From a distance.....

[Unknown74]

I had a thought the other day, when you are viewing a plane for instance in this case a Boeing 737 from a distance and you don't have either your binoculars or airband radio how can you tell it's not a P-8 Poseidon? Meaning if your watching it and you think it's just a boring Easy Jet or Ryanair not realising it's a P-8 Poseidon? Is the P-8 bigger than a normal 737 - oh and because I don't have my binoculars I can't see the aerials on the fuselage?

[Mike]

easyJet don't have any 737s, so you can rule them out if you see a 737 in the distance!

[Nighthawke]

Well the Easyjet bit is simple - they don't fly 737s. Not familiar with the finer details but being as the P-8 is based on a 737-800 frame then you probably couldn't tell if you need optics to see the colour scheme at least.

Edit - Mike beat me to it (unsurprisingly )

[plmc135]

P-8's have a row of aerials along the roof, plus other lumps and bumps elsewhere, which a standard B738 does not have. They are also all painted in a shade of grey.

[Nighthawke]

The way the OP worded the question suggested that such details would not be distinguishable at the distance being viewed.

[Mike]

P-8s have Boeing 737-900 wings, so that must make it much easier.

[slogen51]

Have a look on your phone tracking software

[Unknown74]

Sorry must be an age thing I still thought Easy Jet still had 737s. I get what you all mean about the other things - aerials, colour etc. cheerz.

[fatherfaff]

Treat every 737 you see as a P-8 and life will be much more exciting.

[Bushpilot]

P-8s sound different, I don't know why but maybe it's something to do with being at higher power settings at lower altitude rather than low 737s which are at using lower power on approach.

[Vulture 01]

Don't the Navy jets have nice colourful stars and bars on the sides?

[roger4]

P-8s have Boeing 737-900 wings, so that must make it much easier.

Their wings are based on those of the -900, but are not the same. The P-8 wings have raked wingtips, rather than winglets. From underneath, the P-8 is easily distinguishable as the raked tips are even more swept back than the rest of the wing, and end in a point.

[Mike]

P-8s have Boeing 737-900 wings, so that must make it much easier.

Their wings are based on those of the -900, but are not the same. The P-8 wings have raked wingtips, rather than winglets. From underneath, the P-8 is easily distinguishable as the raked tips are even more swept back than the rest of the wing, and end in a point.

Yes I know, I was being a little bit sarcastic....................

[roger4]

Sorry - I never was very good at reading between the lines.........

[quid21]

Its simple, if you get hit in the face by a Sonobuoy it's a P-8, if you get hit in the face by blue ice, it's an airliner