The US Navy Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 Fighting Marlins have concluded transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Following its return to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, the transition commenced in November last year.
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The squadron completed the last of its nine P-3C aircraft by delivering model 162776 to the Naval Aviation Museum in Florida.
Later, under the instruction of VP-30, the US Navy Patrol and Reconnaissance Fleet Replacement Squadron commenced P-8A aircraft transition training from NAS Jacksonville.
Over two months, the first phase of transition included classroom, simulator, and aircraft ground training at NAS Whidbey Island.
Aviation Maintenance Administration 2nd Class Sarah Moore said: “Though our aircraft has changed, our vision has stayed the same.
“As every sailor learns different aspects of the job, and they support our Marlin family. Achieving our shared goals through teamwork has directly resulted in a successful transition from P-3C to P-8A.”
During the second phase of transition, in-flight training was introduced along with continued simulator, classroom, and ground training.
This three-month phase was executed at NAS Jacksonville and concluded with a fleet-model performance in the Conventional Weapons Technical Proficiency Inspection.
The Fighting Marlins also received tactical instruction and training support from other Jacksonville-based commands, including the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School and the VP-26 Tridents.
Led by the VP-30.1 transition team in Whidbey Island, the last phase encompassed advanced training, evaluation, and inspections.
Other Whidbey Island-based commands, including Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 and the VP-46 Grey Knights supported the mission.
The aircrew in the nine airplanes conducted exercise torpedo attacks on a subsurface training target.
VP-40 is currently preparing to execute forward-deployed operations across all Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance mission areas, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and search and rescue.
