P-8A Poseidon T3 Completes First Flight Test

Aircraft T3, one of 6 flight-test aircraft for the Navy's P-8A Poseidon program, successfully completed a 2.8 hour flight test from Boeing Field in Seattle, WA.  During the flight, T3 performed various in-flight systems checks including autopilot flight modes and APU and engine shutdowns and re-starts.  Next up for T3 is for it to join sister test-aircraft T1 and T2 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (located in Maryland) where it will undergo further ground and flight tests.  T3 has been designated as the P-8A program's mission system and weapon certification aircraft.  The U.S. Navy plans on purchasing up to 117 P-8A Poseidon aircraft (which is based on a Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 airframe) to replace its aging fleet of P-3 Orion anti-submarine/maritime surveillance aircraft.

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