Mon, Oct 03, 2011
Poseidon Variant Ordered By The Indian Navy Gets Its First
Airborne Checks
The first P-8I aircraft for the Indian Navy completed its
initial flight Wednesday, taking off from Renton Field at 1202 PDT
time and landing two hours and 31 minutes later at Boeing Field in
Seattle.
Boeing Photo
During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed airborne systems
checks including engine accelerations and decelerations and
autopilot flight modes, and took the P-8I to a maximum altitude of
41,000 feet prior to landing. In the coming weeks Boeing will begin
mission systems installation and checkout work on the aircraft at a
company facility near Boeing Field.
"The P-8I program is progressing well and we are looking forward
to this potent platform joining the Indian Navy as part of its
fleet," said Rear Adm. DM Sudan, assistant chief of Naval Staff
(Air), Indian Navy.
Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the
P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is
developing for the U.S. Navy. In order to efficiently design and
build P-8 aircraft, the Boeing-led team is using a
first-in-industry, in-line production process that draws on the
company's Next-Generation 737 production system. "Flying the first
P-8 for an international customer is a key milestone for our entire
team," said Leland Wight, Boeing P-8I program manager. "We have
transitioned to P-8I production, and remain on track to deliver the
first aircraft to the Indian Navy in 2013."
The P-8I is the first of eight long-range maritime
reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft Boeing is
building for India as part of a contract awarded in January 2009.
An option for four additional P-8I aircraft was included in the
original contract.
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