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
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