Marine Corps Begins Final Tests On Osprey

[USMCRET6391]

Associated Press
March 29, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - The U.S. Marine Corps said final tests began Monday on the military's Osprey aircraft, a helicopter-airplane hybrid that has been plagued by deadly crashes and design problems.

The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft can land and take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. Commanders say the Osprey can haul more troops and equipment farther than existing helicopters. It was designed to replace the aging helicopters in the Marine Corps fleet.

The Osprey program has been threatened since 23 Marines died in a pair of crashes during testing in 2000. The manufactures made design changes following an investigation.

The Osprey was also grounded for a few weeks earlier this year because the coating on a part in the gearbox was wearing off faster than expected.

The Marine Corps Web-site says each Osprey costs approximately $40 million.

The Marine Corps' tests scheduled through the end of June will help determine whether the Osprey is ready for full production. The Marine Corps has ordered 360 Ospreys, the Navy 48 and the Air Force 50 for special operations.

Testing conditions will include high altitudes, extreme temperatures and desert conditions.

[Brad]

I really hope they have the bugs worked out this time.

[0311Marine]

If Sam Fisher (from splinter cell for fellow gamers) then it must be ok.

[jmwsf]

So, how long before it hits the fleet?

[jmwsf]

Hey, from what I hear by 2013 they should be heavy in the fleet and by 2023 they will be completely in the fleet. Just what I hear

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by jmwsf

Hey, from what I hear by 2013 they should be heavy in the fleet and by 2023 they will be completely in the fleet. Just what I hear

I know several people who have worked on this project..........they call it the widow maker and they arent talking about killing the enemy. This thing has been in development/testing for almost 20 years, I had an oportunity to get in on the ground floor of development in 1986 and passed it up to go on Embassy Duty, now they are talking about another 8 years before it hits the fleet in any numbers. Seems like a huge waste of time and money to me.

[Rusty24]

Once it passes intial tests, give it 2 or 3 years before the first active squadron is ready to deploy. Look at the new C-130J. It is a beefed up C-130E and it had to go through ALL new tests. They are saying that production will start in 08'

[Coota0]

Originally Posted by USMCRET6391

I know several people who have worked on this project..........they call it the widow maker and they arent talking about killing the enemy.

I'm not disagreeing with you, I just want to point out that the AV-8 was referred to a widowmaker when the Corps began testing it too.

[USMCRET6391]

Originally Posted by Coota0

I'm not disagreeing with you, I just want to point out that the AV-8 was referred to a widowmaker when the Corps began testing it too.

Most of the problems with the AV-8 were operator error; no fast mover drivers had ever flown a VTOL aircraft before.....when they started sending them to learn how to fly choppers first they had less and less problems, especially after they got a good base of qualified pilots in the fleet. The problems with the Osprey are inherent in the design of the tilt rotor system and the hydraulics it takes to operate the thing.

[Rusty24]

Of the two that crashed on Bragg, both had "mechanical failures". The one that took a hard landing at Pope ..... well lets just say that the Osprey should not be anywhere near a C-5 whan it is landing.

[Guy Gordon Young]

That is true,but the 22 has a lot more people in it.