A good number of readers probably know something about the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. They may recall the ad that Bell Helicopter Textron ran in The National Journal which explained that the aircraft “descends from the heavens” but “unleashes hell.” This would probably have attracted less controversy if it hadn’t shown American troops rappelling onto the roof of a mosque.
Many people argue that the V-22 is unsafe. Fewer people realize that it was a second attempt at this sort of vehicle. A predecessor called the DP-2 was even less successful.
What is it that makes Vertical Take-Off and Landing so difficult?
It might be considered notable that Dick Cheney tried to kill the V-22 between 1989 and 1993.
Testimony on the DP-2
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DANA ROHRABACHER (R-CA) CHAIRMAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DANA ROHRABACHER (R-CA) HOLDS HEARING ON INNOVATIVE AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE AND AERONAUTICS HOLDS HEARING ON THE APPLICATION OF VTOL TECHNOLOGY IN THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM Washington Transcript Service, 05-09-2001.
The why escapes me but incredibly unsafe winds generated on the ground are not just created by the M/CV-22 but also other rotor-wing aircraft lacking a tail rotor. The CH-47 in particular is known for creating a ring vortex state on the ground as it hovers. Its terrible but managable.
The political baggage that have come with this twenty plus year old project is huge and its certainly a beast of a program that wont be killed. But when I asked a senior guy from MARSOC about it last year, despite the accidents and the 30 Marines dead, he candidly was confident in the aircraft and very excited about its capabilities. So I’ve basically trusted that since its his buddies going to shore in these things. By the way, despite being a fairly silly movie in general, theres some unbelievable footage of CV-22s in Transformers. As well as the most realistic (except for the speed in which it occurs, and a jet engine for some reason appearing on an MQ-1) close air support scene that exists in any movie.
V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft, January 2, 2009
Publisher: United States Congressional Research Service
Title: V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
CRS report number: RL31384
Author(s): Christopher Bolkcom, Specialist in Military Aviation
Date: January 2, 2009
Abstract
Through FY2008, more than $27 billion had been provided for the V-22 program. The Defense Department’s Selected Acquisition Report of December 31, 2007, estimated the total acquisition of a 458-aircraft program would be $54.2 billion, which translates into a program acquisition cost of $118.4 million per Osprey.