WHIFS found while Google-ing

[rickshaw]

NOISE, WHAT NOISE?

The noise you can't hear any more because you went deaf standing close to a Rotodyne........

The V-22 Osprey is actually noiser than the Rotodyne was.

[Librarian]

Why doesn't that surprise me.

I'd be interested in a debate on the practicalities of this machine in a serious, sustained conflict as I would suspect it would have the lifespan of a chocolate hammer. Helicopter losses in Vietnam, for eg, were pretty horrific when considering the limited war in which they flew. If hit they could autorotate and tolerate, with their crews, some pretty bonecrunching impacts. When I look at the V-22 I keep imagining events akin to when the Y-Wing gets its pod shot off and impacts (Gold Leader?) in Star Wars. I would think those big pods out on the wingtips are not going to do this machine any favours in a shooting war. Low flying could be tricky with those huge props, especially in foreasted regions etc etc. Of course this scenario could apply to all manner of aircraft but could the V-22 losses be replaced as quickly as basic helicopter losses? I take it from the size it supposed to be able to deliver larger loads to forward areas but wasn't that exactly what the extraction system on Hercules etc designed for? Getting large numbers of troops etc off small carriers/troopships but couldn't the helicopters already do this?

I'm just interested in knowing where the V-22 fits.

[Weaver]

The idea is that the V-22 can:

1. do everything a helicopter can do, and
2. fly further and faster than any helicopter.

How you define point 1. and therefore whether the V-22 can do it is an interesting an unresolved (as far as I can see) debate....

[kitnut617]

NOISE, WHAT NOISE?

The noise you can't hear any more because you went deaf standing close to a Rotodyne........

The V-22 Osprey is actually noiser than the Rotodyne was.

Erm! having watch one fly last March at close quarters, I would disagree with the noise factor, it wasn't that much louder than a standard helicopter that I've seen flying, a different noise - yes, but not any louder.  But on the other hand I've not seen a Rotodyne fly but taking notice of what Kit has had to say ---

The idea is that the V-22 can:

1. do everything a helicopter can do, and
2. fly further and faster than any helicopter.

How you define point 1. and therefore whether the V-22 can do it is an interesting an unresolved (as far as I can see) debate....

The display did everything a helicopter did until it came to the fast fly-by ----

[Librarian]

I have to admit that she does look impressive. I wonder if there are plans for civilian versions.

[kitnut617]

Don't know, but I have seen a video clip of one doing a rescue off a cliff face.

Another pic or two, it's quite a large aircraft too.

[NARSES2]

Love the 2 old guys in their yellow foldaway chairs  

I wonder what a version of the Osprey would look like with extended wings and normal props ? Something akin to a chunkier Tracker ?

[kerick]

I've heard V-22s have done well in Afganistan. The only problem I've heard about was the fact that their speed advantage gets lost when they have to slow down to keep from out running their Sea Cobra escorts. Various civilian versions of tilt rotor designs have been proposed but none seem to have caught on. Probably pretty expensive. What about an attack version to act as an escort and fire support?

[Weaver]

The civilian AW609 is nearly ready to rock'n'roll:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW609

Should be ready to start delivering in early 2015 on current plans.

There's been talk of an armed AW609 to act as an escort for V-22s.

[andrewj]

Those V-22 pics have given me an idea to use all those wind turbines that blight the countryside.


Andrew

[Captain Canada]

Certainly the V-22 would not be used in the same way as a Huey in Vietnam.....that's what they still have Blackhawks and Hueys for ! It does seem rather short-sighted to not have an ecort that can exploit the said advantages of a tilt-rotor.

Still waiting to see one myself !

[kitnut617]

It does seem rather short-sighted to not have an ecort that can exploit the said advantages of a tilt-rotor.

Isn't that why the Marines have F-35B's too  ---- 

[Librarian]

I'm starting to think that maybe it will be kept away from hot zones. As a Marines machine it will be useful to get larger, heavier equipment from ship to shore. My thoughts are really centred around those engine pods out at the extremeties. Damage or lose an engine on almost any military aircraft and the craft has some kind of chance to fly far enough to land. Damage or lose an engine on the V-22 and basic schoolboy physics will tell you the result. It certainly could have civilian potential, that AW609 looks really tasty, but the same problem arises over engine reliability etc.

[kitnut617]

I'm starting to think that maybe it will be kept away from hot zones. As a Marines machine it will be useful to get larger, heavier equipment from ship to shore. My thoughts are really centred around those engine pods out at the extremeties. Damage or lose an engine on almost any military aircraft and the craft has some kind of chance to fly far enough to land. Damage or lose an engine on the V-22 and basic schoolboy physics will tell you the result. It certainly could have civilian potential, that AW609 looks really tasty, but the same problem arises over engine reliability etc.

Erm! they have built in redundancy for all that Librarian, there's driveshafts which criss-cross between the two engines just in case one engine goes down.  One engine can turn both props/rotors.  While in normal power mode, these driveshafts power the APU from a gearbox in the center --

[NARSES2]

I knew nothing about that AW609 at all. Looks really nice. Thanks for the link Harold