Mayor, councilman learn about Navy P-8A Poseidon
From Staff
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville City Councilman Doyle Carter were among distinguished visitors who toured P-8A Poseidon training facilities at NAS Jacksonville Aug. 26 - before driving to Cecil Airport for a two-hour orientation flight with the "Mad Foxes" of VP-5.
The group arrived at the P-8A Integrated Training Center (ITC) aboard NAS Jacksonville where they were welcomed by Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (CPRG). Cozad told the group that the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) is organized into three Patrol and Reconnaissance wings at NAS Jacksonville, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., and NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Capt. Anthony Corapi, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) 11 continued the unclassified brief, noting that MPRF is composed of 14 patrol squadrons, one fleet replacement squadron, and more than 45 subordinate commands, making it the Navy's premier provider for airborne anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
On the East Coast, P-8A Poseidon has replaced the P-3C Orion as the Navy's long-range maritime patrol aircraft. It has transformed how the MPRF mans, trains, operates and deploys, as well as providing more combat capability from a smaller force.
After the brief, visitors were directed to the P-8A Weapons Tactics Trainer, a realistic simulation of the aircraft's internal fuselage, including crew workstations. A highlight of the ITC tour is the operational flight trainer (a full-motion cockpit simulator for pilot training).
Mayor Curry took the left seat and asked the instructor to set a course for downtown Jacksonville (where city hall is located). The mayor was impressed by the out-the-window visual display and the realistic cockpit noise and motion.
Because the NAS Jacksonville airfield is closed for renovation, the group drove to Cecil Airport, where the station's P-8A Poseidon squadrons are temporarily operating.
VP-5 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Alan D'Jock welcomed the guests for their P-8A Poseidon orientation flight. Curry and Carter appeared enthusiastic about going from simulators at the ITC to a real Poseidon at Cecil Airport in just one tour.
