V-22 Osprey
| V-22 Osprey | ||
|---|---|---|
  | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Multi-role aircraft | |
| Crew | 3 (2 pilots, crewman) + 24 troops | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 56 ft 10 in | 17.33 m |
| Wingspan | ||
| Height | 17 ft 4 in | 5.28 m |
| Wing area | ||
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 31,772 lb | 14,411 kg |
| Loaded | ||
| Maximum take-off | 47,500 lb (VTOL) 55,000 lb (STOL) | 21,546 kg 24,947 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 Rolls-Royce AE 1007 turboprop | |
| Power | 6,150 shp each | 4.6 MW each |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 363 mph | 584 km/h |
| Combat range | 1,249 mi | 2,011 km |
| Ferry range | 2,417 mi | 3,889 km |
| Service ceiling | 30,000 ft | 9,144 m |
| Rate of climb | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | ||
| Bombs | ||
The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multi-mission aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. It performs VTOL missions as effectively as a conventional helicopter while also having the long-range cruise abilities of a twin turboprop aircraft.
The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft with a 38 ft (12 m) rotor, engine, and transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip. It can operate as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. Once airborne, the nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees for horizontal flight, converting the V-22 to a high-speed, fuel-efficient turboprop airplane. The wing rotates for compact storage aboard ship.
The United States Marine Corps is the lead service in the development of the Osprey. The Marine Corps version, the MV-22A, will be an assault transport for troops, equipment and supplies, and will be capable of operating from ships or from expeditionary airfields ashore. The US Navy's HV-22A will provide combat search and rescue, delivery and retrieval of special warfare teams along with fleet logistic support transport. The CV-22A operated by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) will conduct long-range special operations missions. The V-22 Osprey will replace the Marine Corps CH-46E and CH-53D as well as several types of the Special Operations Command H-53, H-47, H-60, and C-130 series aircraft.
The first flight occurred in March 1989. Since then however there have been three significant failures during testing - a crash in 1991, another in 1992 that killed seven and a third in April 2000 that killed nineteen. The problem with the Osprey style tiltrotors is that if, in a vertical configuration, one engine fails, the aircraft can suddenly be dangerously out of control (although an axle and transmission system between the engine nacelles is designed to prevent this happening). The V-22 is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft. Planned purchases include 360 for the Marine Corps, 48 for the Navy and 50 for the Air Force.
General Characteristics
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