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Naval Forces News - USA |
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US
Navy and Boeing Conducted Air-to-Air Refueling Ground Tests with P-8A
Poseidon MPA |
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The
U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released pictures showing
the P-8A Poseidon Integrated Test Team (ITT) conducting air-to-air refueling
(AAR) ground testing on a P-8A
Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. |
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 A P-8A Poseidon during AAR ground testing at level picth. Picture: US Navy courtesy of Boeing |
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Two
types of tests were conducted: one with the aircraft at a level pitch
and the second one at flight pitch. The goal is to simulate the various
stages of air-to-air refueling. The team successfully completed the
seven-day event May 11 at a Boeing facility in Seattle. |
 A P-8A Poseidon during AAR ground testing at flight picth. Picture: US Navy courtesy of Boeing |
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In
an effort to minimize schedule impact to the test aircraft, the ITT worked
12-hour shifts, 24 hours per day, loading more than 400,000 pounds of
fuel onto the aircraft during the course of testing. The series of tests will mitigate risks associated with the in-flight AAR demonstration, which is slated for 2016. The P-8A will deploy with the AAR capability within the next two years and will use the flying boom, or Air Force style, method of refueling. Link to P-8A Poseidon MPA Technical Datasheet |
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