Overview
- The fly-in from Boeing’s St. Louis plant was postponed due to weather, delaying the first operational T-7A’s arrival at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph.
- The aircraft is assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron, which will qualify an initial cadre and conduct Initial Operational Test and Evaluation at Randolph.
- Maintenance preparation begins with a course for the first 39 maintainers next month, running through June and using the locally based jet for hands-on training.
- A second aircraft is expected in early 2026, with Initial Operational Capability planned for August 2027 at Randolph with 14 jets and a long-term Program of Record of 351 aircraft and 46 simulators.
- The T-7A introduces open-architecture avionics, fly-by-wire controls, and live-virtual-constructive training to modernize pilot production following a revised ‘field-and-learn’ acquisition approach after earlier test issues.