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You have to remember the every aircraft ever built has had it’s Airworthyness Certificate written in blood, the hills around Edwards AFB are named after pilots who gave their
lives to the future of aviation.
The first passenger ever in a fixed wing aircraft lost his life in the demonstration, the pilot was Orville Wright.
The Pilots assigned to these aircraft fly ‘em because they BELIEVE that it is good for the Corps, good for aviation in general. We need this aircraft and the capability it gives
our Marines, they are currently flying around in 40 year old aircraft and technology.
When helicopters first were introduced, they were falling out of the sky like sparrows.
Yes, more pilots and troops will die in the development of combat aircraft, it is the nature of the beast,and GOD bless their souls for it.
Freedom isn’t free , it takes it’s fee in blood and lives.

The first passenger ever in a fixed wing aircraft lost his life in the demonstration, the pilot was Orville Wright.

What happened? Passenger fall out?

The first passenger ever in a fixed wing aircraft lost his life in the demonstration, the pilot was Orville Wright.

Are you sure about this assertion? The first flight by Orville Wright was December 17, 1903, followed by two more that day with Wilbur taking his turn. Wilbur died in 1912, just as the airplane was beginning to make great advances. Orville worked on alone and in 1913 won the Collier Trophy for a device to automatically balance airplanes. In 1915 he sold his interest in the Wright Company, and continued work on the development of aviation in his own shop. In 1929, he received the first Daniel Guggenheim Medal for his and Wilbur's contributions to the advancement of aeronautics. He died on January 30, 1948. I always assumed it was of natural causes.