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The utter ignorance on this thread is absolutely profound.

The V-22 had a very tough development, but its operational service has been stellar.

It has an outstanding safety record and has served in combat in multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Israel wants them because, unlike the armchair morons on this thread, they recognize what a transformational platform the tiltrotor Osprey is.

If you actually saw one fly in person, you wouldn’t say they don’t look like they want to fly, that’s for damn sure.

I agree, there are some deployed here at Kirtland AFB and they fly over my place in the mountains quite a bit, plus I work right near the base so I see them a lot. It is a very cool aircraft. The first time you hear one it’s “what????” it has a very distinctive sound.

you sir are correct. That was my project when it was in “X” prototype through 1st production model. Saw it through test flights,endurance tests.Was on the runway at Bell when they did a test flight for all employees. S.O.B is stealth, you will never see or hear till its on your butt. Only problem I seen is when they did the ballistics tests on the under belly. You didn't want to be inside then.......now ok

The utter ignorance on this thread is absolutely profound.
The V-22 had a very tough development, but its operational service has been stellar. ...etc.
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Thanks for jumping in! I was going to after going through all of the comments, but you beat me to it.

I worked at Bell in the ‘60s and ‘70s, when we were developing the proof-of-concept for the tilt rotor; the XV-15. (One is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum) ......I worked closely with NAVAIR and MCAS Cherry Point (a really neat base in NC, where the Marines train on the MV-22) during development and early production of the MV-22 variant, in developing requirement for aircraft logbooks, tracing Flight Safety Parts and Time-Life parts, etc. ....The Marines and Air Force personnel really like the versality of the V-22. A couple of years ago there was an article about several of the Air Force V-22s flying non-stop from the US to a country in Africa and later returning the same way (of course in flight refueling was needed).

I retired from Bell in Dec. 2001, after 36 years and I believe all employees and both Bell and Boeing who had involvement with the V-22 are proud of the product.

Sorry, everyone, for being so mouthy. I’ll try to keep it shorter from now on...

hey recognize what a transformational platform the tiltrotor Osprey is.

You know you maybe onto something. The new less complicated "Valor" and Sikorski's X2 variants with counter-rotating rotors and pusher prop, all usher in VTOL aircraft that are quite different i.e. they are way faster than the "Mu" barrier of which some of the rotorheads on this thread could explain better than I can! ( please do so gents! )

We are talking VTOL machines faster than 250 mph, and perhaps now that the V22 is now mature, why wouldn't Israel get on this wave as probably many military roles will say bye bye to the old to embrace this new gen of VTOL's...