Civilian version of the V-22 Osprey and Royal Navy version of the HH-3 Pelican

[Taiidantomcat]

Cost always rears its ugly head, has the V-22 ever been used in a war zone ?

Just a little:

The Osprey has provided support in Iraq, logging 2,000 flight hours over three months with a mission capable rate of 68.1% as of late-January 2008.[81] They are primarily used in Iraq's western Anbar province for routine cargo and troop movements, and also for riskier "aero-scout" missions. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, used one to fly around Iraq on Christmas Day 2007 to visit troops.[82] Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama also flew in Ospreys during his high profile 2008 tour of Iraq

The V-22 had flown 3,000 sorties totaling 5,200 hours in Iraq as of July 2008

The MV-22 was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 with VMM-261,[84][91][92] and saw its first offensive combat mission, Operation Cobra's Anger, on 4 December 2009. Ospreys assisted in inserting 1,000 Marines and 150 Afghan troops into the Now Zad Valley of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan to disrupt communication and supply lines of the Taliban.[38] In January 2010 the MV-22 Osprey was sent to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response relief efforts after the earthquake there, the aircraft's first humanitarian mission

In March 2011 two MV-22s from the USS Kearsarge participated in a mission to rescue a downed USAF F-15E crew member during Operation Odyssey Dawn. This was one of the first times that a USMC Osprey was used in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel

The US Air Force's first operational deployment of the Osprey sent four CV-22s to Mali in November 2008 in support of Exercise Flintlock. The CV-22s flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field, Florida with in-flight refueling.[5] AFSOC declared that the 8th Special Operations Squadron reached Initial Operational Capability on 16 March 2009, with six of its planned nine CV-22s operational.[100]

In June 2009, CV-22s of the 8th Special Operations Squadron delivered 43,000 pounds (20,000 kg) of humanitarian supplies to remote villages in Honduras that were not accessible by conventional vehicles.[101] In November 2009, the 8th SO Squadron and its six CV-22s returned from a three-month deployment in Iraq.[102]

for some reason no one knows about any of this. Here may be a reason:

On 18 February 2011, Marine Commandant General Jim Amos indicated Marine MV-22s deployed to Afghanistan surpassed 100,000 flight hours and were noted as having become "the safest airplane, or close to the safest airplane" in the Marine Corps inventory.[58] The average V-22 mishap rate based on flight hours over the past 10 years, has been approximately half the accident rate for the USMC aircraft fleet. The V-22's accident rate is the lowest of any Marine rotorcraft

See? If the V-22 isn't crashing its not really interesting to most major media sources.

all qoutes from wikipedia

[McColm]

If a newish piece of kit has been used in a combat zone, the buyers are more tempted to purchase it.

[Taiidantomcat]

Not quite a straight civvie V-22...

...but using the basic concept and technology...

Bell-Augusta BA609

Though, this now should be known as the Augusta Westland AW609 as it has just been announced that Augusta Westland have bought out Bell's share in the project.

Lt. Gen. Michael Hough, USMC deputy commandant for aviation, asked Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to study arming the AW609 so that it could be used to escort V-22s.

Sweet  There is some Whiffy goodness there. also chat of bringing OV-10s back to escort, don't think either of these will happen now

[kitnut617]

Not quite a straight civvie V-22...

...but using the basic concept and technology...

Bell-Augusta BA609

Though, this now should be known as the Augusta Westland AW609 as it has just been announced that Augusta Westland have bought out Bell's share in the project.

A short news blurb in one of the Air-Britain magazines I get, says Westland has built six of them already for the test program.

[ChrisF]

I have a v22 in the stash....      

[McColm]

Got my second V-22, this morning.
I was supprized with the Airfix Sea King AEW/ASaC7 kit. As it's got the dipping sonar, the MK5 and MK2 random, both air filters ,dustbin and various areails.So you could build either;
AEW or ASaC7
MK2 or MK5 ASW
HAR3 or HAR/3A

or an early HC4

without raiding the spares box.

[albeback]

Quote


Quote

On 18 February 2011, Marine Commandant General Jim Amos indicated Marine MV-22s deployed to Afghanistan surpassed 100,000 flight hours and were noted as having become "the safest airplane, or close to the safest airplane" in the Marine Corps inventory.[58] The average V-22 mishap rate based on flight hours over the past 10 years, has been approximately half the accident rate for the USMC aircraft fleet. The V-22's accident rate is the lowest of any Marine rotorcraft

See? If the V-22 isn't crashing its not really interesting to most major media sources.

I seem to remember the F-111 going through a similar period of mostly ignorant & hysterical press reports following 3 (non combat related) losses during its first Vietnam depolyment!! Funny how the media were not so quick to comment on the types second deployment where 48 aircraft flew nearly 5000 combat sorties for only 6 losses. I guess the second rule of journalism is ;

"Good news doesn't sell papers"
In case you're wondering, the FIRST rule is ;
"Never let facts get in the way of a good story"

I have a couple of Italeri V-22s in my stash. Been there for YEARS!! :rolleyes

Since seeing this thread, I've idly speculated on a "V-44"  i e a stretched V-22 with Tandem wings & 4 rotors!

Ridiculous notion really!! Even though the normal laws of aerodynmics don't apply in Whifworld, I'm not entirely sure of the effect on the rear pair of wings/ rotors being hit by by the vortex churned up by the front pair of rotors!!

[ChrisF]

Actually your not the only one who has thought of a "Four Rotor"... If you watch carefully theres one in the new transformers film...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_Quad_TiltRotor

[albeback]

Actually your not the only one who has thought of a "Four Rotor"... If you watch carefully theres one in the new transformers film...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_Quad_TiltRotor

I like it!!! - especially the drawing of the Herc - like fuselage with tandem wings!!


I think it might be do-able!!

[Green Dragon]

It's working (so far!) with me using a Transal fuselage and two 1/48th V-22's in the VTOL group build. http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,32918.0.html

Paul Harrison