BOEING 737 SPECIAL MISSION AIRCRAFT

摘要

As Boeing delivers the 21st production P-8A Poseidon to the US Navy, we review this and other 737-based special mission aircraft. SELECTED BY THE US Navy as the Maritime Multi-mission Aircraft (MMA) in June 2004, the P-8 Poseidon essentially replaces the 1960s-vintage P-3 Orion. To date, all deliveries have been ahead of schedule, a fact that Boeing takes great pride in, and which the US Navy greatly appreciates. In mid-2004 Boeing was awarded a $3.89-billion systems development and demonstration (SDD) contract, ultimately resulting in six flight test vehicles and two static test airframes. Production of the first test aircraft began on December 11, 2007, and the P-8 made its maiden flight on April 25, 2009. The P-8A is basically a military derivative of the 737, merging the 737-800 fuselage with the 737-900ER's reinforced wings.