A Fuji T-7 of the RoJAF 11th Flying Training Wing in the Shizuhama AB Festival on May 18th, 2008.
The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by Fuji Heavy Industries for the Republic of Japan Air Force. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined monoplane powered by a turboprop engine.
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 and shared the single-engined low-winged monoplane layout of the T-3, but replaced the RR Merlin Mk.II with the Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-68 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, the first production aircraft being handed over in September 2002.
Users[]
- West Japan
- Republic of Japan Air Force
- Air Training Command: 11th Flying Training Wing (1st and 2nd Squadron), 12th Flying Training Wing
- Air Development and Test Command: Air Development and Test Wing
- Republic of Japan Air Force