What do you think of the V-22 Osprey?

[SUBMAN1]

It seems to be doing OK in Iraq:

The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday from Al-Asad in Iraq that VMM-263 Ospreys have logged 1,639 hours of flight time in Iraq, carrying 6,826 passengers and delivering 631,837 pounds of cargo "without a mishap or even a close call".


...VMM-263's commander, Lt-Col Paul Rock, said his unit had only been compelled to turn down tasks for lack of serviceable aircraft on "one or two" occasions over three months in theatre....

I hope it keeps up with this record. It's one program that deserves to be successful after all it's been through.

-S

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I hope it keeps up with this record. It's one program that deserves to be successful after all it's been through.

-S

It's not going anywhere. The concept is too good to loose.

[AVGWarhawk]

Billions of dollars have gone into perfecting this bird. Sure, there was some bad crashes when it first hit the tarmac for testing but these have long since been ironed out. Of course training the pilots is a big must to handle the aircraft. Other than that, my only deal is it is very large and not the fastest moving thing. This makes it a easy target.

[sonar732]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Billions of dollars have gone into perfecting this bird. Sure, there was some bad crashes when it first hit the tarmac for testing but these have long since been ironed out. Of course training the pilots is a big must to handle the aircraft. Other than that, my only deal is it is very large and not the fastest moving thing. This makes it a easy target.

Yeah...it's not like a VSTOL jet at all. Trying to perfect the engineering aspects of going from helicopter to plane would be a huge undertaking to say the least. I'm glad they saw the potential with this. Granted, I don't know the lift capabilities as compaired to the blackhawk, but maybe the army might get an interest in this after seeing it's track record.

[Rotary Crewman]

An aircraft I hope I will never fly on. Yes I know I fly on helicopters and they shouldn't fly but come on...this REALLY should not fly!

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Rotary Crewman

An aircraft I hope I will never fly on. Yes I know I fly on helicopters and they shouldn't fly but come on...this REALLY should not fly!

I detect a bit of resentment by a heli head! Trust me, we still need heli's!

By the way, I'll fly this thing! I'd even be at the controls if they let me!

-S

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by sonar732

...I don't know the lift capabilities as compaired to the blackhawk...

V-22 total payload: 35,000 lbs. useful load (20K internal, 15K external)

Black Hawk total payload: 8,000 lbs. useful load

V-22 range: 505 nm normal, 2100 nm ferry
V-22 speed: 390 MPH airplane mode, 115 MPH helicopter mode
V-22 ceiling: 25,000 ft

Black Hawk range: 325 nm normal, 1185 nm ferry
Black Hawk speed: 165 MPH at alt, 185 sea level
Black Hawk ceiling: 19,000 ft

Does that sum it up?

-S

[Skybird]

If the thing works now, it is gonna be nobody's problem. If it comes out with still having reliability or maintenance issues, it will be everybody's problem, but nobody's responsibility. Personally, I'd prefer a Spinner every time

[Jimbuna]

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I detect a bit of resentment by a heli head!

Or it could be a bit of common $en$e that you detect.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by em2nought

Or it could be a bit of common $en$e that you detect.

Nope. I don't detect that at all. The only other possibility is an unfounded fear factor.

-S

[bradclark1]

Originally Posted by em2nought

Or it could be a bit of common $en$e that you detect.

It has cost a whole bunch of money but the concept it outstanding. I would just hope they have enough backup controls for it. The hard work/money is done, well mostly anyway. Now it's just perfecting it and it's defence against anti-air. It's never going to replace the helicopter nor the light plane but it does fit nicely missionwise.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

It seems to be doing OK in Iraq:

The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday from Al-Asad in Iraq that VMM-263 Ospreys have logged 1,639 hours of flight time in Iraq, carrying 6,826 passengers and delivering 631,837 pounds of cargo "without a mishap or even a close call".


...VMM-263's commander, Lt-Col Paul Rock, said his unit had only been compelled to turn down tasks for lack of serviceable aircraft on "one or two" occasions over three months in theatre....

I hope it keeps up with this record. It's one program that deserves to be successful after all it's been through. -S

The Ospreys hadn't even passed the 2000 hour operating mark yet and they are celebrating? I'll grant it is safer than the steam generator on an early November, but to put it in perspective, if they had even a single crash this early in, it'll be extrapolated to 61 accidents over 100,000 flying hours, which is well in the criminal range for an aircraft...

Tell me when they had at least had 10,000 operational hours without a crash... the vibes I'm taking is that they are putting out a happy report ASAP, before the statistics catch up with them and they crash...

[SUBMAN1]

They already have that kind of time. What the article is showing is 'combat' time.

-S

[Rotary Crewman]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Nope. I don't detect that at all. The only other possibility is an unfounded fear factor.

-S

I'll put the 'fear factor' into it when I have done something more 'fearful' than being based in Iraq and the 'fear factors' that come with it.

Fair?