A new trainer and looking back on the first flight of the Viking
A new trainer and looking back on the first flight of the Viking
The T-7A Red Hawk could be the last manned trainer and remembering the first flight of the S-3 Viking
“Again, speed in action must be cultivated; the power to think quickly in an emergency is one of the greatest assets both of the boxer and the commander; and the power to move quickly often gives to a body of troops, as to a boxer, the advantage of surprise.
-Field Marshal A. Wavell
Mission Briefing
Meet the Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, an aircraft that's more than just a trainer; it's a symbol of international collaboration and cutting-edge technology. Born from a partnership between American aerospace giant Boeing and Sweden's Saab, the T-7 Red Hawk emerged as a front-runner in advanced jet training. It was September 2018 when the U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced its choice of the T-7 for its T-X program, signaling a new chapter in replacing the venerable Northrop T-38 Talon.
The story of the T-7 begins as far back as 2003, with the USAF's Air Education and Training Command (AETC) seeking a successor to the Northrop T-38 Talon. Initially slated for a 2020 service entry, this timeline saw changes due to various factors, including budgetary constraints and evolving modernization priorities. Despite these challenges, Boeing and Saab's collaboration bore fruit with the unveiling of the T-X prototype in September 2016 - a sleek, single-engine jet trainer, powered by a General Electric F404 engine.
By 2018, the USAF declared the Boeing design as its choice for the new trainer in a deal potentially worth over $9 billion. This contract marked a significant milestone, with plans to acquire 351 aircraft and 46 simulators, among other supports. In a heartwarming tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the USAF named this remarkable aircraft the "T-7A Red Hawk" in 2019.
The T-7's journey from concept to reality was both innovative and rapid. By February 2021, the aircraft had entered series production, with Saab delivering key components to Boeing's St. Louis plant. Remarkably, the T-7A leveraged digital engineering, reducing assembly time significantly and setting a new standard in aircraft manufacturing.
Looking beyond training, Boeing is exploring an armed variant of the T-7 to succeed aging fleets worldwide. Amidst various challenges and delays, the T-7 program persevered, with the first production model unveiled in April 2022 and the first flight of a production aircraft in June 2023.
The T-7 is not just about training; it's about potential. Designed for a variety of future roles, including high-G maneuvers and night operations, the T-7's single-engine design is a marvel of efficiency and power. With Boeing eyeing a global market of over 2,700 Red Hawks, the aircraft has attracted interest from several countries, including Serbia and Australia.
As of November 2023, the USAF is exploring the T-7's transformation into an armed combat aircraft, potentially filling gaps left by retiring F-16s. With its versatility, the T-7 Red Hawk stands not just as a trainer, but as a harbinger of the future in military aviation.
This week in aviation history
21 January 1972: In the sunny skies above Palmdale, California. This day marked the maiden voyage of a remarkable aircraft, the Lockheed YS-3A Viking. Piloted by Lockheed's own test pilots, John Jean “Chris” Christiansen and Lyle Howard Schaefer, this aircraft embarked on its inaugural flight, lasting 1 hour and 42 minutes. Christiansen later reflected on this experience, praising the Viking's stable and responsive nature, confident in its ability to meet the Navy's expectations.
But why was the Viking such a crucial development? Essentially it was born out of a pressing need during the Cold War era. The Soviet Union, at the time, boasted a formidable submarine fleet of 340, including 100 nuclear-powered ones, and they were rapidly expanding. The Viking was designed as a countermeasure, set to replace the aging Grumman S-2 Tracker.
Lockheed received a significant contract in 1969, worth $494 million, to develop the first four YS-3A pre-production aircraft, followed by another batch of four. Eventually, the total production number of Vikings reached 187.
The S-3A Viking was a marvel of design and technology. This twin-engine anti-submarine warfare aircraft, compatible with Essex-class or larger aircraft carriers, featured a high-wing structure with retractable tricycle landing gear. Its most notable features included an extensive electronics suite and a retractable Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) boom. Even the vertical fin and wings were designed to fold for efficient storage.
Dimensionally, the Viking was impressive: 53 feet, 4 inches in length, with a wingspan of 68 feet, 8 inches, and a height of 22 feet, 9 inches. Its wing area spanned 598 square feet. When configured for storage, its dimensions shrank considerably. The aircraft weighed 26,581 pounds empty, with a maximum takeoff weight of 52,539 pounds.
Powered by two General Electric TF34-GE-2 turbofan engines, the Viking boasted a maximum continuous power rating of 7,513 pounds of thrust. Its cruise speed hit 348 knots, with a maximum speed of 429 knots at sea level. It had a service ceiling of 40,900 feet and a notable climb rate.
The S-3A's fuel capacity and range were equally remarkable, with a combat range of 2,765 nautical miles. Armament-wise, it could carry 60 sonobuoys and was typically armed with four Mark 46 homing torpedoes. It even had the capability to carry nuclear depth bombs.
Post-Cold War, the Viking underwent significant changes, with 122 S-3As being converted to the S-3B configuration and others to different roles like electronic intelligence or aerial tanker.
Sadly, the era of the S-3 Viking in U.S. Navy service came to a close on January 30, 2009, with NASA acquiring some for research purposes. The Viking's legacy, however, remains a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability in military aviation, a story of an aircraft that evolved with the times and served its purpose with distinction.
In case you missed it
Many still believe that this was the best fighter to never go into production:
Photo Outlet
Heritage flight featuring a P-51 Mustang and F-16 Viper - it really puts into perspective how small the F-16 is for a modern fighter.
Post Flight Debrief
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. Now you know!
-Tog