low flying 4 engine military plane

[Skip Lackie]

I used to live in the CA Bay Area near Moffett NAS where it seemed like there were P3s in the air constantly lumbering around, doing touch and go landings. I always thought they were kinda like Dumbo, big awkward and clumsy until they featured one at the yearly Moffett airshow. I was truly amazed at how powerful and agile the P3 was, even on two engines! I can see why they used them for sub chasers and fire fighting.

During the Cold War, Moffett Field was the HQ for the Pacific Navy Patrol Squadrons. I think there were 50-60 P3s based there; used to rotate out to Hawaii, Japan, and Adak. New crew members were coming in all the time, and one whole squadron was dedicated to training -- that meant a lot of touches and goes. The base was turned over (mostly) to NASA as part of a base closure mandate in 1994.

[StudeDave57]

It would seem to be an area that would be a problem for the 737.

From what I am hearing-- the P-8 has no issue in either of those areas.
It's speed is actually something the NAVY is happy with, since it can get on station much faster.
Once there it can do what it needs to do just as well as a P-3.
As for endurance, the P-8 is more than adequate.
And- if need be-- it can be refueled in flight.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon

During the Cold War, Moffett Field was the HQ for the Pacific Navy Patrol Squadrons.
I think there were 50-60 P3s based there; used to rotate out to Hawaii, Japan, and Adak.

At one time- way back when- there were actually TWO training squadrons.
VP-31 was at Moffett, and VP-30 was on the East- at NAS Jacksonville, Florida.
Only VP-30 remains.