The MV-22 Osprey flight demonstration is one of the most sought-after aerial demonstrations offered by the U.S. military. The demonstration is performed by the same aircraft and the Marines who train and deploy in support of real-world contingencies, including ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The MV-22 Osprey is one of the newest aircraft to join the Marine Corps inventory. The MV-22 flies twice as fast, carries three times the weight, and flies more than twice as high and six times farther than the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tilt-rotor 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 experienced by a turboprop aircraft.
The V-22 originated from the Department of Defense Joint-Service Vertical Takeoff/Landing Experimental (JVX) aircraft program started in 1981. The team of Bell Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the tilt-rotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly produced the aircraft. The V-22 first flew in 1989, and began flight-testing and design alterations; the complexity and difficulties of being the first tilt-rotor intended for military service in the world led to many years of development.
The Marine Corps began crew training for the Osprey in 2000, and fielded it in 2007; it is supplementing and will eventually replace their CH-46 Sea Knights. The Osprey ‘s other operator, the U.S. Air Force, fielded their version of the tilt-rotor in 2009. Since entering service with the Marine Corps and Air Force, the Osprey has been deployed in both combat and rescue operations over Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
Data from Norton, Boeing, Bell guide, Naval Air Systems Command, and USAF CV-22 fact sheet
General characteristics:
Crew:Â Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers/crew chiefs)
Capacity: 24 troops (seated), 32 troops (floor loaded), or
20,000Â lb (9,070Â kg) of internal cargo, or up to 15,000Â lb (6,800Â kg) of external cargo (dual hook)
1× Growler light internally transportable ground vehicle
Length:Â 57 ft 4 in (17.5 m)
Rotor diameter:Â 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
Wingspan:Â 45 ft 10 in (14 m)
Width with rotors:Â 84 ft 7 in (25.8 m)
Height:Â 22 ft 1 in/6.73 m; overall with nacelles vertical (17 ft 11 in/5.5 m; at top of tailfins)
Disc area: 2,268 ft² (212 m²)
Wing area: 301.4 ft² (28 m²)
Empty weight:Â 33,140 lb (15,032 kg)
Loaded weight:Â 47,500 lb (21,500 kg)
Max. takeoff weight:Â 60,500 lb (27,400 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each
