The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.

The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.

The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.

The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.

The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.

The first of four P-8A Poseidon aircraft being built for New Zealand has flown in the United States. (Boeing)

The first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft ordered by New Zealand has conducted its first test flight.

In a statement, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) said that the aircraft's first flight was conducted “ahead of its systems fit-out”. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in the United States on 16 August.

The flight took place five months after the keel was laid down for the first aircraft on 16 March in Boeing's Wichita factory. The fuselage was subsequently moved for assembly to Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Washington, in April.

Assembly of the airframe had been completed by July, and on 21 July, the aircraft was dispatched to the paint shop.

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the project is “on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orion fleet from 2023”. New Zealand's fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft has been in service since 1966.