I’m surprised no one else caught this…or maybe they did and I’m dim…
On a cloudless summer day at Camp Mackall Airfield, the U.S. Army reached a new milestone in its airborne operations capabilities with the MV-22 Osprey aircraft July 22.
The operation marked the first official use of the Osprey by the Army for training purposes, said Marine Lt. Col. Baron A. Harrison, Marine liaison at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Until now, the Osprey had seen use by the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force, but not the Army. Because it is still a relatively new aircraft the Ospreys first flight was in spring of 1989 the Army had not shown a great deal of interest.
However, this appears to be changing, said Maj. Steven B. Weliver, airborne commander for the operation.
I know that AFSOC folks are tinkering with the Osprey out at Edwards, but I think it’s fairly significant that Army SOF got to take a ride in it … and jump out of it.
It’s interesting too because even the staunchest critics of the Osprey grudgingly accept the bird as tailor made for the SOF. It was, actually, designed in response to the failure at Desert One, so that makes perfect sense from an historical standpoint. But I guess I hadn’t thought about whether snake eaters had taken many rides in the things. Maybe this one will have been more influential than McCain’s or Obama’s Iraq joyrides…
The highlight of the Osprey, and the key to what makes it particularly interesting to USASOC, is its tilt-rotor engine. This dynamic engine enables the Osprey to transition mid-flight from operating very much like a helicopter to propelling through the sky as though it were a plane.
In addition to its ability to take off like a helicopter, the Ospreys top speed nearly doubles that of traditional rotary wing aircraft, such as the CH-47 Chinook.
It can get us farther, faster, so basically less exposure to any threats, Weliver said.
The clear benefit is in extracting troops from a limited and confined space, said Staff Sgt. Eduardo F. Collado, secretary of the general staff at USASOC.
But the Osprey was not always a proven method of travel. It was only recently that the evolution of the Osprey has earned the kind of credibility that catches the Armys interest, said Weliver.
The Osprey program has matured to a point where now we can start seeing what its capabilities are and how it will lend itself to the Special Operations community, he said.
Even so, until a proper number of Soldiers are familiar with safety protocol while aboard the Osprey, it will remain only a potentially useful tool. This jump was among the first substantive steps in incorporating the Osprey into future Army operations.
(Gouge: Shadowspear)
– Christian
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
“This jump was among the first substantive steps in incorporating the Osprey into future Army operations.”
Maybe those future operations will become daily operations for the Army.
When I see a Osprey go into the dusty and rocky environments the Caribou can I will say its ready. The amount of debris that those two huge rotors throw up will cause casualties to the personnel entering and leaving as well as damage to the airframe and rotors themselves. Oh and don’t forget brown out. I saw an excellent bit on the new minigun and sighting system for the Osprey in a Chinese defnce magazine – they are keeping an eye on it!
Ohh…now, the c-7 Caribou was a plane….
Odd to see the Army crawling back to a program they fled decades ago…But I doubt it’ll replace the Army’s traditional rotorcraft…
I can see the headlines now (dream sequence begins):
“Nightstalkers Welcome Osprey to Their Arsenal”
The 160th SOAR “Nightstalkers” took delivery of its first MV-22 SpecOps Osprey today. Painted in that signature menacing dark paint scheme and the new gun turret, the Osprey arrived at treetop level, moving at twice the speed of their other chariots of the night.
So lets see:
AH and MH-6 Little Birds
MH-60 K and L Blackhawk (if the Osprey doesn’t replace them, with exception of the MH-60 DAP)
MV-22
MH-47G
And any other birds we don’t know about, wink wink.
Quite a lethal combo for an already lethal unit…. if, of course, it ever comes to be.
“Because it is still a relatively new aircraft
Martin,
The aircraft is equipped with a system that diverts the brown out to the sides. The advanced avionics on board support the crew with their landings.There is footage of this on You Tube.
Have been building this aircraft since 1987.
Our teamates at Bell and my co-workers at Boeing are very proud of our product. This aircraft has been the most widely tested and scrutinzed program in aviation history. It has passed a
Blue Ribbon Panel that has looked at every aspect of the aircraft.
Just as the F-15 program had a bumpy start,the F-
15 became the aircraft to have in your fleet.
Igor Sykorsky had his share of nay-sayers in his time with the helicopter.Everyone who has ever been Medevaced or rescued by a rotorcraft can thank all the pioneers for their accomplishments and perservierence.
It is true we lost loved ones in the begining of the program. I pray their loss was not in vain.I
know they would have wanted the Osprey to one day be the pride of all U.S.A. (Made In America)
Good post Clem! I agree completely. I also hope the 160th adds the Osprey to its fleet. I leave for the Army WOFT program in a few weeks, and my goal is to be a Nightstalker. If they end up using the Osprey, I would be proud to fly it.