A CV-22 Osprey — the special operations version of the controversial MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor — crashed last night in southern Afghanistan. According to an International Security Assistance Force news release, the incident claimed the lives of three U.S. servicemembers and one civilian employee. Several other military personnel were injured.

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The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. The V-22 was developed and is manufactured jointly by Bell Helicopter, and Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. The joint development team is known as Bell Boeing.  The United States Marine Corps and Air Force operate the Osprey.

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An early V-22 Osprey prototype on display at the American Helicopter Museum.

Here photos from my recent visit.

Many have been criticle of the cost and safety record of the V-22.  Definitely some food for thought as budgets are examined moving forward.

The V-22 Osprey program is the largest scandal in the U.S. military.  Some 40 years ago, the Marines expressed a desire for an airplane that could land and take-off vertically like a helicopter. Several prototypes failed, including the latest model - the V-22 Osprey. However, a political caucus developed in the U.S. Congress to support funding. They joined forces with major contractors, Boeing and Bell, to keep the program going and hired retired Marine Generals to help hide flaws.

V-22 Scandal

I recently had a chance to visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

The Zoo is one of the best air museums in the midwest and well worth a visit.  The museum has expanded to include a nice collection of space related items in addition to its great collection of modern jets and World War 2 era aircraft.  Their web site does a poor job of communicating the size of their collection.

Photos from visit can be found here.

President Barack Obama has slammed high-flying executives traveling in cushy jets at a time of economic turmoil. But soon he will have to decide whether to proceed with some of the priciest aircraft in the world — a new fleet of 28 Marine One helicopters that will each cost more than the last Air Force One.

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http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1b/Travis/Travis.html

A great selection of abandoned aircraft and airfields

Web Urbanist