For the moment I feel constrained on what I want to produce for any sim version, if anything. The contributions made to Lakenheath and Selfridge ANG Base for MSFS are held up centrally in MAIW with no information as to what is happening. I’ve been trying to find out for almost 3 weeks now, but with no response. There is no category in the MAIW library to upload MSFS packages to, and in any case new work of any description, doesn’t seem to be being made available. The last package was released over two months ago. I understand real life pressures, but there is a consequence in the longer term if there is no work-around. I could upload to Avsim, but I am reluctant to break the MAIW link.
Anyway, in the hope I can get this to fruition, here is the T-7A project as it currently stands:
The Boeing-Saab T-7A is a two-seat advanced trainer that will replace the Northrop T-38 Talon in the USAF. Some 351 aircraft are on order, with the first production aircraft having a planned delivery to Randolf AFB, Texas, next year.
The first protype (T-X) first flew in December 2016 and in September 2019 the aircraft was Christened as the T-7A “Red Hawk” in honour of The Tuskegee Airmen who flew red-tailed aircraft in WWII. Two T-X aircraft are numbered N381TX and N382TX and initially flew with a two- tone grey paint scheme. I can’t be totally sure, but I think these aircraft were subsequently painted with red tails - the first two aircraft in the flightline screen shot. I can’t be sure, because they bear no visible serial numbers with the red tails and the few photos out there have no date references that I could see.
In April 2022, Boeing rolled out the first Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) jet at a ceremony at Lambert, St Louis. The paint scheme drops the darker grey on the forward fuselage and the red tail bore the code “RA” for Randolf and “99 FTS”, which is the original Tuskegee squadron number, since adopted by the present day Randolf squadron, flying the T-1A Jayhawk. This aircraft is the third along the flight line screen shot and looks like this:
I have found no photograph of this paint scheme in the air, neither does it bear a serial number. Scramble lists the T-7A aircraft as follows with 21-7001 and 21-7002 being active:
I suspect that the “RA” aircraft is 21-7001 and the tail has been repainted accordingly and the “RA” paint is redundant for now:
The added puzzle is that photographs of the “RA” aircraft has slime lights. However, these do not appear on the only two photographs I could find of 21-7001 and 21-7002. I have added them until things get clearer:
The models and paints might need a bit more work on them, particularly when a better 3-view diagram appears, but hopefully it’s a start:
From what I’ve read, the remaining 3 EMD aircraft are to become active in the short time to the end of this year. The 5 will fly from the Boeing facility at Lambert International and from Edwards AFB. I assume the two T-X aircraft will remain at Lambert. I'll think about AFCADs and flight plans once things are clearer.
If anyone discovers anything in the coming few weeks, then please post. I’ll continue with my searches in the meantime.
John
