U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon In New Radar Trials

For almost 40 years the U.S. Navy has flown P-3 Orions out of Dallas-Love Field airport, operated by a little-known  unit said to be called NASC-FS or NAWC-23. There are as many as three P-3s on strength but often only one is based at Love Field. They are rarely seen and their purpose is to test new radars for the service, often in the form of long "canoe" or "gondola" fairings under the belly. Recently it was reported that a P-8 Poseidon (737-800) was now based at Dallas, presumed to be doing similar work, but photographs have been even harder to come by...

Aviation Week photographer Nigel Howarth spotted one of the unit's P-3s alongside its possible successor, the P-8, at Love Field in early April. This particular P-8 had been in regular squadron service until recently but has had its squadron markings removed. We can't get a great look at that belly-mounted 'canoe' on the P-8, but it can be seen in close-up.

No doubt as more photographs come to light we'll get a better idea of what it may be comparable to. Meanwhile, millions of people pass through this busy airport every year totally unaware of the cutting-edge work going on just across the runway.

Photos: Nigel Howarth