Boeing's P-8A Poseidon sub hunter has completed its first flight, marking the start of the aircraft's rigorous flight test campaign, the company confirms.The modified 737-800 aircraft, equipped with a 737-900ER wing and raked winglets, operating as call sign Boeing Papa Eight Experimental, departed Renton Municipal Airport at 10:41 AM PT according to a time line compiled by airplane spotter Andrew Sieber.
The three hour and thirty-one minute flight saw the Navy's new sub hunter, accompanied by two T-33 chase plane aircraft, touch down at Boeing's Military Flight Center at Boeing Field south of downtown Seattle at 2:11 PM PT.
Boeing has built two P-8A flight test aircraft - T-1 and T-2. The former is the unpainted aircraft that made its debut flight. T-2 has not yet flown, but has been painted in USN colors.
The P-8A Poseidon will be ready for operational deployment with the US Navy in FY2013.
P-8A Poseidon First Flight Time Line - All Times Pacific
(N541BA - YP001 - T-1 - Boeing Papa Eight Experimental)
0727 - A number of BCA employees begin working on the plane
0750 - Radio transmission on BOE RNT freq. Hydraulic testing at the time.
0830 - Flight test pilots conduct walk around
0843 - Pilots report they are on schedule for a 0930 departure from RNT
0846 - YP001 conducts VHF radio checks
0906 - Pilots report engine starts will be at 0945
0957 - Still doing flight control tests. Will start engines at new time of 1015.
1009 - YP001 calls into Renton tower for IFR clearance. No flight plan available.
1011 - Air stairs removed from plane
1016 - IFR clearance received for Boeing 9 Experimental
1021 - Boeing P8 Experimental Engine starts
1030 - Calls into Renton Ground requesting permission to taxi.
1033 - T-33 chase planes, N109X & N416X, contact Renton tower and enter the pattern.
1035 - Takes the runway for taxi test.
1040 - Liftoff with BCA chase planes in hot pursuit on Runway 15.
1411 - YP001 Touches down at Boeing Field (KBFI)
*Source & Photo Credit - Andrew Sieber
on April 26, 2009 3:29 AM | Reply
Great pictures as usual Jon. I really like the raked wingtips. All of the antennae and instrumentation is cool, too.
on April 26, 2009 7:59 AM | Reply
I'm more interested in the chase plane! There aren't manyl T-33s still flying out there.
on April 26, 2009 1:56 PM | Reply
I know that raked wingtips are better in every respect than vertical winglets...but they just don't look as cool. I suppose looking cool (and having someplace to paint you logo) just isn't the Navy's problem.
on April 26, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply
@Thad Beier: Raked wingtips have their own advantages, but they are not always better than regular winglets. Raked tips tend to offer more efficiency on longer flights by reducing drag. Vertical winglets, on the other hand, offer their own benefits for shorter to medium-length distances, through reduced drag, improved lift, and consequently higher payload.
on April 26, 2009 4:24 PM | Reply
Wow, look at all that stuff sticking out of the fuse, must be good for a few knots less at cruise
on April 26, 2009 6:15 PM | Reply
here's a video i found of it taking off on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeLv-6k7Ak4
on April 26, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply
2 very big thumbs up! The Poseidon is a kick ass plane. Now if we just can get the flatliner in the air........
on May 4, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply
The chase plane pictured is an ex-Canadian Forces T-33: note the single-piece windscreen
on May 8, 2009 5:49 AM | Reply
But can it loiter for up to 10 hrs over a targe without
refueling?
on August 29, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply
saw this first hand yesterday, while in North Bend. It was so low, then banked left and cut in front of huge mountain just above the tree lines. This one had two chase planes following. I thought I was going to watch a jetliner crash. Aug 28th, at about 10:50 AM.
-jeFf