V-22 Osprey

V-22 Osprey
U.S. Marines jump from an Osprey.
Description
Role	Multi-role aircraft
Crew	3 (2 pilots, crewman) + 24 troops
Dimensions
Length	56 ft 10 in	17.33 m
Wingspan
Height	17 ft 4 in	5.28 m
Wing area
Weights
Empty	31,772 lb	14,411 kg
Loaded
Maximum take-off	47,500 lb (VTOL) 55,000 lb (STOL)	21,546 kg 24,947 kg
Powerplant
Engines	2 Rolls-Royce AE 1007 turboprop
Power	6,150 shp each	4.6 MW each
Performance
Maximum speed	363 mph	584 km/h
Combat range	1,249 mi	2,011 km
Ferry range	2,417 mi	3,889 km
Service ceiling	30,000 ft	9,144 m
Rate of climb
Armament
Guns
Bombs

The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. It performs VTOL missions as effectively as a conventional helicopter while also having the long-range cruise abilities of a twin turboprop aircraft.

The Osprey is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft with a 38 ft (12 m) rotor, engine, and transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip. It can operate as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. Once airborne, the nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees for horizontal flight, converting the V-22 to a high-speed, fuel-efficient turboprop airplane. The wing rotates for compact storage aboard ship.

The United States Marine Corps is the lead service in the development of the V-22 Osprey. The Marine Corps version, the MV-22B, will be an assault transport for troops, equipment and supplies, and will be capable of operating from ships or from expeditionary airfields ashore. The US Navy's HV-22A will provide combat search and rescue, delivery and retrieval of special warfare teams along with fleet logistic support transport. The CV-22A operated by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) will conduct long-range special operations missions. The V-22 Osprey will replace the Marine Corps CH-46E and CH-53D as well as several types of the Special Operations Command H-53, H-47, H-60, and C-130 series aircraft.

The Osprey's development process has been long and controversial. The first flight occurred in March 1989. Since then however there have been four significant failures during testing - a crash in 1991, a second in 1992 that killed seven, a third in April 2000 that killed nineteen, and a fourth in December 2000 that killed four. Problems identifed in all of these mishaps have been addressed by the V-22 program office and advocates of the program are optimistic that the aircraft is mature enough for fleet operations. Currently (as of Nov 2004) the V-22 is scheduled to begin its next operational evaluation in March 2005; this should be the final operational test before a milestone decision is made to begin full rate production. The Osprey's lift capacity and high cost have also been heavily criticised. Advocates of the program point to the Osprey's ability to carry troops and freight faster, further, and much higher than conventional helicopters.

Planned purchases include 360 for the Marine Corps, 48 for the Navy and 50 for the Air Force and 4 for the Texas Air National Guard.

General Characteristics

• Primary Function: Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft
• Contractor: Bell-Boeing
• Propulsion: Two pivoting Rolls-Royce/Allison AE 1007 engines
• Main rotor diameter: 38 ft (11.58 m)
• Blades per rotor: Three
• Weight: 60,500 lb (27 t) max gross weight
• Ceiling: 25,000 feet (7,600 m) service ceiling
• Speed: 272 knots (500 km/h) cruise
• Armament: Provisions for two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) cabin guns or 0.308 in (7.62 mm) electric gatling guns