Posted on 11/30/2023 8:15:34 PM PST by FarCenter
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan is concerned that the U.S. military is continuing to fly Osprey aircraft despite its request to ground them until their safety is confirmed after an accident this week, Japan's top government spokesperson said on Friday.
Japan, a key U.S. ally, had sought the suspension of all nonemergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one fell into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan. The Japan Coast Guard has said one person was found and confirmed dead, and the search for the remaining seven aboard continues.
The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was still flying Ospreys for now, and that it was not aware of any official request for their grounding.
Asked about that statement, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said Tokyo had "officially" made the request.
"We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation [from the U.S. military], the Osprey continues to fly," he told a news conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at asia.nikkei.com ...
You know, I’m pretty sure we still have Enola Gay sitting in the Smithsonian in great shape...
Flying death traps. Underscores the lack of real leadership at the Pentagon. Well over 50 brave young men have been killed in “training accidents” in this unwieldy contraption. There has never been one actual combat operation where this aircraft has made a decisive difference. Somebody has to have the guts to stand up tp the lobbyists and special interests and end this disaster.
“Death trap.”
Stated that consistently since it was in testing.
My buddy’s office overlooked the field where textron was “testing” these death traps in the early 90s. II recall him frequently saying they seemed to crash often. Seems he could see what the military could not. Those responsible for this killing of our soldiers should all be used as Covid test dummies.
Takes a lot of courage to manage the “flare” (”BRAKES!”) in fast/quick descent near, to, ground level of a combat zone. Takes a lot of fuel.
IMHO, the thing might be useful in rear area general transportation between locations without airfields.
Also, you can hear the thing coming from 30 miles away. An Osprey squadron sounds like a WW-II fighter wing.
Former SecDef Donald Rumsfeld HATED the Osprey:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Donald-Rumsfeld
If you want a plane... Get a plane. If you want a helicopter, geta helicopter.
If an Osprey was parked on the ramp with engines off and I had the keys in my pocket, I still would not get in the thing.
Don’t forget 30 people dying during developmental testing. It’s a POS that’s had tons of issues..like the F-35. But more money solves all Pentagram problems.. leadership there is like democrats.
I imagine there are quite a few Marines that are “concerned” as well.
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