Fuji T-7

T-7
	T-7s in flight
Role	Primary/Basic Trainer
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Fuji Heavy Industries
Introduction	2002
Primary user	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Number built	49
Developed from	Fuji T-3

The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by Fuji Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined monoplane powered by a turboprop engine.

Design and development

The Fuji T-7 was developed to meet a requirement of Japan's Air Self Defence Force for a primary or basic trainer to replace the Fuji T-3. The resultant aircraft was a modified version of the T-3, (itself descended via the Fuji KM-2 from the Beech T-34) and shared the single-engined low-winged monoplane layout of the T-3, but replaced the Lycoming piston engine with an Allison 250 turboprop engine.

The T-7 was selected in preference to the Pilatus PC-7 in 1998,^[1] but this decision was cancelled and the competition restarted after a corruption scandal arose, with several managers from Fuji being arrested for bribing an official in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.^[2] Fuji re-entered the T-7 (then known as the T-3 Kai) and again won the restarted competition in September 2000.

Operational history

The first production aircraft was handed over to the JASDF in September 2002.^[3]

Operators

Japan

Japan Air Self-Defense Force
- Air Training Command:
  - 11th Flight Training Wing
    - 1st Flight Training Squadron
    - 2nd Flight Training Squadron
  - 12th Flight Training Wing (2005-)
    - 1st Flight Training Squadron (2005-)
    - 2nd Flight Training Squadron (2005-)
- Air Development and Test Command
  - Air Development and Test Wing

Specifications (T-7)

Data from "Military Aircraft Directory", Flight International^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 8.59 m (28 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 10.04 m (32 ft 11 in)
Height: 2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 16.50 m² (177.60 ft²)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,585 kg (3,487 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-B17F turboprop, 336 kW (450 shp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 376 km/h (203 knots, 234 mph)
Cruise speed: 296 km/h (160 knots, 184 mph)
Stall speed: 103 km/h (56 knots, 64 mph)
Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)

References

Notes

↑ Mollet 1998, p.31.
↑ Jeziorski 2000, p.20
1 2 Ripley 25–31 May 2004, p.57.

Bibliography

Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
Jeziorski, Andrzej. "T-3 replacement battle re-opens". Flight International, 28 March – 3 April 2000, p. 20.
Mollet, Andrew. "Japan's T-7 decision saves Fuji's day". Flight International, 9–15 September 1998, p. 31.
Ripley, Tim. "Military Aircraft Directory". Flight International, 25–31 May 2004, p. 38–73.
Sobie, Brendan. "Japan's pilots to start T-7 training early next year". Flight International, 12 August 2003.

External links

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[Mollet-1] Mollet 1998, p.31.

[Jeziorski-2] Jeziorski 2000, p.20

[Ripley_p57-3] 1 2 Ripley 25–31 May 2004, p.57.