
The Royal Air Force has taken delivery of its first Poseidon MRA Mk.1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). The aircraft was formally unveiled in a ceremony at Seattle’s Museum of Flight on October 29, when Air Marshal Andrew Turner, DCOM (deputy commander) capability for the Royal Air Force, received the “keys” for the first RAF Poseidon, named Pride of Moray. The aircraft was accepted by a team from No. 54 Squadron, the RAF’s ISTAR operational evaluation unit.
The following day, the aircraft left Boeing Field and was flown to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, using the callsign POSIDN1. The aircraft was officially handed over to the air officer commanding No. 1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth. The paperwork to formally transfer the aircraft to UK ownership and sign it onto the UK Military Airworthiness Authority register was signed by Michelle Sanders, DE&S delivery team leader.