



combat aviation 



test pilots 



AFMC 



Air Force Materiel Command 



Vance AFB 



Luke AFB 



airpower

Related Links
        T-7A Red Hawk arrival at Edwards AFB reflects integrated team effort
                                
                                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 1960’s-era Northrop T-38 Talon.
            
            Three generations of breaking barriers: T-7A Red Hawk soars with US Air Force test pilot
            
            T-7A Red Hawk visits Vance enroute to Edwards AFB for testing Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil