The second week of May marked a number of noteworthy milestones for US Naval Aviation and the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF).

Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 completed a Safe-For-Flight evaluation on 14 May for acceptance of their first P-8A Poseidon, the culminating event of a six-month transition from the P-3C Orion. VP-40 represents the twelfth and final active component VP squadron to transition from the P-3C Orion to the state-of-the-art P-8A Poseidon platform, a process that began eight years ago with VP-16 aboard NAS Jacksonville.

The last P-3C to return from that deployment now resides at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. The museum and MPRF leadership are in the planning stages of a formal ceremony and display.