Boeing delivers first flight training simulator for RAFs Poseidon
Boeings first Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) for the United Kingdoms submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA Mk1 aircraft has been delivered to the fleets future home at RAF Lossiemouth.
Above:
A submarine-hunting Poseidon aircraft on runway.
Courtesy RAF / Crown Copyright
Transported by an Antonov AN-124 from Orlando International Airport in Florida to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, the full-scale Poseidon cockpit replica travelled more than 200 miles by road from Prestwick to RAF Lossiemouth, where it will be installed in the Boeing-built Strategic Facility.
In addition to the two flight training simulators, the facility also will hold numerous other training devices, three of the RAF’s nine Poseidon aircraft, accommodation for three squadrons and mission support facilities. Boeing expects to have more than 200 employees focused on maintenance, training and support at RAF Lossiemouth when the facility is fully operational.
A suite of Boeing training devices have been developed to provide interactive, high-fidelity simulations to train the pilots who operate the aircraft, and the rear crew who operate the sensors, communication and weapon systems.
“The OFT simulators provide training specifically for the pilots who will be flying the Poseidon aircraft. They also have the compatibility to link up with the mission simulators used by the rear crew, allowing them to train together. It’s an essential part of making sure the pilots are fully prepared to operate the new fleet of aircraft,” said Mark Corden, project manager for training in the Poseidon delivery team at Defence Equipment & Support. “The weight of the simulator is not such an issue. It’s the width and height, which make it too big to be transported by any RAF aircraft, such as a C-130J, A400M or C-17. The Antonov is one of only a few aircraft in the world large enough to transport it.”
Drawing on Boeing’s decades of delivering innovative training for its defence platforms, the simulators will directly support the RAF’s emerging needs in fleet readiness. The training simulators will allow for more complex training of multiple operational scenarios in a structured setting and reduce the cost of carrying out live, in-flight training while helping to reduce carbon emissions – important operational, environmental and financial benefits for the Ministry of Defence.
“Boeing is committed to ensuring readiness for the RAF and enabling local capability to further optimize the UK defence sector,” said Torbjorn (Turbo) Sjogren, vice president of International Government & Defence for Boeing. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with the RAF, and our local partners in Moray, and building the competency of mission crews to take full advantage of the P-8A fleet’s capability.”
The Poseidon is a proven long-range maritime patrol aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and coastal operations. All nine of the RAF’s aircraft are expected to be in the UK by the end of 2021. The first, named Pride of Moray, touched down on UK soil in February. It was closely followed by the second, named City of Elgin, a month later. Both aircraft are currently flying from nearby Kinloss Airfield until the Strategic Facility and runway at RAF Lossiemouth are formally opened later this year.