The US Air Force took delivery earlier this week of its first combat-configured CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor from Bell/Boeing in a ceremony at the Bell Helicopter manufacturing facility in Amarillo, Texas.
The aircraft handed over was the first full USAF special operations Block B10 configuration and is due to enter active service in 2009. Earlier versions of the V-22 are still in use in the test programme.
Looks like some sort of funky insect in the AF paint job.
ConcordeBoy is a twin supremacist!! He supports quadicide!!
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 3264 times:
It looks really neat! One question though, am I getting fixed wing time or helo time?!?!
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
ZKNSJ From New Zealand, joined Jan 2006, 49 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3142 times:
could the fuselage, combined with a standard wing, prop or jet engine be used to replace the c-2 greyhound and the e-2 hawkeye?, it looks to be around the same size
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11714 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3079 times:
Quoting ZKNSJ (Reply 3): could the fuselage, combined with a standard wing, prop or jet engine be used to replace the c-2 greyhound and the e-2 hawkeye?, it looks to be around the same size
There is (or at least was) some thought the USMC version of the V-22A could be used to replace the C-2 Grayhounds. The V-22 actually carries a heavier load and is air refuelable.
No, it will not replace the E-2C Hawkeye. There is an upgrade program for the Hawkeyes in place, and Grumman has a new E-2D program they are trying to sell to the RN, and hoping the USN will buy some, too.
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3072 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 4): There is (or at least was) some thought the USMC version of the V-22A could be used to replace the C-2 Grayhounds. The V-22 actually carries a heavier load and is air refuelable.
Interesting. There is no way in h#ll that it could be any slower!
"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3057 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 4): There is an upgrade program for the Hawkeyes in place, and Grumman has a new E-2D program they are trying to sell to the RN, and hoping the USN will buy some, too
The Navy has already commited to the E-2D, deliveries start in 2011.
That's right the Navy plans to receive 75 E-2D's... The "Keel Start" Ceremony happened in April 2005 at Grumman's St. Augustine Facility, so the E-2 isn't going anywhere for a while.. Other major changes are enlarging the fuselage to accomodate a fourth crewmember, all new systems, and there are talks about adding in-flight refueling capability.. so that'll allow us more time to fly circles in the sky.. Yesss.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11714 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2638 times:
Quoting Eatmybologna (Reply 10): 1. How will it be possible to refuel in mid air? Won't the propeller blades be too close to the line and also create too much rotor wash?
2. What will happen if the propellers get stuck in horizontal mode? Won't the blades contact the runway?
1. The refueling probe will extend forward, just like it does on the HH-53 and HH-60s. This is probe and drogue refueling from a HC/MC/KC-130 from the USAF or USMC.
CTR From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2617 times:
Quoting Eatmybologna (Reply 10): 1. How will it be possible to refuel in mid air? Won't the propeller blades be too close to the line and also create too much rotor wash?
2. What will happen if the propellers get stuck in horizontal mode? Won't the blades contact the runway?
Adding a little more detail to Top Booms comments:
1. Inflight refuel in a V-22 has been shown to be much easier than in conventional helos. Not only are the air speeds of the tanker (C-130) and V-22 closer matched, but there is no down wash from the rotors trying to push the basket away from the probe. The V-22 probe can also be alot shorter, making it easier catch the basket in rough air.
2. The V-22 actuators used to rotate the pylons are probably the most reliable and redundant of any aircraft (or probably spacecraft). Each pylon actuator has two seperate gearboxes, two independent ball screws and three hydraulic motors. Even following a ball screw jam, gearbox jam and the loss of two motors the pylons can still convert to 45 degrees. Which is enough to clear the ground for a run on landing.
TopBoom, I noticed from your profile that you work at DFW. Did you know that the baby brother of the V-22, the BA609 is flying 15 minutes from you at Arlington Airport. My friends at Bell told me that the toped 24,000 feet in flight test last week.
RomeoKC10FE From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2496 times:
Quoting Eatmybologna (Reply 10): 2. What will happen if the propellers get stuck in horizontal mode? Won't the blades contact the runway?
If I remember correctly, I saw this on the Discovery Channel Wings in the early 90's, if the rotors get stuck in the forward flight mode, they will disintergrate on contact with ground. They called it "Broom Strawing" they actually showed the test, the blades will come apart and it looks like the end of an old broom sweeping the runway. They wont seperate from the aircraft, a rather novel idea, somebody was thinking that day.
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