United Kingdom

摘要

BOEING HAS completed production of the RAF's third P-8A Poseidon MRA1. The aircraft, ZP803 (line number 8065), was rolled out of the Boeing paint shop on May 29, fully painted and emblazoned with the name Terence Bulloch DSO* DFC* on the forward fuselage. This follows the tradition established with the first two RAF aircraft - ZP801 Pride of Moray and ZP802 City of Elgin - of adopting a name relevant to the type's base or unit. ZP803 has been named after World War Two No 120 Squadron pilot Sqn Ldr Terence 'Terry' Malcolm Bulloch, the highest-scoring pilot in Coastal Command. This third aircraft will be delivered to No 120 Squadron later this year. A total of nine Poseidons are on order for the RAF and, as previously reported, the first two are currently operating out of Kinloss Barracks, Moray, Scotland, while infrastructure is completed at their permanent home at nearby RAF Lossiemouth. This work currently includes runway resurfacing and construction of a new Strategic Facility to house No 120 Squadron, No 201 Squadron and P-8A engineers and operations staff, The latter is in the final stages of construction.