Posted on 12/12/2007 6:49:58 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
WASHINGTON — The Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey might be getting more firepower.
The aircraft, which is currently making its combat-zone debut in Iraq, has the ability to hover like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft. It is meant to replace CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, the Corps’ aging workhorse.
Ospreys come equipped with a gun at the ramp in the rear of the aircraft, but they might also get a gun with a 360-degree field of fire, said Marine Lt. Gen. John G. Castellaw.
“One of the options would be to install within what we call the ‘hell-hole’ — but that, that’s where the cargo hook is — a gun in there that would have the ability to shoot 360,” said Castellaw, deputy commandant for programs and resources.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Castellaw said the Osprey has significant advantages over the Sea Knight, most notably its speed and ability to climb rapidly, which means it requires less in the way of defensive systems.
“I told you I’m a -46 pilot; you know, the reason, the main reason I got .50 cals that are on either side (of the CH-46) is when I go into the zone, because I’m so slow and my acceleration rate is just a little bit better than a Volkswagen, then I want something that’s going to keep their heads down until I get enough speed and get away from there,” he said.
Not only can Ospreys get out of the path of the bullet quicker, but they are also built to take hits, Castellaw said.
Another advantage Ospreys have over Sea Knights is they can carry troops at 13,000 feet, which is out of range of most anti-aircraft artillery and missiles, he said.
Asked how well the Osprey is performing in Iraq, Castellaw said the aircraft is performing well, but he did not elaborate.
“It means it does well,” he said. “It does the mission that it was sent to do. It carries troops, it carries things, it goes where it needs to go, and it does it with a readiness rate that it allows it to sustain those operations.”
MM, the concept of the aircraft is what has always intrigued me. Seeing that aircraft in action, as a Gator Navy sailor of yesteryear, always left me in awe.
And I hate to tell you, but as far as autorotation goes the Osprey doesn't have it either...1-10 of 220 for osprey lack of autorotation
I worked on the XV-15 in 1982. And you are the one spreading BS here.
How many Osprey’s have been lost since they went operational with the FMF?
If you are going to claim it is a deathtrap, at least be able to back up your words with facts and figures.
The last time I checked most airplanes don’t auto rotate either.
I question the number of Harriers lost for one simple reason, the average Marine Squadron consist of 12 to 14 aircraft and there are only 7 Harrier attack squadrons and one training squadron. 8 x 12 = 96 or four less Harriers then we have supposed to have lost.
The article you mentioned doesn’t define the type of accidents, and not all accidents result in the total loss of the aircraft (Type A accidents).
By The way the last Osprey accident in which there was a fatality or the total loss of an aircraft was on 11 December 2000 that’s over seven years ago for all those that say this aircraft is a deathtrap.
Listen to me and use your melon for a second here brother. My original statement, I will paraphrase, “My brother is a Marine, he lost some buddies to crashes, he hates these things.” So you, using your melon here, can obviously see how I may be biased. Some of you people around here act like you have your entire retirement accounts built into the success of the Osprey. I got called a liar because of my statement, and I will not suffer fools.
Your Brother has neither the training or the experience to be a judge of this or any aircraft's flight safety record, and if he had the same sort of experience I have in the Aircraft maintenance field he would easily recognize that the CH-46 is more likely to kill him and his Marines then the Osprey is.
Do don't suffer fools either and right now the guy that is claiming that the Osprey is a deathtrap because the last fatal accident for that type aircraft occurred....
7 years ago
Is a bigger fool then I could have imagined.
Read it, understand it, then go cry about how great it is to someone else. I am not interested.
I read it....
Do you comprehend seven years since the last fatal Osprey accident?
Do you comprehend that you and you alone are speaking for “your brother’s concerns”
Do you comprehend that I have proven that you know nothing about Marine Corps Aircraft or their safety records and shouldn’t pass on opinions that are worse then hearsay and aren’t even factually.
If your brother is half the Career Marine you claim he is, he would be honest enough and have enough integrity to admit that more CH-53’s and CH-46’s have crashed in fatal accidents involving Marines then the Osprey has in the last seven years.
I think we’re dealing with an “I don’t know and I don’t wanna know” kind of poster here. Save your ammo.
TC
Osprey threads attract them like ants to sugar.
They are probably descended from the same people that thought it you went faster than 60mph in a Model T you wouldn’t be able to breathe.
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