MV-22 Ospreys deployed to Iraq!

[tkobo]

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/01/post-4.html

U.S. Marines have begun using their tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey aircraft for the first time on a humanitarian mission in the scramble to bring relief to Haiti.

[tkobo]

Word is ospreys may soon be flying in pakistan as part of the relief aid.They were oddly enough originally turned down by the pak gov when offered earlier.So far the pak gov has gotten 15 helis and 4 c-130s for the effort from the US,but turned down even more.

But a small taskforce of three ships, carrying circa 10 ospreys has been sent to the pak coast, and will arrive in a little under a month.

The story at the moment goes, the pak gov turned down the opsreys becuase they didnt feel they had anyplace to let them work from.With that being why they are going by the ships they operate off of.

[tkobo]

2012 budget includes $3bil for 36 more ospreys.

[Sawedoff]

They have performed considerably well after the initial flaws have been worked out. Can replace two current platforms and serve even more roles. These things, and what will be developed further down the road using the technology, are great.

[Eldin]

I love the Osprey. I hope Norway will buy them to replace our Sea King fleet.

[tkobo]

Anyone who can get their hand on them should.They are just too superior to helis to pass up on.
Though recently i was watching some training films on the aircraft,and their downdraft is a lot stronger then most helis.So its not that they dont have a downside.Its just they are so much better in performance,that the little things like that dont count very much.

[Eldin]

I think the size could also speak in its disfavor. I imagine it might be difficult to land the Osprey on a ship or an oil rig. Have there been any studies as to how liable the Osprey is to use as a SAR for the coast guard?

[tkobo]

Its already operating from ships with flying colors.There are small "carriers" that are dedicated to carrying them now,and they are being strongly considered as replacements on the big carriers for the C-2,as the osprey can land directly on many ships and directly resupply them.

[Eldin]

Interesting.

[tkobo]

USS Wasp LHD-1.jpg

heres one by the way.

[Balthagor]

that's a nice pic.

[Eldin]

Nice pic. Do you have any photos where the Osprey lands on a smaller vessel? Like a civilian supply ship or a bulk carrier?

[tkobo]

Not off hand, i hand to go find that one.

I do know there are some pics of it landing on a san antonio class lpd 17,which is i think a smaller ship.I dont know where size wise the new japanese ddh destroyer (set for start of production this year)will fit in, but it was designed with carrying the opsrey and the f-35 in mind.

lpd17.jpg

theres an lpd-17 pic

[Eldin]

I was thinking that I could compare them to Norwegian vessels. The largest vessels we have are frigates.

[tkobo]

Well, this might help..... Preliminary testing showed some of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers could handle an osprey,but they felt it was only room wise good for one, and wanted a destroyer that could handle at least 2 ospreys ,so they didnt pursue it farther.