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Seasoned Vet
 
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Last Login: 10/2/2005 10:13 PM
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I hope it is.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030624-9999_1n24osprey.html
Aircraft could be flying by December
By Otto Kreisher
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
June 24, 2003
NAVAL AIR STATION
Union-Tribune
Md. – Declaring that it has resolved the problems that plagued the V-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps expects operational pilots to start flying the aircraft again by December, three years after fatal crashes grounded the Osprey and brought the controversial tilt-rotor aircraft to the edge of termination.
"We have confidence in this aircraft. We're ready to bring it back from flight testing and give it back to the fleet," said Marine Col. Daniel Schultz, the Osprey program manager.
Schultz said the progress in the V-22 program also justifies an increase in production of the long-sought replacement for the aged CH-46s.
"We've solved all the aeromechanical issues. . . . We've solved the engineering issues," Schultz said. "We've proven it and now it's time to start buying the airplane at an efficient production rate so we get these airplanes to the fleet a lot sooner."
Osprey program officials held a briefing and flight demonstration last week to show the progress they believe the aircraft has made from the flight disasters and the engineering mistakes the crashes revealed in 2000.
After two years of study and extensive engineering modifications, as well as a year of flight trials by highly experienced test pilots, Schultz insisted that the V-22 has proved that it is not only much more capable, but safer than any existing helicopter.
Schultz presented charts of flight-test data showing the Osprey was more responsive than helicopters in slow-speed, intense maneuvers, such as would be required in combat landing situations, and less susceptible to losing control from a dangerous flight condition known as vortex ring state.
Vortex ring state – which is similar to a fixed-wing aircraft stall – occurs when a rotary-wing craft descends too quickly while flying at a slow airspeed.
Pilots from the former Osprey training squadron were attempting a night assault landing at Marana, Ariz., in April 2000, when they encountered vortex ring state and crashed, killing 19 Marines, including 15 from Camp Pendleton.
The test data shows "it takes a lot more to get a V-22 into vortex ring state than any other helicopter," and the tilt-rotor technology allows a faster, safer recovery, Schultz said.
The Osprey's twin engines can rotate from a horizontal position – which allows it to take off and land like a helicopter – to vertical, which lets it fly like a turbo-prop airplane.
Tilting the rotor forward slightly from the helicopter position enables the V-22 to fly out of vortex ring state quickly, said Lt. Col. Kevin Gross, the chief Marine test pilot.
Bolstered by test data, Osprey program officials are preparing to ask for a production increase during a July hearing before the Defense Acquisition Board.
Schultz said the Marines will form a "fleet" squadron this fall at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. The new squadron will train for a year and then conduct extensive operational evaluation trials, starting in December 2004, to prove that the V-22 is ready for combat use. If there are no setbacks, the first operational squadron could be combat- ready by 2006, Schultz said.
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Strac Trooper
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quote:
Schultz insisted that the V-22 has proved that it is not only much more capable, but safer than any existing helicopter.
It's a bit premature to say the V-22 is safer than any existing helicopter. Statements like that make me suspicious of the entire USMC program.
Welcome to another Red Devil rehersal, only this time it's for real
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Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behavior
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I don't care if they say that it is fixed. YOU GO FIRST.
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
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quote:
"We have confidence in this aircraft. We're ready to bring it back from flight testing and give it back to the fleet," said Marine Col. Daniel Schultz, the Osprey program manager.
That says it all right there gents. The program manager says it's safe. Well he'd better if he expects to be promoted to General.[thdown]
He's the last person I would believe on the safety and performance of the A/C. His career is riding on the 'success' of this thing.
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President for Life
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One of my troop's pops is a retired USCG CW4 (Aviation). He was at Elizabeth City NC when the Marines flew one down for a show and tell. The Marines were inviting the squadrons to put one of their decals or stickers on the inside of the a/c. Chief "D" threatened to "kick the ass of any mother"F"er that put a USCG sticker on that POS" Chief "D" said that the thing is a maintenance nightmare and a flying death trap!
 The Second Amendment - America's Homeland Defense All Your Base are Belong to Us 
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Ei Temporis Vita Semper Resumo Sese
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My thoughts on the Osprey have been recorded elseware on this website so I'm not going to reiterate them. As long as the USMC fields half a dozen V22s for ferrying VIPS around... fine. If they try to make it tactical however...
"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable." Thorax
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Seasoned Vet
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Last Login: 10/2/2005 10:13 PM
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I hope it works well, but I am not absolutely confident. too many questions. Time will tell.
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Got Silk?
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