The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by

Fuji Heavy Industries is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate primarily involved in both terrestrial and aerospace transportation manufacturing. It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles. Founded in 1953, the company was formerly named ( ...

for the

Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfa ...

. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

turboprop A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller. A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. ...

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 The Fuji KM-2 is a Japanese propeller-driven light aircraft, which was developed by Fuji Heavy Industries from the Beech T-34 Mentor which Fuji built under licence. Various versions have been used as primary trainers by the Japan Self-Defense ...

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

engine. The T-7 was selected in preference to the

Pilatus PC-7 The Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft designed and manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The aircraft is capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and n ...

in 1998,Mollet 1998, p.31. 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.Jeziorski 2000, p.20 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.Ripley 25–31 May 2004, p.57.

Operators

; *

** 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)

References

Bibliography

* Jeziorski, Andrzej.
T-3 replacement battle re-opens
. ''

Flight International ''Flight International'' is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", it is the world's old ...

'', 28 March – 3 April 2000, p. 20. * Mollet, Andrew.
Japan's T-7 decision saves Fuji's day
. ''

'', 9–15 September 1998, p. 31. * Ripley, Tim. "Military Aircraft Directory". ''

'', 25–31 May 2004, p. 38–73.

External links

Globalsecurity.com

Photo
{{JSDF aircraft designations T-7 2000s Japanese military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Single-engined turboprop aircraft Aircraft first flown in 2002