Boeing’s P-8 gets its wings | Aviation International News

Boeing’s P-8 gets its wings

With the attachment of its wings and the hanging of the engines last month, Boeing’s first P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft is right on schedule and c

By Curt Epstein • Business Aviation Services Editor

July 12, 2008

With the attachment of its wings and the hanging of the engines last month, Boeing’s first P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft is right on schedule and could soon be earning its first international order, according to the manufacturer.

The militarized 737 derivative–which Boeing describes as a form-fit replacement for the U.S. Navy’s venerable P-3 Orion–recently began power-on systems testing on its dedicated production line at its commercial aircraft factory in Renton, Washington.
According to Boeing, despite the Poseidon’s outward differences from its airliner cousin–including a bomb bay, raked wing tips, underwing and fuselage centerline weapons stations and nearly 100 antennas–the P-8 shares 60 percent commonality by part number with its airliner cousin and could be built on the same assembly lines.

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