The U.S. Navy made history March 28 when the newest multi-mission maritime aircraft, P-8A Poseidon, graced invited guests with its first public appearance as a member of the patrol and reconnaissance community, and opened the doors to its Integrated Training Center.
“We are making history today as we officially roll out the P-8A Poseidon to the maritime community,” said Rear Adm. Michael Hewitt, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group commander, at the ceremony in Patrol Squadron (VP) 30’s hangar in Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. “The P-8 is going to bring the latest technology into the hands of our smartest young men and women, and we can’t wait to see what they’re going to do with it.”
The U.S. Navy accepted the first low-rate initial production P-8A Poseidon aircraft earlier this month and delivered it to the fleet replacement squadron for the P-8A, VP-30, March 5. It was unveiled March 28 not only to the public, but also to past, current, and future members of the Maritime Aircraft community during the annual “2012 Maritime Patrol Association Symposium.” This year, the weeklong symposium is celebrating P-3C Orion’s 50 years of service.
The fleet transition and rollout ceremony saw many members from the first maritime patrol squadrons, the P-3 community, the vice chief of naval operations and the under secretary of the Navy. Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work was the honored guest and keynote speaker for the event. Work spoke about maritime history, and in particular, the P-3C Orion an
