Posted on 08/22/2007 11:18:59 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Mark Dodd | August 22, 2007
ADF may be first to buy 'tilt' chopper
AUSTRALIAN special forces could be the first international customers for the revolutionary tilt rotor Osprey - a US-designed half-helicopter and half-plane.
In its first operational deployment, 10 of the twin-engined V-22 Osprey will be sent to Iraq as troop and cargo carriers serving the US Marine Corp.
Manufacturer Boeing claims a clean operational report card is likely to be followed by US government export approval and the Australian Defence Force is being eyed as a potential customer.
The ADF today confirmed it is looking at buying more Chinook twin-rotor helicopters following their successful deployment in Afghanistan.
Although no decision has been made on aircraft type or numbers, the army is understood to be keen on buying the latest CH-47F model.
The current fleet of six ageing CH-47Ds is expected to be upgraded to CH-47F standard.
While an Osprey purchase is not included in the defence capability plan, The Australian understands initial approaches are being made to gauge interest in the aircraft for use by Australian special forces.
"Now the V-22 has been cleared for operations in Iraq, Boeing is now turning to the international market (for potential customers)," Boeing spokesman Paul Lewis told The Australian during a visit to the company's high-security Osprey assembly line in Philadelphia.
Designed to carry 24-fully equipped soldiers, the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft utilises the latest in carbon fibre technology, and compared to helicopters, flies faster, quieter and at a higher altitude, advantages its makers say minimises the likelihood of it being shot out of the sky.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Proposed biplane version?
That’s what I get for running off to find more nice graphics when I’m tired. It didn’t even dawn on me that I had pulled down a four rotor version.
I did a search and wound up on the following Wikipedia site. Check out the linked photographs and a linked Popular Science article over there.
http://www.search.com/reference/Quad_Tilt_Rotor
I wonder if they’re looking at the MV-22 (USMC version) or the CV-22 that AFSOC is buying? CV-22 is about to enter IOT&E, while the Block B MV-22 is about to deploy to Iraq with VMM-263.
The four-poster? Interesting concept, but nowhere near flying yet.
The Aussies would be well-served, given the terrain and distances down under.
TC
Given the potential distances that would have to be covered, it’d be a good fit for the Australians.
I doubt they would want to spend that much, however.
The US Airforce & Marines will be buying these-I think the AF variants will be used for army operations.
But why not the Army? They have as much need, even more, for the Osprey. If the Army has to depend on the AF for short range troop transport, the troops are going to be in bad shape.
IIRC, the Air Force is only buying them for their Special Operations forces.
The army has the Black Hawk & the Chinook for short range troop/equipment transport.The V-22 has much greater range(I think it carries fewer troops than the Chinook) & speed.
The Army is kicking themselves for having bailed out on the Osprey in the early days of the program and instead pouring $8.5 billion down a rathole known as the Comanche.
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