Navy Reserve Poseidon

On 4 August 2023, a US Navy Reserve Patrol Squadron (VP) 62 Broadarrows ('LT-xxx') P-8A Poseidon visited Salt Lake City International Airport (UT) to pick up a VIP.

The aircraft, BuNo 169564/LT-564 (c/n 66096/8219), was first noted with VP-62 in May 2023. This unit is a combat aviation squadron of the United States Navy Reserve. Since 31 July 2015, the squadron has been assigned to Commander, Maritime Support Wing, an Echelon IV organisation under the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. The squadron flies the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from its home station of Naval Air Station Jacksonville (FL), deploying worldwide.

Strikingly, this same serial was used in April 2021 by one of the Poseidons operated by Special Projects Unit (VPU) 2 Wizards. In reality, this sneaky Poseidon is BuNo 168854. It is still operated by VPU-2, but currently with the fake registration BuNo 168441.

On 22 April 2023, VP-62 became the first P-8A squadron in the Naval Air Reserve. According to the information, the unit has two Poseidons assigned and will eventually fly and maintain a total of six P-8As.

The west coast Navy Reserve unit, VP-69 Totems ('PJ-xxx') based at NAS Whidbey Island (WA), is currently in the process of transitioning to the Poseidon.

Photo by Bradford Leinberger Photography