Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

"V-22" redirects here. For other uses, see V22 (disambiguation).

V-22 Osprey
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 prepares to land aboard USS Nassau in 2008.
Role	V/STOL transport
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter Boeing Rotorcraft Systems
First flight	19 March 1989
Introduction	13 June 2007[1]
Status	In production, in service
Primary users	United States Marine Corps United States Air Force
Number built	109
Program cost	US$36 billion as of 2011[2]
Unit cost	US$67 million (CV-22 flyaway cost for 2010)[3]
Developed from	Bell XV-15

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

The V-22 originated from the United States Department of Defense Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program started in 1981. The team of Bell Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the tiltrotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly produce the aircraft.^[4] The V-22 first flew in 1989, and began flight testing and design alterations; the complexity and difficulties of being the first tiltrotor intended for military service in the world led to many years of development.

The United States Marine Corps began crew training for the Osprey in 2000, and fielded it in 2007; it is supplementing and will eventually replace their CH-46 Sea Knights. The Osprey's other operator, the U.S. Air Force, fielded their version of the tiltrotor in 2009. Since entering service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, the Osprey has been deployed in both combat and rescue operations over Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

Development

Early development

The failure of the Iran hostage rescue mission in 1980 demonstrated to the United States military a need^[5] for "a new type of aircraft, that could not only take off and land vertically but also could carry combat troops, and do so at speed."^[6] The U.S. Department of Defense began the Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program in 1981, under U.S. Army leadership. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were given the lead in 1983.^[7][8][9] The JVX combined requirements from the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Navy.^[10][11] A request for proposals (RFP) was issued in December 1982 for JVX preliminary design work. Interest in the program was expressed by Aérospatiale, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Vertol, Grumman, Lockheed, and Westland. The DoD pushed for contractors to form teams. Bell partnered with Boeing Vertol. The Bell Boeing team submitted a proposal for a enlarged version of the Bell XV-15 prototype on 17 February 1983. This was the only proposal received and a preliminary design contract was awarded on 26 April 1983.^[12][13]

Early concept illustrations of V-22

The JVX aircraft was designated V-22 Osprey on 15 January 1985; by that March the first six prototypes were being produced, and Boeing Vertol was expanded to deal with the project workload.^[14][15] Work has been split evenly between Bell and Boeing. Bell Helicopter manufactures and integrates the wing, nacelles, rotors, drive system, tail surfaces, and aft ramp, as well as integrates the Rolls-Royce engines and performs final assembly. Boeing Helicopters manufactures and integrates the fuselage, cockpit, avionics, and flight controls.^[4][16] The USMC variant of the Osprey received the MV-22 designation and the U.S. Air Force variant received CV-22; this was reversed from normal procedure to prevent Marine Ospreys from having a conflicting designation with aircraft carriers (CV).^[17] Full-scale development of the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft began in 1986.^[18] On 3 May 1986 the Bell Boeing partnership was awarded a $1.714 billion contract for V-22 aircraft by the Navy. At this point all four U.S. military services had acquisition plans for V-22 versions.^[19]

The first V-22 was rolled out with significant media attention in May 1988.^[20][21] The project suffered several blows. That year, the U.S. Army left the program, citing a need to focus its budget on more immediate aviation programs.^[7] The project faced opposition in the Senate in 1989, surviving two votes that both could have resulted in cancellation.^[22][23] Despite the Senate's decision, the Department of Defense instructed the Navy not to spend more money on the Osprey.^[24] When the V-22's projected development budget greatly increased in 1988, then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney tried to remove funding from 1989 to 1992 in an effort to cancel it. He was eventually overruled by Congress,^[8][24][25] which provided unrequested funding for the program.^[26] Multiple studies of alternative aircraft found the V-22 provided more capability and combat effectiveness with similar operating costs as the alternatives.^[27] The Clinton Administration was supportive of the V-22 and helped the program attain funding.^[8]

Flight testing and design changes

The first of six MV-22 prototypes first flew on 19 March 1989 in the helicopter mode,^[28] and on 14 September 1989 as a fixed-wing plane.^[29] The third and fourth prototypes successfully completed the Osprey's first sea trials on the USS Wasp in December 1990.^[30] The fourth and fifth prototypes crashed in 1991–92.^[31] From October 1992 until April 1993, Bell and Boeing redesigned the V-22 to reduce empty weight, simplify manufacture and reduce production costs. This redesigned version became the V-22B model.^[32] V-22 flights resumed in June 1993 after safety improvements were incorporated in the prototypes.^[33] Bell Boeing was awarded a contract for the engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase in June 1994.^[32] The prototypes also received changes to better match the B-model configuration. Flight testing at the stage focused on expanding the flight envelope, measuring flight loads, and supporting the EMD redesign. This and further flight testing with the early V-22s continued into 1997.^[34]

U.S. Marines jump from an Osprey.

Flight testing of four full-scale development V-22s began in early 1997 when the first pre-production V-22 was delivered to the Naval Air Warfare Test Center, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The first EMD flight took place on 5 February 1997. Testing fell behind schedule.^[35] The first of four low rate initial production aircraft, ordered on 28 April 1997, was delivered on 27 May 1999. Osprey number 10 completed the program's second sea trials, this time from the USS Saipan in January 1999.^[18] During external load testing in April 1999, Boeing used a V-22 to lift and transport the M777 howitzer.^[36]

In 2000, Boeing announced that the V-22 would be fitted with a nose-mounted GAU-19 gatling gun.^[37] The gun was to provide defensive firepower in high threat environments.^[37] The nose gun project was canceled, leading to criticism by retired Commandant James L. Jones, who was not satisfied with the V-22 armament.^[38] A remote-controlled, belly-mounted, Minigun turret was later installed on some of the first V-22s sent to the War in Afghanistan in 2009.^[39]

In 2000, there were two further fatal crashes, killing a total of 19 Marines, and the aircraft was again grounded while the cause of these crashes was investigated and various parts were redesigned.^[25] The V-22 completed its final operational evaluation in June 2005. The evaluation was deemed successful; events included long range deployments, high altitude, desert and shipboard operations. The problems identified in various accidents had been addressed.^[40]

First production Osprey to join the V-22 Navy flight test program since resumption of flight evaluations in May 2002. Aircraft is shown in compact storage configuration.

Controversy

The V-22's development process has been long and controversial, partly due to its large cost increases.^[41] The V-22's development budget was first planned for $2.5 billion in 1986, then increased to a projected $30 billion in 1988.^[25] As of 2008, $27 billion had been spent on the Osprey program and another $27.2 billion will be required to complete planned production numbers by the end of the program.^[18]

Its [The V-22's] production costs are considerably greater than for helicopters with equivalent capability—specifically, about twice as great as for the CH-53E, which has a greater payload and an ability to carry heavy equipment the V-22 cannot... an Osprey unit would cost around $60 million to produce, and $35 million for the helicopter equivalent.

—Michael E. O'Hanlon, 2002.^[42]

The V-22 squadron's former commander at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Lieutenant Colonel Odin Lieberman, was relieved of duty in 2001 after allegations that he instructed his unit that they needed to falsify maintenance records to make the plane appear more reliable.^[18][43] Three officers were later implicated in the falsification scandal.^[41]

The aircraft is incapable of autorotation to make a safe landing in helicopter mode if both engines fail. A director of the Pentagon's testing office in 2005 said that if the Osprey loses power while flying like a helicopter below 1,600 feet (490 m), emergency landings "are not likely to be survivable". But Captain Justin "Moon" McKinney, a V-22 pilot, says there is an alternative, "We can turn it into a plane and glide it down, just like a C-130".^[38] A complete loss of power would require the failure of both engines, as one engine can power both proprotors via interconnected drive shafts.^[44] While vortex ring state (VRS) contributed to a deadly V-22 accident, the aircraft is less susceptible to the condition than conventional helicopters based on flight testing.^[5] But a GAO report stated the V-22 to be "less forgiving than conventional helicopters" during this phenomenon.^[45] In addition, several test flights to explore the V-22's VRS characteristics in greater detail were canceled.^[46] The Marines now train new pilots in the recognition of and recovery from VRS and have instituted operational envelope limits and instrumentation to help pilots avoid VRS conditions.^[25][47]

With the first combat deployment of the MV-22 in October 2007, Time Magazine ran an article condemning the aircraft as unsafe, overpriced, and completely inadequate.^[38] The Marine Corps responded by arguing that much of the article's data were dated, obsolete, inaccurate, and reflected expectations that ran too high for any new field of aircraft.^[48]

Recent developments

CV-22 flying over New Mexico

On 28 September 2005, the Pentagon formally approved full-rate production for the V-22.^[49] The plan is to boost production from 11 a year to between 24 and 48 a year by 2012. Of the 458 total planned, 360 are for the Marine Corps, 48 for the Navy, and 50 for the Air Force at an average cost of $110 million per aircraft, including development costs.^[18] The V-22 had an incremental flyaway cost of $67 million per aircraft in 2008,^[50] but the Navy hopes to shave about $10 million off that cost after a five-year production contract in 2013.^[51]

On 15 April 2010, the Naval Air Systems Command awarded Bell Boeing a $42.1 million contract to design a new integrated avionics processor to resolve electronics obsolescence issues and add new network capabilities.^[52] By 2014 Raytheon will provide an avionics upgrade that includes Situational awareness and Blue Force Tracking.^[53]

Mission improvements have been developed for the "Block C" version. A contract for the Block C upgrade and other improvements was awarded to Bell Boeing in late 2009.^[54] Deliveries of Block C upgrades are ongoing in 2010.^[18][55][56]

U.S. Naval Air Systems Command is working on software upgrades to increase the maximum speed from 250 knots (460 km/h; 290 mph) to 270 knots (500 km/h; 310 mph), increase helicopter mode altitude limit from 10,000 feet (3,000 m) to 12,000 feet (3,700 m) or 14,000 feet (4,300 m), and increase lift performance.^[57] Implementation of these upgrades began in September 2011.^[58]

As part of a cost-cutting measure, the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform suggested ending procurement of the V-22 and instead procure the MH-60.^[59]

On 18 February 2011, Marine Commandant General James Amos indicated Marine MV-22s deployed to Afghanistan surpassed 100,000 flight hours and were noted as having become "the safest airplane, or close to the safest airplane” in the Marine Corps inventory.^[60] The average V-22 mishap rate based on flight hours over the past 10 years, has been approximately half the accident rate for the USMC aircraft fleet. The V-22's accident rate is the lowest of any Marine rotorcraft.^[61] Wired Magazine has reported that the recent safety record has been achieved only by excluding V-22 ground incidents; one such incident claimed the life of one crew member.^[62] The Marines responded that MV-22 reporting is done by the same standards as all other aircraft in the Department of the Navy.^[63]

Design

Closeup of rotor and engine of a MV-22B

The Osprey is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft, with one three-bladed proprotor, turboprop engine, and transmission nacelle mounted on each wingtip. It is classified as a powered lift aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration.^[64] For takeoff and landing, it typically operates as a helicopter with the nacelles vertical and rotors horizontal. Once airborne, the nacelles rotate forward 90° in as little as 12 seconds for horizontal flight, converting the V-22 to a more fuel-efficient, higher-speed turboprop airplane. STOL rolling-takeoff and landing capability is achieved by having the nacelles tilted forward up to 45°. For compact storage and transport, the V-22's wing rotates to align, front-to-back, with the fuselage. The proprotors can also fold in a sequence taking 90 seconds.^[65] Composite materials make up 43% of the V-22's airframe. The proprotors blades also use composites.^[55]

The V-22's two Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines are connected by drive shafts to a common center gearbox so that one engine can power both proprotors if an engine failure occurs.^[44] Most Osprey missions will use fixed wing flight 75 percent or more of the time, reducing wear and tear on the aircraft and reducing operational costs. This fixed wing flight is higher than typical helicopter missions allowing longer range line-of-sight communications and so improved command and control.^[18] Boeing has stated the V-22 design loses 10% of its vertical lift over a Tiltwing design when operating in helicopter mode because of airflow resistance due to the wings, but that the Tiltrotor design has better short takeoff and landing performance.^[66]

A MV-22 Osprey cockpit on display at Andrews Air Show 2011

The V-22 is equipped with a glass cockpit, which incorporates four Multi-function displays (MFDs) and one shared Central Display Unit (CDU), allowing the pilots to display a variety of images including: digimaps centered or decentered on current position, FLIR imagery, primary flight instruments, navigation (TACAN, VOR, ILS, GPS, INS), and system status. The flight director panel of the Cockpit Management System (CMS) allows for fully coupled (autopilot) functions which will take the aircraft from forward flight into a 50 ft (15 m) hover with no pilot interaction other than programming the system.^[67] The glass cockpit of the canceled CH-46X was derived from the V-22.^[68]

The V-22 is a fly-by-wire aircraft with triple-redundant flight control systems.^[69] With the nacelles pointing straight up in conversion mode at 90° the flight computers command the aircraft to fly like a helicopter, with cyclic forces being applied to a conventional swashplate at the rotor hub. With the nacelles in airplane mode (0°) the flaperons, rudder, and elevator fly the aircraft like an airplane. This is a gradual transition and occurs over the rotation range of the nacelles. The lower the nacelles, the greater effect of the airplane-mode control surfaces.^[70] The nacelles can rotate past vertical to 97.5° for rearward flight.^[71][72]

M240 machine gun mounted on V-22 loading ramp.

The Osprey can be armed with one 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 in caliber) M240 machine gun or .50 in caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun on the loading ramp, that can be fired rearward when the ramp is lowered. A .50 in GAU-19 three-barrel gatling gun mounted below the V-22's nose was studied for future upgrade.^[73] BAE Systems developed a belly-mounted, remotely operated gun turret system for the V-22,^[74] named the Interim Defense Weapon System.^[39] This system is remotely operated by a gunner inside the aircraft, who acquires targets with a separate pod using color television and forward looking infrared imagery.^[75] The belly gun system was installed on half of the first V-22s deployed to Afghanistan in 2009,^[39] but found limited use due to its 800 lb (360 kg) weight and restrictive rules of engagement.^[76]

Operational history

U.S. Marine Corps

Crew members refuel an MV-22 before a night mission in central Iraq, February 2008

Marine Corps crew training on the Osprey has been conducted by VMMT-204 since March 2000. On 3 June 2005, the Marine Corps helicopter squadron Marine Medium Helicopter 263 (HMM-263) stood down to begin the process of transitioning to the MV-22 Osprey.^[77] On 8 December 2005, Lieutenant General James Amos, commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force, accepted the delivery of the first fleet of MV-22s, delivered to HMM-263. The unit reactivated on 3 March 2006 as the first MV-22 squadron and was redesignated VMM-263. On 31 August 2006, VMM-162 (the former HMM-162) followed suit. On 23 March 2007, HMM-266 became Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (VMM-266) at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.^[78]

The Osprey has been replacing the CH-46 Sea Knight on a squadron-by-squadron basis since 2007, a process which is to be completed by 2019 when remaining Sea Knight helicopters will be retired.^[79][80] The MV-22 reached initial operational capability (IOC) with the U.S. Marine Corps on 13 June 2007.^[1] On 10 July 2007 an MV-22 Osprey landed aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the first time a V-22 had landed on any non-U.S. vessel.^[81]

An MV-22 of VMM-162 in Iraq, April 2008

On 13 April 2007, the U.S. Marine Corps announced that it would be sending ten V-22 aircraft to Iraq, the Osprey's first combat deployment. Commandant of the Marine Corps James T. Conway indicated that over 150 Marines would accompany the Osprey set for September deployment to Al Asad Airbase.^[82][83] On 17 September 2007, 10 MV-22Bs of VMM-263 left for Iraq aboard the USS Wasp. The decision to use a ship rather than use the Osprey's self-deployment capability was made because of concerns over icing during the North Atlantic portion of the trip, lack of available KC-130s for mid-air refueling, and the availability of the USS Wasp.^[84]

The Osprey has provided support in Iraq, logging 2,000 flight hours over three months with a mission capable rate of 68.1% as of late-January 2008.^[85] They are primarily used in Iraq's western Anbar province for routine cargo and troop movements, and also for riskier "aero-scout" missions. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, used one to fly around Iraq on Christmas Day 2007 to visit troops.^[86] Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama also flew in Ospreys during his high profile 2008 tour of Iraq.^[87]

V-22 landing on the USS New York 19 October 2009

The only major problem has been obtaining spare parts to maintain the aircraft.^[88] The V-22 had flown 3,000 sorties totaling 5,200 hours in Iraq as of July 2008.^[89] General George J. Trautman, III praised the V-22's increased speed and range over the legacy helicopters in Iraq and said that "it turned his battle space from the size of Texas into the size of Rhode Island."^[90]

Naval Air Systems Command has devised a temporary fix for sailors to place portable heat shields under Osprey engines to prevent damage to the decks of some of the Navy's smaller amphibious ships. They determined that a long-term solution to the problem would require the decks be redesigned with heat resistant coatings, passive thermal barriers, and changes in ship structure in order to operate V-22s and F-35Bs.^[91]

A Government Accountability Office study reported that by January 2009 the Marines had 12 MV-22s operating in Iraq and they completed all assigned missions. The same report found that the V-22 deployments had mission capable rates averaging 57% to 68% and an overall full mission capable rate of only 6%. It also stated that the aircraft had shown weakness in situational awareness, maintenance, shipboard operations and the ability to transport troops and external cargo.^[92][93] That study also concluded that the "deployments confirmed that the V-22’s enhanced speed and range enable personnel and internal cargo to be transported faster and farther than is possible with the legacy helicopters it is replacing".^[92] Naval Air Systems Command hopes to reach a 85% reliability rate by 2018.^[94]

Marines prepare to board an MV-22 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in 2010.

The MV-22 was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 with VMM-261,^[88][95][96] and saw its first offensive combat mission, Operation Cobra's Anger, on 4 December 2009. Ospreys assisted in inserting 1,000 Marines and 150 Afghan troops into the Now Zad Valley of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan to disrupt communication and supply lines of the Taliban.^[39] In January 2010 the MV-22 Osprey was sent to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response relief efforts after the earthquake there, the aircraft's first humanitarian mission.^[97]

The Marines have found that the V-22's speed and range make it a good operational match for fast jets. The service has therefore split Marine Expeditionary Unit operations into two groups with fast jets and V-22s in one group and helicopters in the other.^[98]

In March 2011, two MV-22s from the USS Kearsarge participated in a mission to rescue a downed USAF F-15E crew member during Operation Odyssey Dawn. This was one of the first times that a USMC Osprey was used in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP).^[99][100]

U.S. Air Force

Two USAF CV-22s, landing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico in 2006.

V-22 Osprey USAF video

The Air Force's first operational CV-22 Osprey was delivered to the 58th Special Operations Wing (58th SOW) at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico on 20 March 2006. This and subsequent aircraft will become part of the 58th SOW's fleet of aircraft used for training pilots and crew members for special operations use.^[101] On 16 November 2006, the Air Force officially accepted the CV-22 in a ceremony conducted at Hurlburt Field, Florida.^[102]

The Air Force first used the Osprey on a non-training mission to perform search and rescue from Kirtland Air Force Base on 4 October 2007.^[103]

The US Air Force's first operational deployment of the Osprey sent four CV-22s to Mali in November 2008 in support of Exercise Flintlock. The CV-22s flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field, Florida with in-flight refueling.^[5] AFSOC declared that the 8th Special Operations Squadron reached Initial Operational Capability on 16 March 2009, with six of its planned nine CV-22s operational.^[104]

In June 2009, CV-22s of the 8th Special Operations Squadron delivered 43,000 pounds (20,000 kg) of humanitarian supplies to remote villages in Honduras that were not accessible by conventional vehicles.^[105] In November 2009, the 8th SO Squadron and its six CV-22s returned from a three-month deployment in Iraq.^[106]

Potential operators

In 1999 the V-22 was studied for use in the United Kingdom's Royal Navy,^[107] and multiple times has been a candidate for its Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) project to replace Sea Kings.^[108] Israel had shown interest in the purchase of MV-22s, but no order was placed.^[109][110] Flightglobal.com reported in late 2009 that Israel has decided to wait for the CH-53K instead.^[111] However, in 2011 Israel was again expressing interest in purchasing V-22s to bolster its special operations and search & rescue capabilities.^[112][113]

The V-22 Osprey is a candidate for the Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) that is planned to replace the Westland Sea King Mk.43B of the Royal Norwegian Air Force in 2015.^[114] The other candidates for the NAWSARH contract of 10-12 helicopters are AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin, Eurocopter EC225, NHIndustries NH90 and Sikorsky S-92.^[115]

Bell Boeing has made an unsolicited offer of the V-22 for US Army medical evacuation needs.^[116] The Joint Personnel Recovery Agency issued a report that said that a common helicopter design would be needed for both combat recovery and medical evacuation and that the V-22 would not be suitable for recovery missions because of the difficulty of hoist operations and lack of self-defense capabilities.^[117]

The US Navy remains a potential user of the V-22, but its role and mission with the service remain unclear. The latest proposal is to replace the C-2 Greyhound with the V-22 for Carrier Onboard Delivery. The V-22 would have the advantage of being able to land on and support non-carriers with rapid delivery of supplies and people between ships beyond helicopter range.^[118] Loren B. Thompson of the Lexington Institute has suggested V-22s for use by the Air Force in combat search and rescue and for the USMC's Marine One presidential transport, which both need replacement aircraft.^[119] Boeing announced on 5 May 2010, that it would submit the V-22 to the DoD's VXX Marine One helicopter replacement program.^[120] V-22s are already planned to support the Marine One mission starting in 2013, because of the urgent need for CH-53E helicopters in Afghanistan.^[121]

Variants

A V-22 Osprey flies a test mission.

A CV-22 of 8th Special Operations Squadron flies over Florida's Emerald Coast.

V-22A 

Pre-production full-scale development aircraft used for flight testing. These are unofficially considered A-variants after the 1993 redesign.^[122]

HV-22 

The U.S. Navy considered an HV-22 to provide combat search and rescue, delivery and retrieval of special warfare teams along with fleet logistic support transport. It chose the MH-60S for this role in 2001.^[123] Naval Air Systems Command's 2011/2012 V-22 Osprey Guidebook still lists the HV-22 for the Navy with the USAF and USMC variants.^[124]

SV-22 

The proposed anti-submarine warfare variant. The U.S. Navy studied the SV-22 in the 1980s to replace S-3 and SH-2 aircraft.^[125]

MV-22B 

Basic U.S. Marine Corps transport; original requirement for 552 (now 360). The Marine Corps is the lead service in the development of the V-22 Osprey. The Marine Corps variant is an assault transport for troops, equipment and supplies, capable of operating from ships or from expeditionary airfields ashore. It is replacing the Marine Corps' CH-46E and CH-53D.^[126]

CV-22B 

The U.S. Air Force variant for the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). It conducts long-range, special operations missions, and is equipped with extra fuel tanks and terrain-following radar.^[127][128] It replaced the MH-53 Pave Low.^[18]

Operators

A MV-22 Osprey carries an HMMWV vehicle.

A bottom view of a V-22 Osprey at the 2006 Royal International Air Tattoo air show

The U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force have a combined 112 V-22s in service as of May 2010^[update]. Most are used by the Marine Corps.^[129]

 United States

• United States Air Force had 12 CV-22s in service as of April 2010^[update].^[130][131]
  • 8th Special Operations Squadron (8 SOS) at Hurlburt Field, Florida
  • 71st Special Operations Squadron (71 SOS) at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
  • 20th Special Operations Squadron (20 SOS) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico

• United States Marine Corps had 83 MV-22s in operation as of March 2010^[update].^[132]
  • VMM-161
  • VMM-162
  • VMM-261
  • VMM-263
  • VMM-264
  • VMM-266
  • VMM-365
  • VMM-561
  • VMMT-204 - Training squadron
  • VMX-22 - Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron

Notable accidents

Main article: Accidents and incidents involving the V-22 Osprey

During testing from 1991 to 2000 there were four significant crashes resulting in 30 fatalities.^[25] Since becoming operational in 2007, the V-22 has had one loss due to accident, and seven other notable, but minor, aviation incidents.

• On 11 June 1991, the left nacelle of a pre-production Osprey struck the ground while the aircraft was hovering 15 feet (4.6 m) in the air, causing it to bounce and catch fire; subsequent investigation found miswired flight control system to be responsible.^[133] The pilot, Grady Wilson, suspected that he may have accidentally set the throttle lever the opposite direction to that intended, exacerbating the crash if not causing it.^[134]

• On 20 July 1992, a leaking gearbox led to a fire in the right nacelle of a pre-production V-22, causing the aircraft to drop into the Potomac River in front of an audience of congressmen and other government officials at Quantico, killing all seven on board and grounding the aircraft for 11 months.^[135] Boeing later denied speculation that pressure to perform had been a factor in the accident.^[136]

• On 8 April 2000, a V-22, loaded with Marines to simulate a rescue, attempted to land at Marana Northwest Regional Airport in Arizona; it stalled when its right rotor entered vortex ring state, rolled over, crashed, and exploded, killing all 19 on board.^[47]

• On 11 December 2000, after a catastrophic hydraulic leak and subsequent software instrument failure, a V-22 fell 1,600 feet (490 m) into a forest in Jacksonville, North Carolina, killing all four aboard. This caused the Marine Corps to ground their fleet of eight V-22s, the second grounding that year.^[137][138]

• On 9 April 2010, a CV-22 crashed near Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, killing four.^[139] The USAF investigation ruled out Brownout conditions, enemy fire, and vortex ring state as causes. The investigation found several factors that significantly contributed to the crash; these include low visibility, a poorly executed approach, loss of situational awareness, and a high descent rate.^[140]

Specifications (MV-22B)

V-22's combat radius in Iraq, contrasted with the CH-46E's smaller combat radius.

Nassau Amphibious Ready Group, showing four V-22s in 2010. Two V-22s are in compact storage configuration.

Data from Norton,^[141] Boeing,^[142] Bell guide,^[55] Naval Air Systems Command,^[143] and USAF CV-22 fact sheet^[127]

General characteristics

• Crew: Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers)
• Capacity:
  
  • 24 troops (seated), 32 troops (floor loaded), or
  • 20,000 lb (9,070 kg) of internal cargo, or up to 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) of external cargo (dual hook)
  • 1× Growler light internally transportable ground vehicle^[144][145]
• Length: 57 ft 4 in (17.5 m)
• Rotor diameter: 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
• Wingspan: 45 ft 10 in (14 m)
• Width with rotors: 84 ft 7 in (25.8 m)
• Height: 22 ft 1 in/6.73 m; overall with nacelles vertical (17 ft 11 in/5.5 m; at top of tailfins)
• Disc area: 2,268 ft² (212 m²)
• Wing area: 301.4 ft² (28 m²)
• Empty weight: 33,140 lb (15,032 kg)
• Loaded weight: 47,500 lb (21,500 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 60,500 lb (27,400 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 250 knots (463 km/h, 288 mph) at sea level / 305 kn (565 km/h; 351 mph) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)^[146]
• Cruise speed: 241 knots (277 mph, 446 km/h) at sea level
• Range: 879 nmi (1,011 mi, 1,627 km)
• Combat radius: 390 nmi (426 mi, 722 km)
• Ferry range: 1,940 nmi (2,230 mi, 3,590 km) with auxiliary internal fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,320 ft/min (11.8 m/s)
• Disc loading: 20.9 lb/ft² at 47,500 lb GW (102.23 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.259 hp/lb (427 W/kg)

Armament

• 1× 7.62 mm (.308 in) M240 machine gun or 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun on ramp, removable
• 1× 7.62 mm (.308 in) GAU-17 minigun, belly-mounted, retractable, video remote control in the Remote Guardian System [optional]^[75][147]

Notable appearances in media

Main article: Aircraft in fiction#V-22 Osprey

See also

	United States Marine Corps portal
	United States Air Force portal
	Aviation portal

• Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah, USMC — first female to pilot a V-22 Osprey
  

Related development

• Bell XV-15
• Bell/Agusta BA609
• Bell Boeing Quad TiltRotor
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Canadair CL-84
• LTV XC-142
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of VTOL aircraft
  

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Osprey Deemed Ready for Deployment." U.S. Marine Corps, 14 June 2007.
2. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/us/costly-osprey-symbol-of-fight-to-cut-pentagon.html?_r=1&hp
3. ^ "FY 2011 Budget Estimates." United States Air Force via saffm.hq.af.mil, February 2010. Retrieved: 16 June 2010.
4. ^ ^{a b} "V-22 Osprey Backgrounder." Boeing Defense, Space & Security, February 2010. Retrieved: 26 March 2010.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Kreisher, Otto. "Finally, the Osprey." Air Force magazine, February 2009.
6. ^ Mackenzie, Richard (writer). "Flight of the V-22 Osprey" (Television production). Mackenzie Productions for Military Channel, 7 April 2008. Retrieved: 29 March 2009.
7. ^ ^{a b} Norton 2004, p. 35.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Moyers, Al (Director of History and Research). "The Long Road: AFOTEC's Two-Plus Decades of V-22 Involvement." Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, United States Air Force, 1 August 2007. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.
9. ^ "Chapter 9: Research, Development, and Acquisition." Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1982, Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army, 1988. ISSN 0092-7880.
10. ^ Norton 2004, pp. 22–30.
11. ^ "AIAA-83-2726, Bell-Boeing JVX Tilt Rotor Program", American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 16–18 November 1983.
12. ^ Norton 2004, pp. 31–33.
13. ^ Kishiyama, David. "Hybrid Craft Being Developed for Military and Civilian Use." Los Angeles Times, 31 August 1984.
14. ^ Adams, Lorraine. "Sales Talk Whirs about Bell Helicopter." Dallas Morning News,10 March 1985.
15. ^ "Boeing Vertol launches Three-Year, $50 Million Expansion Program." Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 March 1985.
16. ^ "Military Aircraft: The Bell-Boeing V-22." Bell Helicopter, 2007. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.
17. ^ Norton 2004, p. 30.
18. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} RL31384 "V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft: Background and Issues for Congress." Congressional Research Service, 22 December 2009.
19. ^ Goodrich, Joseph L. "Bell-Boeing team lands contract to develop new tilt-rotor aircraft, 600 jobs expected from $1.714-billion project for Navy." Providence Journal, 3 May 1986.
20. ^ Belden, Tom. "Vertical-takeoff plane may be the 21st century's intercity bus." Toronto Star, 23 May 1988.
21. ^ "Tilt-rotor craft flies like copter, plane." Milwaukee Sentinel, 24 May 1988.
22. ^ "2 Senators key to fate of Boeing's V-22 Osprey." Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July 1989.
23. ^ Mitchell, Jim. "Gramm defends Osprey's budget cost: Senator makes pitch for V-22 as president stumps for B-2 bomber." Dallas Morning News, 22 July 1989.
24. ^ ^{a b} "Pentagon halts spending on V-22 Osprey." Chicago Tribune, 3 December 1989.
25. ^ ^{a b c d e} Berler, Ron. "Saving the Pentagon's Killer Chopper-Plane." Wired (CondéNet, Inc), Volume 13, Issue 7, July 2005. Retrieved: 8 February 2008.
26. ^ Norton 2004, p. 49.
27. ^ Norton 2004, p. 52.
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31. ^ "Navy halts test flights of V-22 as crash investigated." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 1991.
32. ^ ^{a b} Norton 2004, pp. 52–54.
33. ^ Norton 2004, p. 55.
34. ^ Norton 2004, pp. 55–57.
35. ^ Schinasi 2008, p. 23.
36. ^ "V-22 Lifts 155 mm Howitzer." Boeing, 3 May 1999.
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38. ^ ^{a b c} Thompson, Mark. "V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame." Time, 26 September 2007. Retrieved: 8 August 2011.
39. ^ ^{a b c d} McCullough, Amy. "Ospreys, with boost in firepower, enter Afghanistan." Marine Corps Times, 7 December 2009, p. 24. Retrieved: 10 December 2009.
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42. ^ O'Hanlon 2002, p. 119.
43. ^ Ricks, Thomas E. "Marines Fire Commander Of Ospreys; Alleged Falsification Of Data Investigated." Washington Post, 19 January 2001. Retrieved: 8 August 2011.
44. ^ ^{a b} Norton 2004, pp. 98–99.
45. ^ Schinasi 2008, p. 16.
46. ^ Schinasi 2008, p. 11.
47. ^ ^{a b} Gross, Kevin, Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps and Tom Macdonald, MV-22 test pilot and Ray Dagenhart, MV-22 lead government engineer. "Dispelling the Myth of the MV-22." Proceedings: The Naval Institute, September 2004. Retrieved: 9 April 2009.
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57. ^ Chavanne, Bettina H. "V-22 To Get Performance Upgrades." Aviation Week, 25 June 2009.
58. ^ "Software Change Gives V-22 Pilots More Lift Options."
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60. ^ "MV-22 Logs 100,000 Flight Hours." defensetech.org, February 2011. Retrieved: 18 February 2011.
61. ^ "V-22 Is The Safest, Most Survivable Rotorcraft The Marines Have." LexingtonInstitute.org, February 2011. Retrieved: 16 February 2011.
62. ^ Axe, David. "Marines: Actually, Our Tiltrotor Is ‘Effective And Reliable’ (Never Mind Those Accidents)." Wired, 13 October 2011.
63. ^ "USMC Statement in Response to Article on the Safety Record of the Marine V-22 Osprey." USMC, 13 October 2011.
64. ^ Croft, John. "Tilters." Air & Space Magazine (Smithsonian Institution), 1 September 2007.
65. ^ Currie, Major Tom P., Jr., USAF. "A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty, In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements: The CV-22 'Osprey' and the Impact on Air Force Combat Search and Rescue" (PDF). Air Command and Staff College, April 1999.
66. ^ Trimble, Stephen. "Boeing looks ahead to a 'V-23' Osprey." Flight Global, 22 June 2009.
67. ^ Ringenbach, Daniel P. and Scott Brick. "Hardware-in-the-loop testing for development and integration of the V-22 autopilot system, pp. 28–36" (PDF). Technical Papers (A95-39235 10-01): AIAA Flight Simulation Technologies Conference Technical Papers, Baltimore, MD, 3 August 2008.
68. ^ Beaver, Donald B. "Marine Corps Aviation Assault Support for the 21st Century: Is There a Case for the MV-22." Defense Technical Information Center, 8 April 1992.
69. ^ Landis, Kenneth H., et al. "Advanced flight control technology achievements at Boeing Helicopters." International Journal of Control, Volume 59, Issue 1, 1994, pp. 263–290.
70. ^ Norton 2004, pp. 6–9, 95–96.
71. ^ Markman and Holder 2000, p. 58.
72. ^ Norton 2004, p. 97.
73. ^ "Defensive Armament for the V-22 Selection, Integration, and Development." Bell Helicopter and General Dynamics. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.
74. ^ "BAE Systems Launches New V-22 Defensive Weapon System, Begins On-The-Move Testing." BAE Systems, 2 October 2007.
75. ^ ^{a b} Whittle, Richard. "BAE Remote Guardians Join Osprey Fleet." Rotor & Wing Magazine, 1 January 2010.
76. ^ Lamothe, Dan. "Ospreys leave new belly gun in the dust." Marine Corps Times, 28 June 2010. Retrieved: 28 June 2010.
77. ^ Kreisher, Otto. "After decades of tragedy, Osprey may be ready for combat." San Diego Tribune, 15 July 2000.
78. ^ "Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 History." US Marine Corps. Retrieved: 16 October 2011.
79. ^ Carter, Chelsea J. "Miramar Base to Get Osprey Squadrons." USA Today (Associated Press), 18 March 2008.
80. ^ Anthony, Marian. "U.S. Marines Nostalgic “Phrog” Helicopters To Be Phased Out By MV22." Business Insider, 12 April 2011.
81. ^ "MV-22 Osprey Lands On UK Aircraft Carrier For First Time." Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), United States Navy, 11 July 2007. Retrieved: 26 November 2008.
82. ^ Mount, Mike. "Marines to deploy tilt-rotor aircraft to Iraq." CNN.com, 14 April 2007. Retrieved: 19 April 2007.
83. ^ "Controversial Osprey aircraft heading to Iraq; Marines bullish on hybrid helicopter-plane despite past accidents." MSNBC, 13 April 2007. Retrieved: 3 August 2008.
84. ^ Whittle, Richard. "Military/Utility: Osprey Heads to Iraq." Rotor & Wing, 1 October 2007.
85. ^ "MV-22 ‘Osprey’ brings new capabilities to the sandbox." U.S. Marine Corps via II MAW (FWD) PAO23, January 2008 .
86. ^ Mount, Mike. "Maligned aircraft finds redemption in Iraq, military says." CNN.com, 8 February 2008.
87. ^ Hambling, David. "Osprey's 'Excellent Photo Op'." Wired (CondéNet, Inc.), 31 July 2008. Retrieved: 6 August 2008.
88. ^ ^{a b} Warwick, Graham. "US Marine Corps says V-22 Osprey performing well in Iraq." Flightglobal, 7 February 2008. Retrieved: 10 February 2008.
89. ^ Hoyle, Craig. "USMC eyes Afghan challenge for V-22 Osprey." Flight International, 22 July 2008. Retrieved: 25 November 2008.
90. ^ "Department of Defense Bloggers Roundtable with Lieutenant General George Trautman, Deputy Commandant of the Marines for Aviation via teleconference from Iraq." US Department of Defense, 6 May 2009. Retrieved: 4 September 2011.
91. ^ "Tenacious Efforts to Accomplish Another V-22 Milestone." U.S. Navy, 17 June 2009.
92. ^ ^{a b} "GAO-09-482: Defense Acquisitions, Assessments Needed to Address V-22 Aircraft Operational and Cost Concerns to Define Future Investments" (summary). gao.gov. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.
93. ^ "GAO-09-482: Defense Acquisitions, Assessments Needed to Address V-22 Aircraft Operational and Cost Concerns to Define Future Investments" (full report)." US Government Accountability Office, 11 May 2009.
94. ^ Reed, John. "Boeing to make new multiyear Osprey offer." Navy Times, 5 May 2010.
95. ^ McLeary, Paul. "Trial By Fire." Aviation Week, March 15, 2010. Retrieved: 28 June 2010.
96. ^ Schanz, Marc V. "V-22s Got Dirty in Anbar." Air Force magazine, Daily Report, 25 February 2009.
97. ^ Talton, Trista. "24th MEU joining Haiti relief effort." Marine Corps Times, 20 January 2010. Retrieved: 21 January 2010.
98. ^ "The Osprey: Bedrock For Con-Ops Change (I)." Second Line of Defense, 8 October 2010.
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100. ^ Lamothe, Dan. "Reports: Marines rescue downed pilot in Libya."^{[dead link]} US Navy Times, 22 March 2011.
101. ^ "CV-22 delivered to Air Force." Air Force Special Operations Command News Service via Air Force Link (United States Air Force), 21 March 2006. Retrieved: 3 August 2008.
102. ^ "CV-22 arrival." Hulbert Field, United States Air Force, 20 April 2006. Retrieved: 20 November 2006.
103. ^ "Osprey sees first action in search and rescue." Airforce Times, 26 October 2007.
104. ^ Sirak, Michael. "Osprey Ready for Combat." Air Force Magazine, Volume 92, Issue 5, May 2009, pp. 11–12. Retrieved: 10 May 2009.
105. ^ Lazane, 2nd Lt. Mark. "Osprey delivers for Honduran villagers." U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, 11 June 2009. Retrieved: 13 March 2011.
106. ^ Moore, Mona. "CV-22s return from first deployment with 8th SOS Homecoming." nwfdailynews.com, 12 November 2009.
107. ^ "British - U.S. study affirms V-22 Osprey effectiveness." Bell-Boeing, 1999. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.
108. ^ "Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) (UK MoD)." Navy Matters, 3 August 2008.
109. ^ Alon, Ben-David. "Israel considers V-22 acquisition" (subscription article). Jane's Defence Weekly (Jane's Information Group ), 25 January 2006.
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111. ^ Egozi, Arie. "Israel drops interest in V-22, eyes CH-53K evaluation." Flight International, 12 November 2009.
112. ^ "IAF to review US Osprey for rescues and covert...". JPost
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117. ^ Rolfsen, Bruce. "Study: Air Force CSAR should grow, not shrink." Air Forces Times, 11 September 2009.
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137. ^ Dao, James. "After North Carolina Crash, Marines Ground Osprey Program." New York Times, 13 December 2000.
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Bibliography

• Markman, Steve and Bill Holder. "Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey Tilt-Engine VTOL Transport (U.S.A.)". Straight Up: A History of Vertical Flight. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7643-1204-9.
• Norton, Bill. Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Tiltrotor Tactical Transport. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-85780-165-2.
• O'Hanlon, Michael E. Defense Policy Choices for the Bush Administration. Brookings Institution Press, 2002. ISBN 0-8157-6437-5.
• Schinasi, Katherine V. Defense Acquisitions: Readiness of the Marine Corps' V-22 Aircraft for Full-Rate Production. Darby, Pennsylvania: Diane Publishing, 2008. ISBN 1-42894-682-9.
• Whittle, Richard. The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. ISBN 1-4165-6295-8.

External links

• Official Boeing V-22 site
• Official Bell V-22 site
• V-22 Osprey web
• V-22 Osprey history on Navy.mil
• CV-22 fact sheet on USAF site
• V-22 page on GlobalSecurity.org
• V-22 Osprey page on airforce-technology.com
• Onward and Upward
• "The V-22 Osprey", Documentary on the V-22 In Iraq
• "Flight of the Osprey", US Navy video of V-22 operations