AVAILABLE THROUGH
THE T-7A RED HAWK TRAINING AIRCRAFT
The T-7A Red Hawk presented an interesting and fun challenge for Top Mach Studios. The aircraft is still in the early stages of engineering and manufacturing development led by the United States Air Force and the Boeing Corporation, partnered with SAAB Aerospace. There is a significant amount of general information available about the program and the aircraft, but there is a lot of information about the aircraft and its systems that is still not public information. As such we’ve used a wide array of photographs, videos of simulator and live aircraft footage, simulator footage captured from a Boeing ground simulator, articles, statements from the USAF and the lead contractors, and expert estimates of aircraft specifications. The current simulation is at best an accurate replica of the T-7A, but not a full-up simulation of the real aircraft. That will have to wait until more information becomes available in the public domain. However, we’ve done a lot of research into comparable aircraft and systems and believe we’ve developed an exciting and enjoyable simulation that should represent what flying in the T-7A might be like.
ABOUT THE T-7A
The T-7A Red Hawk is an all new two-seat, single engine, supersonic advanced training aircraft developed for the United States Air Force by primary contractors Boeing and Saab Aerospace. When it enters service in the late 2020s, the T-7A will replace the venerable but aging Northrop T-38 Talon, in service with the USAF since the early 1960s. The Red Hawk will be part of an entirely new training system that includes interconnected live and ground simulator-based training to prepare pilots who will fly current and future 5th and 6th generation aircraft for the USAF. Powered by the GE F404 afterburning turbofan engine, giving it a high thrust to weight ratio, the T-7A was specifically designed for sustained high-G, high-angle-of-attack maneuvers, and night operations. In the training environment, this allows new pilots to train to fly and fight in the vertical and exposes them to near front-line fighter level performance, a capability not present in the T-38 and other current US fast jet training aircraft. Another key program goal is a strong emphasis on ease of maintenance, to reduce long term program costs and keep operational availability at 80 percent or higher. It incorporates fly-by-wire controls, a fully digital glass cockpit, “stadium seating” to improve backseat visibility, next-gen ACES 5 ejection seats, modular systems architecture, and maintenance friendly design to increase availability and reduce lifecycle cost. T-7A is being developed in tandem with the Ground-Based Training System simulator and courseware to provide AETC with a seamless, comprehensive flight training program. The first of two “production ready” airframes flew from Boeing’s facility at St. Louis on Dec. 21, 2016, launching initial flight-testing with the manufacturer. Boeing delivered the first of five productionrepresentative aircraft to Edwards on Nov. 9, 2023, launching USAF and Boeing developmental flight-testing.
The T-7A has a sophisticated avionics suite and onboard and ground support computer systems that enable many capabilities not found in any other front line training aircraft. This makes the Red Hawk a central component of the US Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training System (APTS), a multi-disciplinary approach to front line pilot training that includes in-cockpit augmented reality training equipment, simulated aerial refueling, mixed ground simulator and live aircraft interactions, simulated sensor and threat environments, customizable / on the fly training scenarios, in cockpit simulated avionics from other front line aircraft, and other components that will greatly enhance the USAF’s training and flight currency capabilities for new and veteran pilots.
The T-X program
The Red Hawk was the end result of the T-X program, a United States Air Force development and acquisition program for a new two-seat jet trainer that began in the early 2000s. On March 20, 2015, the US Air Force released the T-X program requirements. On 30 December 2016, the US Air Force released a formal request for proposals. The request included 350+ aircraft and an initial operational capability by 2024. Several major US and European defense contractors submitted proposals and prototype airframes for testing and evaluation. On September 27, 2018, the U.S. Air Force officially selected the Boeing T-X entry as its new advanced jet trainer to replace the T-38.
Entry To Service
The T-7 is expected to enter operational service (IOC) in the late 2020s. Several significant delays have occurred during later stages of development including problems with ejection seat certification, flight control system software, parts availability, wing rock issues at high angles of attack, and a handful of other development hurdles. However, the manufacturers have subsequently delivered five EMD (engineering and manufacturing development) airframes to the USAF for initial testing and evaluation and low-rate serial production is budgeted to begin in 2025 with at least 350 aircraft planned to enter service by the late 2030s. The T-7's design allows for future missions to be added, such as aggressor and light attack/fighter roles and requests for proposal from USAF, the US Navy, and several foreign air forces for training, aggressor, and attack roles have been submitted. It’s estimated that over 2,000 T-7s and derivatives could be manufactured over the life of the program.
MODEL FEATURES AND CAPABILITIES
Custom Programmed Simulated Fly-By-Wire control system for virtually carefree flight control
- Nimble, quick, balanced control feel
- Incredibly fun and easy to fly at low level, in formation, and for mock dog-fighting
- Auto-trim / pitch control
- G-Limiter
- Roll rate limiter
- Yaw limiter and Yaw Damping
- Angle of Attack Limiter
- Completely controllable and docile handling to 30 degrees AoA limit (post stall)
- Highly resistant to departure from controlled flight throughout the flight envelope.
- Precision, stable high altitude flight control to 50,000 feet and above.
- Accurate take-off, approach, and landing speeds (from simulator footage)
- Realistic control response and “feel” throughout the flight envelope
Highly detailed fully custom 3D cockpit modeling and avionics suite with:
- Highly detailed modeling and texturing of cockpit, all control panels, and interior detailing developed with careful attention to real world reference photograph, simulator, and video documentation.
- Highly detailed ACES V ejection seat models
- Fully Functional touch screen (interactive) glass cockpit Large Panel Display and Up Front Control Display screens, digital engine information display, Head Up Display, and backup ADI, with 100% custom developed gauges and instrumentation suite
- Multi-mode HUD display system
- Robust crew alerting system messages system alerting on a variety of information, caution, and warning messages and associated sound effects including b****ing Betty/Brian alerts.
- FLIR (forward looking infra-red) simulation and synthetic vision display with HUD overlays for night and low visibility flying.
- Highly functional and customized Up Front Control Display module, modeled from real world information (where available) with many features and functions for flight planning, instrument flight, navigation, and communication.
- Configurable large panel display with customized screen selection options from 8 different data screen options and two different display formats.
- Canopy reflections and rain effects
- Radar and Tactical situation displays from the Top Mach Studios F-22A coming in early product update.
- All buttons, knobs, and switches in the cockpit are animated and many are functional or emulate system functionality and drive crew alerting system messages.
- Rear seat position is fully functional – fly as the “instructor” pilot.
- Full suite of essential autopilot and navigation controls.
- Detailed side console panels modeled from real world aircraft and simulator footage • Full cockpit lighting system including night lighting, NVG style back lighting, and individual lighting controls modeled as closely to the real aircraft as possible.
- Animated pilot figurines with optional display positions including “self” avatar view and co-pilot (mission commander) displayable in different poses coming in early product update.
- Custom “Electronic Flight Bag” tablet with G3000 interface for additional navigation and flight planning.
Detailed Custom 3D Exterior Model
- Highly detailed fully custom developed 3D exterior model.
- 20 detailed liveries representing T-X prototype, T-7A liveries, USAF Thunderbirds, and speculative liveries based on T-38 training squadron liveries, aggressors, and more.
- Detailed custom texturing of all main surfaces, wheel bays, and other surface and interior areas of the aircraft body.
- High detail landing gear bays and assemblies
- Animation of all flight control surfaces.
- Detailed and fully animated landing gear and extension / retraction sequence.
- Custom dynamic visual effects including wing vapor effects, APU start and run effects, engine heat and smoke plumes, afterburner plume and burner flame holder, and others.
- Cold and dark visual modeling features (pilots displayed or hidden (coming soon), remove before flight tags, etc…) that are user controlled from the System Control menu.
- Detailed and realistically modeled ground equipment for optional display from the System Control menu including: maintenance platforms, ground power unit, wheel chocks, avionics bay details, boarding ladder, fire extinguisher, and more.
- Full exterior Lighting Systems include custom landing and taxi lighting, formation slime lighting, navigation lights, and beacons; all modeled after the actual aircraft, with correct lighting positions and transparencies.
Fully Customized Sound Pack from Echo19 Audio
- Highly realistic sound suite for exterior sounds based on F/A-18C and F404 engine sounds, tuned with exacting attention to real-world F404 engine exterior sound-scape.
- 3D Fly-By sound experience for fly-overs and exterior fly-bys. Experience the thundering sound experience of afterburning engine power.
- Highly immersive interior sounds replicating sounds for all major systems and sub systems and customer interactions within the cockpit environment based on Boeing / McDonnell Douglas aircraft sounds
- Aural voice alerts and tones for a wide variety of Crew Alerting System alerts
- Wind and drag induced ambient and reactive sound effects for landing gear, speed brakes, high speed wind blast, and others.
Realistic Engine and Performance Modeling
- Realistic / accurate engine start procedures
- Realistic weight and fuel quantities.
- Engine model tuned to GE F404 specifications for realistic thrust/weight ratio and performance across the flight envelope.
- Modeled fuel consumption in line with real world specifications at low and high altitudes. Range profile matches real world stated range estimates.
- Aerodynamics and flight performance modeled from available real world data and like kind jet trainers like the the KAI T-50.
- Accurate fuel consumption and maximum range at all altitudes (not based on the default game turbine model, but customized to improve accuracy of turbine fuel consumption and thrust).
- Mach 1.3+ maximum speed at altitude
- Service ceiling modeled to 50,000+ feet.
