UK Confirms 9 Boeing P-8's to be purchased

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I'd suggest anyone who wants to retrofit a probe to an existing MPA will need to be brave given what happened to XV230 - a maritime aircraft that had a probe retrofitted.

[Gordyflyer]

ZP801 would be an appropriate and available serial for the first one!

[POL]

More likely to be ZZ801 onwards!

[Agent K]

I'd suggest anyone who wants to retrofit a probe to an existing MPA will need to be brave given what happened to XV230 - a maritime aircraft that had a probe retrofitted.

Did the investigation not put that down to a leakage of fuel around the fuel distribution pipes and into the bomb bay rather than a failure of a probe or the immediate installation? As such then even if had been probe or boom then similar could have happened?

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Ah, I'd suggest it's the principle rather than the technicalities that'd make people want to check they're not trying to create a new Frankenstein. Genuinely interested though if it influences the Voyager's configuration - Sentinel didn't get a probe fitted due to cost and weight from what I remember, I wonder if our P-8s will.

[Agent K]

Ah, I'd suggest it's the principle rather than the technicalities that'd make people want to check they're not trying to create a new Frankenstein. Genuinely interested though if it influences the Voyager's configuration - Sentinel didn't get a probe fitted due to cost and weight from what I remember, I wonder if our P-8s will.

Definitely yes the engineering would have to pass more recent and stricter standards, which is all for the good. My thoughts were based on there already being an air refuelling point on the aircraft and the build being very similar to the 707 thus there should be a precedent already there with the E3 (which is both probe and boom receiver equipped). I suspect it would be cheaper going for a probe equipped P8 rather than re-equipping Voyager and having to introduce a new capability. Stranger things have happened however!

[Andy_99]

But with booms on the voyager we could refuel the Airseeker the C17 & the P8 not to mention top up the F15's when Mildenhall closes down.

What about the F35 I can't remember seeing how that get AAR, although being a Naval variant I'd assume via a probe & basket.

[Agent K]

I think the A has boom, B and C have probe and drogue.

[cfett75]

Confirmed by the PM, Boeing P8's coming to RAF Lossiemouth!

[Surfrdan]

Well there we have it from the horses mouth. Lossiemouth it is.

[onemac]

Absolutely fantastic news.

Angus will no doubt still have a gurn about it though.

No - quoted in a soundbite from Moray Firth Radio as early as 13:00L saying fantastic news

Al

[onemac]

Does anyone have any idea what kind of time frame we're looking at? Based on the Airseeker acquisition, I assume it'll be a couple of years before we get a P-8 and maybe a decade before we have 9 and by which time 3 of those will be hangar queens? Not being cynical or anything...

'By the end of this parliament there will be 3 P-8's' said Dave.

Al

[cfett75]

A little SDSR humour:

SDSR P8 by Chris Fett, on Flickr

Carry on serious discussion...

[Phoon]

The recent flattening of the two south side 'J' type hangars at Lossiemouth looks such a good idea now............

[Thunder]

They flattened one K type(K20)as it was rotten and it was going to fall down by itself if not helped, the other one (K21) was still there 2 weeks ago.

No J type Hangars at Lossie 3 x C Type, 4 x K type, 6 x L Type

[Phoon]

They flattened one K type(K20)as it was rotten and it was going to fall down by itself if not helped, the other one (K21) was still there 2 weeks ago.

No J type Hangars at Lossie 3 x C Type, 4 x K type, 6 x L Type

Yes sorry, I thought both south side ones had gone, but the one nearest the road is still extant.

I believe a 'J' and 'K' are the same dimensionally. The only differences are the office layouts in the annexes each side?

And I think the 'C' types at Lossie are designated C1? - Hipped end rather than gabled?

[reheat module]

although its great news for the Aircraft Enthusiasts that we are, i am left wondering .. do we really need 9 ?
Why 9 ?

...And there's the first Question posed already for SDSR 2020...

I just hope they bring a better serviceability and availability rate than the E-3D fleet

[jamesg23]

although its great news for the Aircraft Enthusiasts that we are, i am left wondering .. do we really need 9 ? i know we are an island, and surrounded by coastline that can "hide" a Submarine or ship especially around the Scottish waters and islands quite easily, but 9 ? with our government regardless of who is in charge, we will probably only ever have defence budget to have one in the air if we are lucky ! or sat on the ground on alert "in case" a Ruskie Sub suddenly surfaces out of the blue in The River Thames outside Parliament or something !
Why 9 ?

There will be some in maintenance and some for use abroad should we need them and some for home out on patrol or on standby so yes 9 is enough and a correct amount I personally think

[cfett75]

I doubt it will be a case of adapting existing hangars. There are none at lossie that can hold a P8, so i would imagine it will be a case of flattening some buildings and starting from scratch for the new fleet.

[jetnoise]

Before they were scrapped the Nimrod MRA4 fleet was to be 12 so I cant see that 9 Ryanair subhunters will be enough. The Voyager fleet may need to be expanded as the P-8 range is only about 2/3 of what the MRA4 could do. Dont suppose the UK defence industry will get much work from this order. After selling off power generation to the Chinese this Government is spending hard earned taxes in the US. So much for helping the economy to grow.