For the Osprey Hybrid Aircraft, Zigzags to Cap 20 Years of Zigzags

New York Times ^ | July 19, 2006 | LESLIE WAYNE

[Not A Snowbird]

That's what they used to say about the CH-53E.

[A.A. Cunningham]

That's an airframe that is more survivable and less detectable: greatly reduced IR, acoustic and RCS signatures, than what it is replacing. You go ahead and ride on those 40 year old Phrogs. There are plenty of grunts who will happily fly in an Osprey instead.

[usmcobra]

All these Osprey critcs will never admit that the number one cause of CH-46 fatal accidents has always been the intermeshing rotor blades striking the fuselage.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Most of these critics have never actually seen a CH-46, let alone flown on one.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Yes, that happens a lot regarding the V-22. So many people make inappropriare comparisons that it almost seems like they have an agenda.

Just to clarify, when I mentioned the HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDES OF THE ME, I meant exactly that; high DA=low atmospheric pressure.

"Yes, it looks like it's going to be fielded, but when and where? Kabul, to take Marines into the hot zones east of the capital? Kandahar, to take Marines into the Mountains along the the Pak border? Anbar Province in Iraq? Will General Casey or his successor use it for transport around either country? When might the Commandant use the Osprey on a regular basis from Andrews, Bolling, Quantico, Davison to Cherry Point for instance? When might an Osprey become Marine One?"

VMM-263 is training with Block B Ospreys at New River right now, and will deploy to the sandbox with them next year.I suppose they'll go wherever they're tasked to go. The Commandant has ridden in the V-22. and he brought his wife. This was shortly after the return to flight in 2002.

There are no plans to use the V-22 as marine One; I understand that decision was made because the White House lawn can't stand up to the downwash. But that may be an anecdote. The VH-71 (a derivative of the European EH-101) is being bought to replace the VH=3s that are currently the Preidential lift helicopter.

TC

[A.A. Cunningham]

Believe the bulk of your comments were intended for someone else, re a skeptic.

By the way, are you Test 101?

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

"By the way, are you Test 101?"

Yup. All the OOrah monikers were taken.
TC

[Lee'sGhost]

"The first ever air passenger was KILLED....."

That didn't sound quite right, so I looked it up.

http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/wright/background/timeline.html

1908

The first passenger was flown on May 14. Wilbur Wright was the pilot.

The first fatal air crash occurred on September 17. Orville Wright was piloting the plane. He survived the crash, but his passenger did not.

My memory sucks, but I seem to recall that the first passenger was actually the Wrights trusted machinist/mechanic.

[Robe]

Well I was CLOSE !!!! (8^)

[e_castillo]

No!

[A.A. Cunningham]

Outstanding, Tom. Good to have someone with the gouge here to refute the naysayers and Free Republic can never have enough wingers. Your presence on the Osprey threads will be greatly appreciated.

Semper Fi

[A.A. Cunningham]

You can also contact freeper Pentagon Leatherneck, who has extensive firsthand knowledge on the V-22 as well as flight test experience, which, if memory serves me correct, includes having to eject from, the XC-142 tilt wing.