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Hybrid aircraft makes own mark
http://www.avpress.com/n/25/1025_s2.hts ^ | October 25, 2006. | ALLISON GATLIN

Posted on 10/25/2006 11:08:40 AM PDT by BenLurkin

EDWARDS AFB - It doesn't look like the sleek aircraft with which it shares the skies over Edwards Air Force Base, but the CV-22 Osprey is making its own mark in the annals of flight test history there. The hybrid aircraft, known as a tilt-rotor, is in a class by itself, combining the small-field landing and hovering capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and distance of an airplane.

The tilt-rotor accomplishes its task by rotating its engines, mounted on the wings. With the engines down, the aircraft looks and flies like an airplane with propellers at the front end of the twin engines, one on each wing.

The engines, however, can rotate so they are perpendicular to the aircraft body, turning the engine propellers into twin helicopter rotors.

"Special operations guys have really been clamoring for this," said Maj. Bryan Choi, government flight test director for the CV-22 program. "It fills the niche between helicopters and slow-moving fixed wings like the C-130."

The CV-22 is the Air Force version of the Marines' MV-22 Osprey. While both have the same airframe, the Air Force version is equipped with sophisticated radar and electronic warfare equipment for its role as a special operations aircraft, in which it will be used to bring in and remove personnel and supplies from strategic areas.

The unusual aircraft will be on static display during Edwards' Open House and Air Show this weekend.

"The focus of the testing here at Edwards is the unique characteristics of the CV-22," Choi said.

The effort is a joint program with the Navy and Marine Corps. Much of the basic testing of the airframe - essentially common to both versions - was conducted by the Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.

(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Military/Veterans; Travel
KEYWORDS: aerospacevalley; allisongatlin; antelopevalley; cv22; edwardsafb; mv22; osprey; usmc

1 posted on 10/25/2006 11:08:42 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

ping


2 posted on 10/25/2006 11:16:54 AM PDT by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: BenLurkin

Got a link for details on the weekend air show?


3 posted on 10/25/2006 11:23:55 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: BenLurkin

Lots of problems with this aircraft.


4 posted on 10/25/2006 11:26:44 AM PDT by golfisnr1 (Democrats are like roaches - hard to get rid of.)
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To: golfisnr1
Lots of problems with this aircraft.

What kind?

5 posted on 10/25/2006 11:29:01 AM PDT by Protagoras (We are not free because we are great, we are great because we are free.)
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To: BenLurkin
We had a polite little aerial display here in suburban GA two weeks ago.... 20 bucks for a few military fly-by's and a couple of good aerobatic guys...

Thisssss.....[Edwards] will be a great airshow!!

6 posted on 10/25/2006 11:38:03 AM PDT by Wings-n-Wind (All of the answers remain available; Wisdom is gained by asking the right questions!)
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To: BenLurkin

Blue Angels weekend at Navy Jax this weekend!

Sure hope that an Osprey is there to entertain the crowd -- a magnificient flying machine!


7 posted on 10/25/2006 11:44:17 AM PDT by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

http://www.edwards.af.mil/openhouse/indexflash.html

http://www.edwards.af.mil/


8 posted on 10/25/2006 11:49:12 AM PDT by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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To: rlmorel; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Wings-n-Wind; golfisnr1; Protagoras; Taxman

Gates open at 7 flying starts at 10:00 AM
Saturday and Sunday performances are identical.

Flying starts with the F-16 Sonic Boom commemorating Chuck Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier.
Golden Knights Flag Jump
Opening Ceremonies
F-22A Demo Flight
P-51 Demo Flight
A-10 Demo Flight
F-15E Demo Flight
Heritage Flights F-22A, F-15, A-10, P-51
Mr. Craif Treft and his aerobatic Pitt
Red Bull Aerobatic Mig-17
NASA ER-2 Fly By
T-34 Demo Flight
F/A-18 Hornet Demo Flight
F4U Corsair and Hawker Sea Fury legacy flights
B-25 Mitchell Fly By

General Break for Lunch

Hang Glider Demo by Dan Buchanan
Mr. John Collver's AT-6
Royal Dutch AF Precision Team Performance F-16
Ms. Margaret Stivers Wing Walker and Aviatrix
C-17 Air Drop and Demo
B-52 Demo
Golden Knights
B-1 Demo
F-117 Stealth Fighter Demo
Predator MQ-9 fly by
AFFTC Aerial Review
Air Force Thunderbirds

Show will end at roughly 4:45 p.m.


9 posted on 10/25/2006 11:58:12 AM PDT by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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To: golfisnr1

Most new aircraft do have problems...this one, being revolutionary, has had more than its share.

Do you have any specific issue that you think they have not addressed prior to the active duty roll-out?


10 posted on 10/25/2006 12:29:00 PM PDT by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: All

My friend in New Mexico (Concho), sees them flying over his house 2-3 times a week.


11 posted on 10/25/2006 8:08:35 PM PDT by Armedanddangerous (Master of Sinanju (emeritus))
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