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 ...
ping
Got a link for details on the weekend air show?
Lots of problems with this aircraft.
What kind?
Thisssss.....[Edwards] will be a great airshow!!
Blue Angels weekend at Navy Jax this weekend!
Sure hope that an Osprey is there to entertain the crowd -- a magnificient flying machine!
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.
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?
My friend in New Mexico (Concho), sees them flying over his house 2-3 times a week.
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