Military · Boeing
Boeing P-8A Poseidon P8
The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is a US Navy maritime patrol aircraft based on the Boeing 737-800. It hunts submarines, watches shipping and supports search and rescue.
P-8 Poseidons airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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P-8 Poseidons in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- P8
- First flight
- 2009
- Typical cruise
- 440 kt / 506 mph
- Service ceiling
- 41,000 ft
- Range
- 1,200 nm / 1,381 mi
- Capacity
- Crew of 9
- Length
- 39.5 m / 130 ft
- Wingspan
- 37.6 m / 123 ft
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56-7B turbofans. Family: 737 military. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
P-8s fly training and patrol missions from bases including Jacksonville, Florida and Whidbey Island, Washington. They often fly long, low patterns over the ocean.
Main US operators: US Navy.
How to recognize a P-8 Poseidon
- Looks like a gray Boeing 737 with few cabin windows
- Raked wingtips instead of winglets
- Bulges and antennas along the fuselage
- Weapons bay doors on the belly behind the wing
How it looks on a flight tracker
May fly at airliner altitudes in transit, then drop to low altitudes offshore. Some P-8s transmit ADS-B while others are not visible; the Navy lists a mission radius of about 1,200 nm with four hours on station.
History
The production P-8A first flew in April 2009 and entered Navy service in 2013, replacing the P-3 Orion. It is also flown by several allied countries.
Where P-8 Poseidons are right now
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What is the ICAO code for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon is P8. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the P-8 Poseidon fly?
The Boeing P-8A Poseidon typically cruises at about 440 knots true airspeed (about 506 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the P-8 Poseidon fly?
Its service ceiling is about 41,000 ft.