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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CammNut" data-source="post: 20721" data-attributes="member: 405">The Boeing P-8I and a version of the A319 by EADS Casa are finalists in the Indian MPA competition. Interestingly, the Inidan Navy's such-completed "flight evaluation" didn't involve either aircraft as they don't exist.In the case of the P-8, India evaluated Boeing's ground labs, a leased airline 737-800 flown on representative mission profiles and a US Navy P-3C (the sensors are essentially the same).In the case of the "A319 MPA", India had to evaluate a leased airline aircraft and a Spanish P-3 upgraded by EADS Casa with its FITS mission system.Interesting, Lockheed nearly offered an A320 derivative for the US Navy's MMA competition. Apparently the longer landing gear allowed the weapons bay to be mounted under the fuselage, outside the pressure vessel, making for an easier conversion.Lockheed eventually bid the remanufactured Orion 21, and was beaten by Boeing with the P-8 - a 737NG that needed substantial redesign to get the weapons bay inside the aft fuselage.</blockquote>

Verification: What year did the first man go to space? (answer has 4 numbers)