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.
Read the full article...
Feb. 21st, 2008 | BAE Systems Installs Defensive Weapon System on CV-22 Osprey for Testing
Read the full article...
Oct. 3rd, 2007 | BAE Systems Launches New V-22 Defensive Weapon System
Read the full article...
Oct. 2nd, 2007 | CV-22 team concludes developmental testing
Read the full article...
Oct. 1st, 2007 | Rolls-Royce awarded $700 million contract for V-22 engines
Read the full article...
- Bell-Boeing Awarded $68M for (M)V-22 Upgrades
- Bell-Boeing Awarded $88M for V-22 Modifications
- Marines To Deploy V-22 To Iraq
- Bell-Boeing Gets $1.8 Billion for MV-22 Osprey Production
- V-22 Fatigue Test Aircraft Surpasses 20,000 Effective Flight Hours
- Raytheon Receives $27.7 Million for V-22 Support
- Ospreys start to fly, but most still grounded
- Boeing Awarded Contract for Next Generation V-22 Hydraulic Automated Test System
- Heritage to Horizons celebration highlights CV-22 Osprey
- Pilots thrilled by CV-22 capabilities
- US Navy eyes fighter,Osprey delays, cuts--document
- August 'go month' for CV-22 testing
- Bell-Boeing Awarded $200 Million for Production of Three MV-22 Osprey's
- V-22 Osprey Makes Precautionary Landing En Route To UK
- Bell-Boeing Receive $90 Million for MV-22 Upgrade to Block A/B
- Bell Boeing Sends Two MV-22 Osprey's to Attend UK Air Shows
- V-22 Funding Status Still Murky
- Report criticizes Pentagon budget priorities
- Senate weighs cutting C-17, V-22 procurement money from emergency spending bill
- V-22 that apparently flew itself under investigation
|
Powerplant |
|
|
Rotor System |
|
|
Transmissions |
|
|
Performance |
Range Crew |
|
Dimensions - Internal Weights |
Dimensions - External Fuel Capacity |
V-22 Osprey Videos | 166 Videos Available!
First 5 videos, click to go to the V-22 Osprey video gallery:
This page was last updated on: 2006-02-01








