Pride fuels Boeing workers building Navy's new sub hunter

Pride fuels Boeing workers building Navy's new sub hunter

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Story Published: May 20, 2008 at 7:11 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 8:28 PM PDT

By Molly Shen

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RENTON, Wash. -- A sense of pride is fueling workers on production line 3 at the Boeing plant as they work on building a new submarine hunter for the U.S. Navy.

"You feel special. You feel like you're doing something for your country. You're really proud that you have a hand in on it," said electrician Melody Carlaw.

The P-8A - or Poseidon - is a submarine hunting jet. The modified 737 will fly low and slow over the ocean in conditions a commercial jet would normally avoid.

From a distance, the plane looks like any other 737. But up close you see nearly 100 antennas sticking out of the plane.

Instead of suitcases, the cargo hold is designed for extra fuel tanks. And in the underbelly is a bomb bay to hold five torpedoes.

The team at Boeing has managed to meet or beat every major deadline so far, most recently getting the wings attached to the fuselage. And just last week the plane started moving down the line on its own wheels.

Boeing credits its efficiency to teamwork. Its commercial and defense sides working together on this project instead of the two divisions working in separate plants.

"That is a significant thing to do, a significant undertaking," said Boeing Vice President Bob Feldmann. "And it requires intense coordination between the design team that knows this airplane and the design team that knows the customer and their requirements."

And a Boeing VP walks the line everyday, talking to workers and making sure they have everything they need.

For both Boeing and the Navy, keeping the jet on time is crucial. The first Poseidon should be ready to fight in five years.

The P-8A will replace the P-3, which was built by Lockheed Martin. The P-3 is aging and a quarter of the planes have already been grounded.

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