Boeing and Saab carried out the maiden flight of the T-X trainer aircraft designed specifically to meet a U.S. Air Force requirement f...
Boeing and Saab carried out the maiden flight of the T-X trainer aircraft designed specifically to meet a U.S. Air Force requirement for a advanced pilot trainer aircraft on Tuesday.
The 55-minute flight from St Louis, flown by lead T-X Test Pilot Steven Schmidt and Chief Pilot for Air Force Programs Dan Draeger, validated key aspects of the single-engine jet and demonstrated the performance of the low-risk design.
Powered by a single GE 404 turbofan engine with a 17,700 lb thrust, the aircraft climbed to a altitude of 11,000 ft and reached a speed of upto 230 kt.
With the help of Swedish Saab, Boeing was able to reach the first flight milestone within 12 months from the Critical Design Review (CDR).
The Boeing T-X features twin canted tails, stadium seating, and an advanced cockpit with embedded training.
Boeing and Saab revealed their first two T-X aircraft in September 2016. The second is currently in ground testing and expected to fly in early 2017.Pilot's view in the #NewBoeingTX! Learn more about T-X here: https://t.co/n12E2CnTFM pic.twitter.com/0Pc25GXaf0— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) December 20, 2016
T-X will replace the Air Force’s aging Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon trainer aircraft. Initial operating capability is planned for 2024.
USAF requires around 400 of these advanced trainer jets capable of imparting fifth generation fighter training required for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.
Other than Boeing, Northrop is also pitching a clean sheet design which was revealed during taxi trails in Mojave.
Raytheon and Lockheed Martin is offering a low risk design, based on a existing foreign jet tailored for USAF requirement.
Raytheon has partnered with Italian Leonardo to offer latter's M-346 trainer as the T-100 which will be assembled in U.S. Lockheed Martin is offering an improved version of the Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle trainer jet.
USAF is slated to release its final requirement for the Advanced Pilot Training competition later this month.
