V-22 Osprey
The V-22 Osprey is the first aircraft designed from the ground up to meet the needs of all four U.S. armed services. The aircraft can transport Marine Corps assault troops and cargo using its medium lift and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. It meets U.S. Navy requirements for combat search and rescue, fleet logistics support, and special warfare support.
The V-22 is a tiltrotor aircraft, taking off and landing like a helicopter, but, once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.
It can carry 24 combat troops, or up to 20,000 pounds of internal or external cargo, at twice the speed of a helicopter. It includes cross-coupled transmissions so either engine can power the rotors if one engine fails.
The rotors can fold and the wing rotate so the aircraft can be stored aboard an aircraft carrier.
Boeing is responsible for the fuselage and all subsystems, digital avionics, and fly-by-wire flight-control systems. Boeing partner Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., is responsible for the wing, transmissions, empennage, rotor systems, and engine installation.
The first of four LRIP (low-rate initial production) MV-22 models completed Operation/Evaluation in August 2000. Following an aircrash in December 2000, a number of upgrades are taking place including redesign of hydraulics and wiring in the nacelles and improved flight control software. A two-year flight test program began in May 2002 to be followed by a second OP/EVAL phase. Initial Operating capability is planned for 2005. USAF CV-22 resumed flight testing in September 2002. 360 MV-22 have been ordered and 50 CV-22 (to replace MH-53J Pave Low helicopters).
The Osprey has two, large, three-bladed rotors that rotate in opposite directions and produce lift. Because the rotors turn in opposite directions, there is no need for a tail rotor to provide stability as in a helicopter. The wing tilts the rotors between airplane and helicopter modes and generates lift in the airplane mode. The Osprey can convert smoothly from helicopter mode to airplane mode in as few as 12 seconds.
The major advantages of the Osprey over a helicopter are:
- Longer range - The Osprey can fly from 270 to 580 miles (453 to 933 km).
- Higher speed - The Osprey's top speed is 315 mph (507 kph), which is twice as fast as a helicopter's top speed.
- Increased cargo capacity - The Osprey can carry 20,000 pounds (4,536 kg) of cargo or 24 troops.
The advantage of the Osprey over an airplane is that it can take off, hover and land like a helicopter. This makes is more versatile than an airplane for such missions as moving troops to remote areas, especially those without landing strips, or conducting long-range rescue operations at sea.
Recent developments (news)
V-22 Osprey's performance criticized by GAO
Posted at: Wed Jun 24th, 2009
As of January 2009, the 12 MV-22s in Iraq successfully completedall missions assigned in a low-threat theater of operations - using their enhanced speed and range to deliver personnel and internal cargo faster and farther than the legacy helicopters being replaced. However, challenges to operatio...
Bell Boeing Team Awarded Contract for Next Phase of V-22 Osprey Support
Posted at: Mon Jun 15th, 2009
AMARILLO, Texas, June 15, 2009 – The Bell Boeing Program Office announced today that it has been awarded Phase 1.5 of a two-phase Joint Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor...
USS Bataan Set to Deploy With MV-22 Ospreys
Posted at: Thu Mar 26th, 2009
USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) will have their chance to make history later this spring as the first ship to deploy with the MV-22B Osprey in an amphibious environment.
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