Aircraft
Britain’s Poseidon Adventure Begins
With the delivery of the first Boeing P-8 to its base in Scotland the RAF has a maritime patrol aircraft on its books for the first time in over a decade.
The RAF's first P-8A touches down on UK soil for the first time at Kinloss on February 4. (photo: Royal Air Force)
The RAF's first P-8A touches down on UK soil for the first time at Kinloss on February 4. (photo: Royal Air Force)

On February 4, the first of the Royal Air Force’s £3 billion ($3.9 billion) fleet of nine new Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft landed at Kinloss Barracks in Scotland, piloted by Squadron Leader Mark Faulds. The aircraft (ZP801, named “Pride of Moray”) will operate from the British Army base at Kinloss (a former RAF base and traditional home of the long-retired Nimrod force) until October, when it will transfer to its long-term home at RAF Lossiemouth. That airbase is currently undergoing runway resurfacing work as part of a £470 million investment, including a new air traffic control tower, new accommodation, and upgraded drainage. This will be in addition to a new £132 million facility for the P-8A, construction of which has been underway for two years.