DefenceTalk report -
When a new Navy aircraft takes to the skies it is always a proud moment for any aircraft program. For the actual pilot behind the controls, it is an even greater feeling.
Lt. Roger Stanton had the privilege of being the first Navy test pilot to fly the P-8A Poseidon in October.
“It felt awesome,” Stanton said. “The first time you fly a new airplane it’s just a great experience. This is what test pilots are trained to do, so getting this rare opportunity was really amazing.”
Stanton, along with Boeing pilot Doug Benjamin, flew the first Poseidon, designated T1, over the Puget Sound in Washington, kicking off the formal Navy flight test program.
“It was a good day - a really good day,” Stanton said. “All the training I received was great. We rehearsed the flight profile many times so we came into the flight very well prepared, but it was still fun.”
Stanton began T1 flight preparation in 2008 with Boeing 737 training in Seattle, consisting of classroom courses, computer-based training and a mixture of commercial 737 simulators as well as time in an actual 737 aircraft. He also spent approximately 250 hours in the Weapon System Integration Lab, located in Kent, Wash.
The WSIL is a non-motion based simulator designed to help the test team integrate aircraft and mission systems, as well as, test aircraft components.
“For the baseline P-8, it certainly flies like a 737,” he said. “They did a nice job of building the airplane. The interesting flying for the P-8 really will come when we have to emulate the P-3 mission – high bank angle, low altitude, autopilot integrated into our mission with missiles on the wings. It will get interesting.”
That type of flying will come later in the test program. T1 actually made three flights in October, prior to undergoing more instrumentation installation in the factory. The first flight was to check the airworthiness, or how well the modified 737 aircraft flies with all the test instrumentation.
The second two flights practiced instrument approaches with a visual restrictive device. Stanton said one of the things the Navy closely monitors is whether or not the pilots are capable of safely flying the plane if they can’t look out the window for visual reference.
Initial testing of T1 is being conducted in Seattle. It will transfer to Pax in early 2010, where flight and operational testing will be completed by the integrated test team (ITT).
The Poseidon ITT, comprised of Navy test squadrons -- Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 -- and Boeing, will spend the next 36 months flying and evaluating three aircraft, designated T1, T2 and T3. The evaluation will include extensive mission systems testing, operational effectiveness and ability to carry out the anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in accordance with Naval Air Systems Command requirements.
Stanton said the maritime patrol and reconnaissance community needs a new aircraft and needs it badly. He said the Fleet needs an airframe that’s capable of meeting the requirements set forth by the Navy and that support the maritime strategy.
“Our job here is to test that capability on the Poseidon,” he said. “As an operational P-3 pilot, I am fully aware of the challenges facing the [MPRA] community as they try and execute their high demand mission with a dwindling number of aging assets. Testing the P-8 and getting it to the [MPRA] community as soon as possible will help alleviate some of those challenges.”
http://www.defencetalk.com/first-navy-t ... don-23377/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
First Navy Test Pilot Flies P-8A Poseidon
A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
Return to “The Fighter Control Mess”
Jump to
- ↳ Highlights of the Week
- ↳ Seasonal Photo Challenge
- ↳ Photo Challenge - Autumn 2011
- ↳ Photo Challenge - Winter 2011
- ↳ Photo Challenge - Spring 2012
- Fighter Control Information
- ↳ Forum Rules
- ↳ Fighter Control and Forum Technical Information
- ↳ AeroResource Articles
- ↳ The Newbie Forum
- Fighter Control Community
- ↳ The Fighter Control Mess
- ↳ Military Aviation Memorabilia
- Military Aviation Photography
- ↳ Photography Section Rules and Guidelines
- ↳ Military Aviation Photo Competitions
- ↳ Monthly Photo Competition
- ↳ Specialist Photo Competitions
- ↳ Current Military Photography
- ↳ Airshow & Event Photography
- ↳ Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic Photography
- ↳ Aviation Videography
- ↳ Photography Q & A / How to post photos
- Airshows
- ↳ UK Airshows
- ↳ RIAT
- ↳ Farnborough
- ↳ Duxford Shows
- ↳ Yeovilton
- ↳ Cosford
- ↳ Other Airshows & Events
- ↳ Archived Airshows
- ↳ Leuchars
- ↳ Scampton
- ↳ Waddington
- ↳ Shuttleworth
- ↳ European Airshows
- ↳ Rest of the World Airshows
- Spotters Area - Serials and Airfield Logs
- ↳ Recent Serial tie up area
- ↳ Old Serial tie up area
- ↳ South West England
- ↳ RMB Chivenor
- ↳ RNAS Culdrose & Predannack
- ↳ MoD Boscombe Down
- ↳ RAF St Mawgan & Newquay
- ↳ RNAS Yeovilton, Yeovil Westlands & Merryfield
- ↳ Southern England
- ↳ AAC Middle Wallop
- ↳ RAF Benson
- ↳ RAF Brize Norton
- ↳ RAF Fairford
- ↳ Archive Movements 2009 - Present
- ↳ RAF Northolt
- ↳ RAF Odiham
- ↳ West England & Wales
- ↳ RAF Valley & Mona
- ↳ DSAE Cosford
- ↳ RAF Shawbury & Ternhill
- ↳ MOD St Athan
- ↳ Cardiff
- ↳ Lincolnshire, The Midlands & Rutland
- ↳ RAF Coningsby
- ↳ RAF Cranwell & Barkston Heath
- ↳ RAF Waddington
- ↳ RAF Scampton
- ↳ RAF Wittering & Cottesmore
- ↳ East Anglia
- ↳ RAF Wyton
- ↳ Stansted
- ↳ Cambridge Airport
- ↳ AAC Wattisham
- ↳ RAF Lakenheath
- ↳ RAF Mildenhall
- ↳ RAF Marham
- ↳ Northern England
- ↳ BAE Brough
- ↳ RAF Leeming
- ↳ RAF Linton-on-Ouse
- ↳ Warton Aerodrome
- ↳ BAE Woodford
- ↳ Scotland and Ireland
- ↳ RAF Kinloss
- ↳ RAF Leuchars
- ↳ RAF Lossiemouth
- ↳ Prestwick
- ↳ Edinburgh
- ↳ Baldonnel
- ↳ JHC Aldergrove
- ↳ Dublin
- ↳ Shannon
- ↳ All other areas around the UK
- ↳ Europe
- ↳ Germany
- ↳ Other Areas
- ↳ Netherlands
- ↳ Belgium
- ↳ Italy, Malta & Mainland Greece
- ↳ Cyprus & Crete
- ↳ Spain & Portugal
- ↳ Denmark and Norway
- ↳ France
- ↳ North America and the Rest of the World
- ↳ United States of America
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ Rest of the World
- Military Ranges
- ↳ RAF and RN Weapon Ranges
- ↳ Aberporth Range
- ↳ Castlemartin & Manorbier
- ↳ Pembrey Range
- ↳ Donna Nook Range
- ↳ Holbeach Range
- ↳ Wainfleet Range
- ↳ Tain Range
- ↳ Garvie Island
- ↳ Spadeadam & SPACES
- ↳ Lilstock Range
- ↳ Muckleburgh, Sculthorpe & STANTA
- ↳ Sennybridge
- Military Aircraft Flight Simulation
- ↳ Flight Simulator
- ↳ Flight Simulation General Chat
- ↳ FS2004 and FSX Addon Updates
- ↳ FS9 and FSX Repaints
- ↳ Flight Simulator Technical Board
- Heritage, Demobbed & Preservation Groups
- ↳ Newark Air Museum (NAM)
- ↳ Heritage Area
- ↳ RAF Lyneham
- ↳ AAC Dishforth
- ↳ RAF Boulmer
- ↳ RAF Church Fenton & RAF Topcliffe
- ↳ Leconfield
- ↳ The Vulcan XH558 Forum
- Military Aircraft Modelling
- ↳ Modelling Community
- ↳ Technical - Tools and Tips/Walkrounds
- ↳ Work In Progress
- ↳ Gallery
- ↳ FC Modelling Competition
- ↳ Finished Builds
- ↳ Group Builds
- Fighter Control General
- ↳ General Chat
- ↳ General Photography
- Website Promotion & For Sale/Wanted
- ↳ Promotion of your website
- ↳ For Sale and Wanted
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Canberra TT.18, dannyboyo20 and 80 guests