Posted on 12/09/2024 11:26:11 AM PST by BenLurkin
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon is temporarily pausing flights again of its fleet of V-22 Ospreys after weakened metal components possibly played a role in another near crash, the latest setback for an embattled aircraft whose safety problems have grown.
The pause was recommended last week “out of an abundance of caution” by Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command, which runs the Osprey program for the military, said command spokeswoman Marcia Hart.
The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force are adhering to the recommended pause, each said in a statement to The Associated Press. The Marines said its pause began on Friday and would run through Monday. The other services are expected to maintain their pauses longer as they look at the cause of the metal failures.
An in-depth investigation into the Osprey by The AP published last month found that safety issues have increased in the past five years, parts are wearing out faster than expected and that the design of the aircraft itself is directly contributing to many of the accidents. The Osprey can fly both like a helicopter and an airplane.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Congress and some general. I remember one of the early flights (could have been a test flight even) that killed some people and the general was quoted as saying something akin to “I don’t care how many people have to die, this project needs to be pushed through”.
So it’s a heap, it’s always been a heap, and they’ve always KNOWN it was a heap. But the right palms were getting greased, so they didn’t care.
I won’t defend them, but I have a nephew who’s been flying them for nearly 10 years and he loves them. They look like a death trap to me.
15,000 parts attempting to fly in close formation while doing their best to shake themselves to pieces. What do you expect?
They did. It's called the Bell V-280. Similar basic concept as the Osprey but much better design.
Time to ground this death trap permanently.
Agreed. Mechanically overcomplicated. Too many points of failure for loss of aircraft.
The Osprey can be heard on the ground when the aircraft is airborne and 25 miles away.
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