U.S. to Fly Controversial Osprey in Combat.

[Midnight Mike]

U.S. to fly controversial Osprey in combat

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Pentagon is forging ahead with plans to get the MV-22 helicopter-aircraft into combat, despite a controversial and deadly performance history.

The Boeing Co. and the Bell Helicopter's aircraft takes off vertically as a helicopter and the engines rotate forward to fly as a turboprop plane. The craft is used primarily as a troop transporter.

But six years ago, two crashes of the Osprey killed 19 Marines, and the project was shelved.

Now, the Pentagon has ordered 458 of the $70 million craft, most of which will go the Marines Corps, although those destined for the Air Force will cost $89 million each because of enhanced electronic combat features, the Escondido (Calif.) North County Times reported.

Marine Lt. Col. Rick A. Pagel, the station operations officer at Miramar Air Base in San Diego, said he expected the Osprey would be deployed to Iraq in 2007, although it was ultimately up the secretary of Defense.

[Tom_Turner]

I have to think, hypothetically at least, this is a good thing.

Most of us are familiar with the poor (and deadly) performance of this aircraft thus far and research has been going on for decades it seems to get this type of aircraft into production.

Unfortunately, it seems the mainstream press has this notion that "good" technological progress never has any casualties or deadly set backs. That is not the case.

Tom

[Derf]

I agree Tom, but when I look at it, it just scares me.

Shot from a few years back at Marana NW reginal

[NcSchu]

It seems to me like this plane isn't really needed. I don't know much about it but after reading the Wikipedia article it sounds like an aircraft that works just like a helicopter but with more limitations in terms of deployment of troops and defense. All the accidents that occured with it during its development don't give it a very good record either. Crisis waiting to happen perhaps?

[Derf]

Test aircraft crash, F-14, F-22 the F-16 almost screwed the pooch on first
flight....(It was suppose to be a high speed run and not a flight).

The aircraft crashing is not a big deal with me. The bigger issue is what if
you loose an engine? A Helo can usually make it. Just looking at it
makes me wonder what an engine failure would look like.

****On a side note...people much smarter than me made this aircraft. I
am sure that most if not all that I worry about has been addressed. I just
want to know the answers****

[moose135]

Test aircraft crash, F-14, F-22 the F-16 almost screwed the pooch on first flight....(It was suppose to be a high speed run and not a flight).

The aircraft crashing is not a big deal with me. The bigger issue is what if
you loose an engine? A Helo can usually make it. Just looking at it
makes me wonder what an engine failure would look like.

****On a side note...people much smarter than me made this aircraft. I
am sure that most if not all that I worry about has been addressed. I just
want to know the answers****

The Osprey has a transmission system that couples both rotors - if one engine fails, the other can operate both rotors, allowing the crew to retain control.

I know the Osprey is controversial - there are those within the military who don't want it, and point to the crashes as a reason to kill it. I think it gives the military a new capability that helicopters alone don't. And remember, that in the history of everything that works, there was a time when it didn't. As Fred said, smart people are working on this, and I'm confident they will get it right.

[Matt Molnar]

Is it really more dangerous than a conventional chopper? I doubt it. Think about how frequently helicopters crash.