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, 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. 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.
== 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 Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04General 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: 16.5 m2 (178 sq ft) Airfoil: root: NACA 23016.5; tip: NACA 23012 Max takeoff weight: 1,585 kg (3,494 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop engine, 336 kW (451 hp) Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller, 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) diameter Performance
Cruise speed: 298 km/h (185 mph, 161 kn) at 915 m (3,002 ft) Stall speed: 104 km/h (65 mph, 56 kn) flaps and gear down Wing loading: 96.1 kg/m2 (19.7 lb/sq ft) Power/mass: 0.2114 kW/kg (0.1286 hp/lb) Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 608 m (1,995 ft) Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 566 m (1,857 ft) Avionics
VHF radio UHF radio Transponder ICS TacAN
See also
Related development
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor Fuji KM-2 Fuji T-3 Fuji T-5 Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Pilatus PC-9 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II KAI KT-1 Woongbi PZL-130 Orlik Embraer EMB 312 Tucano HAL HTT-40 TAI Hürkuş
References
=== Bibliography === 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.
== Further reading == Sobie, Brendan. "Japan's pilots to start T-7 training early next year". Flight International, 12 August 2003.
External links
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