It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...
...both actually, in a manner of speaking.
It's the "Osprey", A.K.A. V22:
I've been working (intermittently) on the V22 program for going on 20 years; it will be 20 years in the Summer of 2008. The program itself has been "on again, off again" for various reasons during that same timeframe, although it and my assignment thereto have been steady since the turn of the millennium.
Anyway, they were finally given the operational "go ahead" earlier this year, and without any fanfare were deployed to the Middle East a couple of months ago:
AL ANBAR PRO, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, flies over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq during a mission out of Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, prepares to land on a flight line aboard Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while another Osprey taxies behind as they prepare for take off from Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, test fires a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S Marine Sgt. Justin Shadrick, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, uses hand and arm signals to communicate with the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey while taxiing it out of the chalks on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base to prepare for a launch.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, prepares to land on the flight line on board Al Asad Air Base for the first time.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, taxies on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base after landing.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
Since the V22 can take off/land like a helicopter then transition into "airplane mode", it can go twice as fast and far as a conventional helicopter, thereby increasing the rapid forward projection of our forces more than twofold.
For national security reasons, I have waited to post about the V22 deployment until it was already in the public domain.
Many of us have high hopes for this revolutionary new platform, which is intended to replace the aging fleet of CH-46s, among other aircraft...
It's the "Osprey", A.K.A. V22:
I've been working (intermittently) on the V22 program for going on 20 years; it will be 20 years in the Summer of 2008. The program itself has been "on again, off again" for various reasons during that same timeframe, although it and my assignment thereto have been steady since the turn of the millennium.
Anyway, they were finally given the operational "go ahead" earlier this year, and without any fanfare were deployed to the Middle East a couple of months ago:
AL ANBAR PRO, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, flies over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq during a mission out of Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, prepares to land on a flight line aboard Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while another Osprey taxies behind as they prepare for take off from Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, test fires a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S Marine Sgt. Justin Shadrick, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, uses hand and arm signals to communicate with the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey while taxiing it out of the chalks on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base to prepare for a launch.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, prepares to land on the flight line on board Al Asad Air Base for the first time.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, taxies on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base after landing.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)
Since the V22 can take off/land like a helicopter then transition into "airplane mode", it can go twice as fast and far as a conventional helicopter, thereby increasing the rapid forward projection of our forces more than twofold.
For national security reasons, I have waited to post about the V22 deployment until it was already in the public domain.
Many of us have high hopes for this revolutionary new platform, which is intended to replace the aging fleet of CH-46s, among other aircraft...
posted by camojack | 06:44
14 Comments:
Cool! Thanks for your service Camo. It must feel great to play a part in such an important program.
I had that feeling for awhile back in the early '80s when I worked for Piper Aircraft. We were developing a ground support aircraft based on the P-51 Mustang airframe. Upgraded armaments, powerplant, avionics and armor. We performed admirably in the various trials (including the weapons range testing). Unfortunately for Piper, the Air Force went with the A-10 Warthog instead. Drats!
That's a strange looking aircraft!
Pretty cool. When can I get a ride.
It looks to be slow,big and cumberson, easy to see and hear and shoot out of the sky.What is its' purpose?Oh yes .....and veeeerrry expensive.It also probably uses a lot of fuel.Other than that,I still don't like it.
OK, Maggie...now why don't you tell us what you really think? :-)
Very nice work, Jack. Do you ever get the opportunity to ride in the finished product?
Great job! Keep 'em flying!
Outstanding. So I see we have them flying in Iraq. What a great force multiplier for our fighting Marines/soldiers.
Keep up the good work.
Hawkeye®:
I'm just glad that they're finally being useful, after so many delays in the project over the years.
It does feel good to be a part of an important milestone achievement, yes.
Jenn:
It is different looking, for sure; new things often are.
Ms RightWing:
I think they're pretty cool, too. As for getting a ride, there will be a civil aviation derivative coming out in a few years.
Maggie:
"...the V22 can take off/land like a helicopter then transition into "airplane mode", it can go twice as fast and far as a conventional helicopter, thereby increasing the rapid forward projection of our forces more than twofold."
Bunny:
No, I've never gotten to ride in one, but I'd sure like to. However, they do the final flight testing in a different State.
Grant Jones:
Thanks! That is the plan...maybe I'll even have an opportunity to go on a field trip over there to support them.
Darthmeister:
Yes indeed, we do have them flying in Iraq now. We have high hopes for their effectiveness, too...
Cool! I bet they increase the rapid forward projection of our forces more than twofold!
Those rotor motors appear to be massive! Just rotating them must be a chore.
The Osprey is the one that the MSM has been targeting for years, isn't it? Crashes and other failures?
Are the bugs worked out of it?
Those big props look like very inviting targets, y'know. But the images are interesting! Looks like it could be a roller-coaster ride!
Dare I say it?
Yeah ... I dare!
ELEVENTEEN!
Heheheee!
Beerme:
Ya think? Heh. As for the engine nacelles, they are big, but that's because there's a lot in 'em; engine, gearboxes, drive shafts, etc.
benning:
As with all new technology, there were bugs to be worked out. Supposedly, they have been. The V22 incorporated a lot of state-of-the-art systems in one airframe, so there were a lot of things to potentially cause problems.
As for the "ELEVENTEEN!" thing (since it was done at the right time and all), I'm flattered, actually...
Nice looking bird, camo :p
Cassandra:
Yesss...a work of art; poetry in motion. I'm proud to be partially responsible for it...
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