Posted on 04/09/2010 4:03:27 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
Lets read the article before passing judgment. The Osprey was deployed to Afghanisheroin in 2006. This is the first crash of an Osprey in the Land of Heroin. Thats a pretty Fantastic record! It is a flying Marvel! I also am a Pilot and Love the Bird!
The V-22 should have been canceled 20 years ago.
And the V-22 Osprey is one dangerous machine to fly.
They should have spent it on amphibious land vehicles, but noooooo, they went ahead to jeopardize the lives of marines.
Yes this is the first crash while 'operational', others were all while testing-development.
*** Would anyone think there would be any difference between USMC and AF Tactical usage or maintenance programs? ***
I can't say 100% for positive, but I seem to recall reading the USMC version is somewhat different.
The CH-47 Chinook is a larger, yet similar looking, twin rotor helicopter operated by the US Army.
The US has lost over 140 helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan, including both the CH-46 and CH-47, and now the CV-22.
I can't say 100% for positive, but I seem to recall reading the USMC version is somewhat different.
The MV-22 Osprey for the USMC is replacing the CH-46 as a ship-to-shore assault transport. The CV-22 is operated by the USAF and is used for Special Operations. As such, it is equipped with more electronic gear than the MV-22, including terrain following radar.
In Nam, we were scared of riding Sh*thooks.
Both have two rotors, but you have to figure the transmission, tilt of the Osprey means more parts, more sources for failure.
The true cost would be to match new model/same year production hooks vs the Osprey and then compare them to hours flown/troops/cargo carried.
I’d give the Osprey a little handicap from being new and not having a long institutional memory from flight crew/maintenance.
Roughly, it looks as if the Osprey goes twice as fast, twice as far, at twice the costs with half the cargo/troops.
Another way to look at is what would the 27 billion on the Osprey have paid for?
The MV-22 is replacing the CH-46 Sea Knight, and carries roughly the same troops/cargo. It also fits onboard the same amphibious assault ships. The CH-47 is much too large.
The hybrid aircraft takes off and lands as a helicopter, but during flight its engines tilt forward to allow it to fly like a fixed-wing plane.
A spokesman for Nato gave no further details but said an investigation into the crash had begun.
From Sky News:
It was the first known deadly crash of an Osprey since they entered active service in 2006.
An official for the Zabul government said the tilt-rotor crashed due to technical problems.
However, a Taliban spokesman claimed it was shot down by militants.
I remember that one Chinook fell apart in flight in Germany (1970’s), killing twenty-some soldiers. One pilot told me that the solution was more UH-1’s.
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-04-CA-027
For Immediate Release
KABUL, Afghanistan (April 9) - A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed in southern Afghanistan late last night, killing three U.S. servicemembers, one civilian employee, and injuring numerous other servicemembers. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.
The CV-22 was carrying U.S. Forces when it crashed approximately seven miles west of Qalat City, in Zabul Province. The injured were transported to a nearby base for medical treatment.
The CV-22 conducts long range infiltration and resupply for U.S. Forces. It employs tilt-rotor technology that allows it to take off and land as a helicopter. While in the air the engines can roll forward, allowing the aircraft to fly faster than a standard helicopter.
The CV-22 is a modified version of the Marine MV-22.
The 46 used to be able to carry almost as many pax as the V-22, but that hasn’t been true for a long time.
Very tired iron.
“Roughly, it looks as if the Osprey goes twice as fast, twice as far, at twice the costs with half the cargo/troops.”
The MV-22 Osprey is replacing the medium-lift CH-46E Sea Knight (aka “Phrog”) in the Marine Corps.
The Osprey is faster, has a longer operating range, and a slightly larger cargo capacity than the Phrog. However, the Ospreys take up more space aboard ship: on the new San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD) ships, 4 Phrogs fit on the same flight deck that accomodates only 2 Ospreys.
The CH-47 Chinook is an Army helicopter; although also made by Boeing and also a tandem-rotor design similar to the Phrog, the Chinook is a heavy-lift aircraft and is roughly twice as long as a Phrog (about 100 feet vs. about 50 feet).
I don’t think any new military CH-46’s have been built since the 1970’s: the current USMC Phrogs are all about 40 years old.
40 years old. Yikes. The maint guys must be magicians.
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