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.

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

  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

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003-04^[4]

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: 16.5 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

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

Bibliography edit

• 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.

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