Table of Contents
Proven
V-22 is proving to be a useful addition to Afghanistan arsenal (NEW)
The V-22 Osprey’s range and speed, the twin talents of the aircraft most heavily promoted by the U.S. Marine Corps, are revealing themselves in Afghanistan, as readiness and reliability numbers begin to climb steadily throughout the fleet.
VMM-261 Inserts Troops Into Marjah (NEW)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Three MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, transported a raid force into an area of Marjah in support of Operation Moshtarak, Feb. 19.
A Quiet Triumph of American Resolve
As our markets fall and production lines slow, as our schools produce fewer scientists and engineers, and as our military struggles to maintain its capability after almost a decade of continuous combat deployment, it’s worth noting that American ingenuity and perseverance can still produce remarkable results.
VMM-266 Homecoming Marks End of MV-22 in OIF
Intense heat, whipping sandstorms and freezing winters couldn’t stop them. Back-to-back deployments and the multiple missions in which they performed proved that they were needed. They saw all the seasons that Iraq had to offer, and provided vital services proving that the MV-22 Osprey is a reliable asset for the Corps and aviation.
Ospreys in Iraq: The Commander's Perspective
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher ‘Mongo’ Seymour is the former commanding officer of the USMC’s VMM-266 ‘Fighting Griffins’, flying the MV-22 in the air support role. He has had an auspicious career that progressed alongside the later testing and development of the Osprey. He talked to Defence Helicopter during a visit to his office beside the flight line at Al Asad Air Base, Al Anbar province, Iraq in March 2009.
OIF Performance Bolsters Confidence in Osprey
After three successful combat deployments over more than 19 consecutive months, Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys will begin a global deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, a senior Marine aviation official said in May 2009.
Iraqi Special Forces get Osprey Support
The CV-22 Osprey, the world's first tilt-rotor aircraft, supported Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) during a recent early-morning mission in the Iraqi capital.
Doing Routine Tasks Well, 24/7
The US Marine Corps’ MV-22 Ospreys should now be considered regular aircraft of the line. The ending of VMM-266’s deployment out of Al Asad Air Base in Al Anbar province in western Iraq brings to an end the operational deployment of three tiltrotor squadrons who have flown for 18 consecutive months without mishap from this sprawling centre of aviation activity. The first to deploy was VMM-263 ‘Thunder Chickens’, immediately followed by VMM-162 ‘Golden Eagles’.
Versatile
Aviation assets provide capability, flexibility for 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Haiti (NEW)
FLocal Haitians look up to the sky while a thundering sound grows louder as a Marine helicopter appears over top a field of palm trees and thick vegetation, within no time the Marines are on the deck.
Osprey Belongs In The Combat Search And Rescue Mix
Few military missions are more dangerous than combat search and rescue (CSAR). Warfighters and noncombatants stranded in remote locations must be found and retrieved, often while enemies are doing their best to shoot down the rescuers. Sometimes those being rescued are badly wounded, and must receive life-saving first aid even before reaching hospitals.
Osprey Joins the Fight in Afghanistan
In another history-making moment for Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, the first MV-22B Ospreys entered the Task Force Leatherneck area of operations on Nov. 6, 2009, alighting in three waves at Camp Bastion Airfield.
Air Force Flies CV-22s to Africa and Back
For the first time ever, a detachment of V-22 Ospreys deployed from its home base in the United States, flying across the Atlantic Ocean to an exercise in northern Africa.
MV-22 Ospreys Conduct First-Ever Medical Evacuationn
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit made history by using two MV-22B Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, to conduct a ship-to-shore emergency medical evacuation of a Sailor from USS Bataan in June 2009. It was the first time the aircraft had been used to conduct such a mission from the sea.
Osprey Delivers for Honduran villagers
Accessing remote villages in the mountainous areas of Honduras poses problems for many nongovernmental agencies when they try to deliver life-saving supplies to villages along trails not accessible by conventional vehicles. Except, of course, when the CV-22 Osprey, and its unique capabilities, just so happen to be in the area already.
Transformational
Osprey Landing at Naval Hospital Provides New Life-saving Option (NEW)
The MV-22 Osprey, long touted by the Marines as an advanced, flexible, transformational and all-around "great piece of gear," didn’t do anything spectacular in a landing zone capability exercise at LZ 16 at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital here March 9. The tilt-rotor helicopter flew in relatively quietly, hovered, kicked up a little dust and then landed smoothly.
Transformers 22
There’s possibly no more specialized need for transportation than within the U.S. Department of Defense, and no more specialized aircraft than the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. The Defense Department relies on two versions of the same bird—the CV-22 in service with the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and the MV-22 in service with the Marine Corps—to perform two very different missions.
Spring MEU deployment marks new era for MV-22
In May 2009, 10 MV-22 Ospreys embarked with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Bataan, marking the first ship-based deployment of the aircraft.
Greyhawks trade old wings for new
On Nov. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 will transition into a Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron, VMM-161, by January 2010 aboard the air station. 6, 2009, The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit flew 10 MV-22B Ospreys from multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Osprey is half plane, half helicopter, & talk of fleet week
It's a bird, it's a plane...it's an Osprey!
22nd MEU supports OEF with Osprey transfer
On Nov. 6, 2009, The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit flew 10 MV-22B Ospreys from multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
CV-22s return from first deployment with 8th SOS Homecoming
The 8th Special Operations Squadron took a human owner’s manual with them on their first operational deployment with the CV-22 Osprey. Boeing contractor Julius Banks preferred to call himself the “Maytag repairman” for an aircraft that gave him very little to do.
Evolving
‘Grey Hawks’ maintainers gain skill during transition (NEW)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — The MV-22 “Osprey’s” computerized avionics system is more advanced than that of its predecessor, the CH-46E “Sea Knight,” and the mechanics at Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron161 are finding it easier to maintain.
Amarillo Completes Construction of V-22 Building Expansion
On July 1, Bell Helicopter took possession of a 176,072-square-foot expansion of the main assembly building at its Military Aircraft Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, Texas.
Osprey Trainer Delivered to Marines Faster and Cheaper Than Plan
The first MV-22 Containerized Flight Training Device was delivered to the U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif., in October 2009. The production team, led by Bell-Boeing, delivered the device to the customer with a 20 percent reduction in cycle time and the lowest cost to date for a V-22 flight simulator.
Bell Boeing to Upgrade CV-22 Trainer with Virtual Reality Enhancements
In September 2009, Bell Boeing received a contract from NAVAIR to upgrade the CV-22 Cabin Part Task Trainer (CPTT) with modifications including an Aircrew Flight Simulation (AFS) that deploys a fused reality system that fuses video images with virtual reality.
Maintainers in the Boonies
When warnings came up on the console of a VMM-266 MV-22 that had just completed the outward leg of a mission to Camp Korean Village in the far west of Al-Anbar province, the pilots knew they were not going to be returning to base that day or – for all they knew at the time – the next few days.
Bell Boeing Team Awarded Joint Performance Based Logistics Contract for V-22 Osprey Support
Accessing remote villages in the mountainous areas of Honduras poses problems for many nongovernmental agencies when they try to deliver life-saving supplies to villages along trails not accessible by conventional vehicles. Except, of course, when the CV-22 Osprey, and its unique capabilities, just so happen to be in the area already.
Coming Soon: Increased Osprey Fire-Power
As MV-22 and CV-22 Osprey deployments increase in frequency, variety and risk-profile over the coming months, expect the aircraft to soon feature increased fire-power.