1st Boeing P-8A Poseidon for Norway performs maiden flight

The first of five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft for Norway performed its maiden flight, the company announced on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

The aircraft took off at 10:03 a.m. on Aug. 9 Pacific Time and flew for 2 hours and 24 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet during the flight from Renton Municipal Airport to Boeing Field in Seattle, the company said.

The first flight marked the next phase of the production cycle of this aircraft as it is moved to the installation and checkout facility, where mission systems will be installed and additional testing will take place before final delivery to the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) later this year, it added.

"This inaugural flight is an important milestone for Norway, and the Boeing team remains committed to delivering the P-8 fleet to the NDMA on schedule," said Christian Thomsen, P-8 Europe program manager.

To date, Boeing has delivered 136 P-8 aircraft. Norway is one of eight nations that have selected the P-8A as their maritime patrol aircraft, according to Boeing.