P-8A Poseidon Completes AAR Ground Test

May 15, 2015

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The P-8A Poseidon Integrated Test Team (ITT) conducts air-to-air refueling (AAR) ground testing with the aircraft at a level pitch and flight pitch to simulate the various stages of AAR. The team successfully completed the seven-day event May 11 at a Boeing facility in Seattle.

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.

Source : Naval Air Systems Command