Safety fear over Marine plane

[Batgirl]

By Francis Harris
(Filed: 30/09/2005)

A revolutionary helicopter-plane hybrid designed to race US troops behind enemy lines has been approved for full production despite a chequered safety record.

The $20 billion (£12 billion) Osprey was given Pentagon backing despite two prototype crashes that killed 23 servicemen.

The US Marines have waged a relentless campaign to secure an order for more than 350, planned to replace its helicopters in the coming years. The Osprey has huge swivelling wingtip rotors which can align in aircraft - or helicopter-style, so allowing both horizontal and vertical flight.

One of the crashes was blamed on faulty software and hydraulic lines, the other to pilot error. The makers and the Pentagon say the safety problems have been fixed.

Telegraph

[Curt]

Hopefully they have gotten the bugs out

[Grimmy]

That thing has been "in development" since I was in lol.

[USMCRET6391]

It has been in developement since 1986.......I was almost assigned to the program at that time but got out of it to go on Embassy Duty in 1987........I think it is a good concept and I hope it works, but I still have my doubts........too many moving parts.

[Brad]

too many moving parts

Definition of helicopter: A collection of parts flying in loose formation

The Osprey retains that, unfortunately, but it is a good concept and I hope the problems have finally been resolved, too.

[Covertness]

My Dad got to fly one of the prototypes of this aircraft in the early 90s. Said it was an awesome bird, very easy to transition from vertical to horizontal flight. I know the SOF community can't wait to get their hands on this aircraft.