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US Navy and Boeing Conducted Air-to-Air Refueling Ground Tests with P-8A Poseidon MPA

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
US Navy and Boeing Conducted Air-to-Air Refueling Ground Tests with P-8A Poseidon MPA
 
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.
     
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.
A P-8A Poseidon during AAR ground testing at level picth.
Picture: US Navy courtesy of Boeing
     
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.
     
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.
A P-8A Poseidon during AAR ground testing at flight picth.
Picture: US Navy courtesy of Boeing
     
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