First flight of the P-8A Poseidon and all things related to transition

[707guy]

Beat me to it. I took the tour of an E-4, they are stationed at Offutt. It is an interesting aircraft, but definitely a relic of the Cold War. The flight deck is straight out of 1975, the rest of the plane is very nicely appointed (plush, padded blue carpet). They are stretched very thin with only four aircraft and one pretty much always pulling presidential support and one on alert at Offutt. They actually have a VLF antenna like the E-6, but from what I understand don't use it too much. It is pretty interesting watching a 747 do T&Gs at Offutt.

When I was at Pax in the early 90's I was looking at where I might go next. There was actually an "ad" in NMPC's Link magazine that said there was an aircrew yeoman post open at Offutt flying on E-4s. I was really thinking of going for it but the wife (now ex) time balked at moving to Nebraska.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

120922-N-VE260-122 AYASE, Japan (Sept 22, 2012) A P-8A Poseidon lands at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The P-8A Poseidon is the Navy's replacement platform for the P-3C, and is designed to secure the Navy's future in long-range maritime patrol capability, while transforming how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy. The P-8A provides more combat capability from a smaller force and less infrastructure while focusing on worldwide responsiveness and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Smelley/Released)

120922-N-VE260-014 AYASE, Japan (Sept 22, 2012) A P-8A Poseidon takes off from Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The P-8A Poseidon is the Navy's replacement platform for the P-3C and is designed to secure the Navy's future in long-range maritime patrol capability, while transforming how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy. The P-8A provides more combat capability from a smaller force and less infrastructure while focusing on worldwide responsiveness and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Smelley/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

121116-N-LY958-077 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Nov. 16, 2012) Lt. Cmdr. Colette Lazenka, Tactical Coordinator with Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, shows Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Mark Leavitt some of the new features of the P-8A Poseidon. The Poseidon is one of newest additions to Navy's inventory and will replace the P-3C Orion. (U.S. Navy photo by Richard Stewart/Released)

121116-N-LY958-058 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Nov. 16, 2012) Lt. Stephen Bruner, assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, right, shows Rear Adm. Mark Leavitt, Chief of Naval Air Training, some of the navigation features in the new P-8A Poseidon. The Poseidon is one of newest additions to Navy's inventory and will replace the P-3C Orion. (U.S. Navy photo by Richard Stewart/Released)

121116-N-LY958-072 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Nov. 16, 2012) A P-8A Poseidon, and a P-3 Orion sit on the flight line at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. The P-8A Poseidon is the Navy's replacement for the P-3C Orion, and is designed to secure the Navy's future in long-range maritime patrol capability, while transforming how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy. The P-8A provides more combat capability from a smaller force and less infrastructure while focusing on worldwide responsiveness and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors.(U.S. Navy photo by Richard Stewart/Released)

 

[helolumpy]

Hope it doesn't break the runway at Corpus like it is at Jax....

 

[Flash]

Hope it doesn't break the runway at Corpus like it is at Jax....

Huh? Can you enlighten us?

 

[gotta_fly]

Man, I would love to have their HUD, although I would gladly settle for their seats!

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[HAL Pilot]

"And this Admiral, this is what is going to get me to "The Show" in another couple of years when my commitment is up".....

 

[Hozer]

Good to see a VP female that hasn't been issued the Mk1 Mod O Maritime hips....

 

[helolumpy]

Huh? Can you enlighten us?

NAS Jax is having to replace it's main runway in 2013 because it's not strong enough to support the weight of the P-8. We presently have 11 inches amd need at least 14 inches to support the P-8. The entire project will last about 13 months so for the duration all fixed wing squadrons will base out of Cecil Field.

All-in-all it will be a major red ass for everyone involved.

 

[helolumpy]

Some incorrect info.

No, there is NOT a plan to extend the runway. There is an unfunded project in 2015 that will add 1000 feet of overrun, not runway. This overrun will go from the departure end of 28 1000 feet and will tie into the parking apron in front of Hangar 511.

If we add 1000 feet of runway, then we'd have to move Roosevelt Blvd to maintain clear zone. But we don't need a wavier for an overrun. But like I said, it's planned for and the design has been submitted to CNIC for approval and funding, but we haven't been given $$$ for it yet.

The 2013 project is to increase the concrete depth from 11" to 14" inches for the first 1000 feet of each end of the runway, the sub-base underneath the concrete needs to be improved, especially at the end near the river (it's basically peat moss underneath the concrete), replace the middle 6000 feet of asphalt and level it from where an old runway (now taxiway Charlie) intersects 10/28 and finally replace all the lighting with more energy efficient lighting.

Of course if you feel my information is Bad Gouge, feel free to stop by the Monthly Runway Repair Meetings we host over at Base Ops. Next one is December 10th in the Air Ops Conference room in Building 118 at 1000. I'll be there.

 

[Jim123]

...We presently have 11 inches and need at least 14 inches...

All-in-all it will be a major red ass for everyone involved.

 

[MasterBates]

So how have C-40s operated out of there for years, or is it a volume of traffic at a given weight?

My inner enginerd is thinking ground pressure determines runway thickness more than total weight, but I may be missing something.

(Loaded E-2s have some of the worst ground pressure, and often leave dents when parked on asphalt)

 

[helolumpy]

The issue is the number of landing of aircraft of a greater weight. Right now Jax can land anything, in fact I have a 747-400 coming in this week.

But the P-8 is heavier than both the P-3 and the C-40 so you now have a heavier aircraft that will be doing bounces on a regular basis.
I used Wikipedia for these numbers, so they may be off a bit:
P-3 max weight 135K
C-40 max weight 171K
P-8 max weight 189K

The C-40 (we have 4 here) very rarely bounces at Jax, but VP-30 and the fleet squadrons bounce here quiet regularly and some of those landing are quiet "sporty" adding to the total stress on the concrete.

On top of that, the end of the runway near the river is slowly floating away because the land underneath the runway is land fill from 1940 and has turned into peat moss.

 

[scoolbubba]

The issue is the number of landing of aircraft of a greater weight. Right now Jax can land anything, in fact I have a 747-400 coming in this week.

But the P-8 is heavier than both the P-3 and the C-40 so you now have a heavier aircraft that will be doing bounces on a regular basis.
I used Wikipedia for these numbers, so they may be off a bit:
P-3 max weight 135K
C-40 max weight 171K
P-8 max weight 189K

The C-40 (we have 4 here) very rarely bounces at Jax, but VP-30 and the fleet squadrons bounce here quiet regularly and some of those landing are quiet "sporty" adding to the total stress on the concrete.

On top of that, the end of the runway near the river is slowly floating away because the land underneath the runway is land fill from 1940 and has turned into peat moss.

I'm copying and pasting your last paragraph and using that to splain away shitty landings on 28 to the tube rats.

 

[jollygreen07]

P-8 max weight 189K

Aww what a cute little airplane.