Tag Archives: modifications

Challenger 604 That Boeing Has Used For Other Things?

This Challenger 604 taxied out at Boeing Field and I was slightly curious because it was in a grey paint job with a US flag on the fin.  I didn’t think it was a government owned machine but maybe there was something interesting about it.  When I got a good look at it, I could see that the airframe had some modifications.  There were ventral fins and a fairing on the underside that looked like it might have been used for mounting something else which was now absent.  A check on the registration shows it as registered to Boeing.  They had a development program a while back to make a maritime patrol aircraft from the Challenger.  Was this airframe part of that program originally?  Where is it going now?

Odd P-8 Fin at BFI

While waiting for an arriving 777X, I looked back across Boeing Field at the Boeing military ramp.  They had a bunch of P-8s on the ramp at that time but one seemed a bit odd.  First, it didn’t have the fin cap attached.  I am not sure what might be the reason for removing it.  Also, something about the paint on the fin was odd.  It looked like someone was in the process of repainting it.  Since it was on their ramp and the rest of the airframe was obscured, I couldn’t see which airframe it was or which customer it was destined for so no idea what the story might be.  Anyone with any suggestions?