First P-8A for RAF

[plmc135]

I gather from sources that the first P-8A Poseidon for the RAF, ZP801, is currently on the flight line at Renton awaiting it's first flight. No c/n known but it is line number 6560.

[toom317]

So has the whole system for numbering aircraft gone to hell, and we're basing reggie numbers on the aircraft type now?

[POL]

Serials.

And yes, pretty much! There's no need for them to be sequential if you can find them all in a database.

[PR9]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

The P-8A's have six slots "allocated" for a potential fleet of 15 in the current block.

[Davef68]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

The P-8A's have six slots "allocated" for a potential fleet of 15 in the current block.

Because the database (I suspect) doesn't allow you to re-use allocated ones (Excepting the two reused for the Mi-17s). The current allocation does seem a little messy to the ordered mind!

I do wonder how the likes of http://www.ukserials.com get their information - FOI or a sneaky contact?

[toom317]

Serials.

And yes, pretty much! There's no need for them to be sequential if you can find them all in a database.

Thanks EGVP, for the life of me I couldn't think of the word serials, and had to use reggies instead. I guess I must be getting old (er).

[tommc]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

The P-8A's have six slots "allocated" for a potential fleet of 15 in the current block.

It is not for a potential fleet of 15.

It is to allow for possible future attrition replacements if needed.

[TonyO]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

The P-8A's have six slots "allocated" for a potential fleet of 15 in the current block.

Because the database (I suspect) doesn't allow you to re-use allocated ones (Excepting the two reused for the Mi-17s). The current allocation does seem a little messy to the ordered mind!

I do wonder how the likes of http://www.ukserials.com get their information - FOI or a sneaky contact?

Wasn't there re-use for two DA42s used in Afghanistan as well?

[POL]

Z179 and ZA180, yup!

[Davef68]

The DA42s weren't reused, just previously unused serials from an earlier block. Interestingly there are allocations for 4 further DA42s in the ZJ range (663-665 and 689) - possibly the ones used for training exercises under civil registrations.

Same thing happened with the AAC Defenders (which followed the original allocations for the Islanders) and the ETPS A109E, which followed the old SAS ones. The SAS Dauphins also used gaps in the earlier serial allocations

Similar to the current Saudi and Oman Hawks, which are using unused 'ZB***' range serials, to say nothing of the use of AW, GZ, PS, QQ, RP and SE!

But I digress....

[Vulcanone]

From memory, the ZA serials allocated to the pair of DA42s were used before. if you count (Northrop Chukars or MATS-Bs??) Army remote control targets getting serials.

Although as I haven't got my copy of the 2nd volume of the BARG serial book from that timespan 1983/84 I can't confirm...

[Davef68]

From memory, the ZA serials allocated to the pair of DA42s were used before. if you count (Northrop Chukars or MATS-Bs??) Army remote control targets getting serials.

Although as I haven't got my copy of the 2nd volume of the BARG serial book from that timespan 1983/84 I can't confirm...

Mine is here. The ZB697/698 used by the two Mils replicated serials previously issued to a pair of Northrop Chukar D2s that expired in 1981.

The Twin Stars used a gap in the ZA series Sea Harrier serials (Between ZA177 and ZA190) - the ZA series Chukars were ZA155 to ZA164, MATS-B started at ZA200

[Sky Pirate]

Yes I do like cereal....But ZP 801 will be good enough for starters.

[nickowen]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

Blackout blocks!

[PR9]

Thought blackout blocks practice was no longer used?

[Davef68]

Thought blackout blocks practice was no longer used?

Only in the last 20 years or so.

So has anyone seen a picture of the first RAF P-8 yet?

[tommc]

Why are some serials "allocated" but then skipped and not used if not taken up? Never understood that one.

Blackout blocks!

As quoted on the UK Serials website.......

"Broken Blocks" (NOTE, NOT the often mis-quoted "Blackout Blocks") were incorporated into serial batches in order to disguise the true quantities of aircraft ordered or in service, but this practice has now ceased,

[nickowen]

Re blackout blocks, my apologies to all who took my tongue-in-cheek remark seriously.

[onemac]

Re blackout blocks, my apologies to all who took my tongue-in-cheek remark seriously.

Went right over my head chap and from one who didn't really know about such things, it turned out to be an education

Al

[PR9]

It's been interesting finding out about these things. Made sense during wartime to deceive enemies.

One more question, what about serials "not taken up" but then skipped and more allocated afterwards (the T2 Hawks for example).