Fuji T-7


The Fuji T-7 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, 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 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