Military Officer - January 2007 - (Page 54)

Operations Command will operate the CV-22 variant during its long-range missions. The Navy’s HV-22 will be used for search-and-rescue operations and ﬂeet logistics support. For shipboard operations, the V-22’s combination propeller/rotors — known as proprotors — can fold inward for storage, and its wings can be rotated 90 degrees, parallel to the fuselage. How does ﬂying the V-22 compare with the CH-46? “Flying the aircraft is incredible — it’s like going from a Pinto to a Cadillac,” says Norris. “The 46 was a great aircraft too; it paid its dues and has done more than we could have ever asked. But it’s more than 40 years old.” Norris explains that the Osprey’s speed is just one factor that makes it more survivable in enemy airspace: “In a 46, we might be able to top out at 130 knots if we were pulling full power. In the V-22, we can go 250 knots at full power, ﬂying straight and level. Let me put it this way: If I was ﬂying over downtown Baghdad, I’d much rather be going 250 knots at 300 feet than 130 [knots].” He notes that the Osprey’s much greater range and higher service ceiling also contribute to its superiority. Multiple redundancy is another positive survivability factor, says Norris. “We’ve got four generators and three separate and totally independent hydraulic systems that can take over if one isn’t working,” he explains. “Two are located on the sides, and there’s one in the middle. You can take a round through a hydraulic pump and the other one will still operate the plane safely. We have three separate ﬂight control computers, two mission computers, and multiple avionics bays with all the stuff spread-loaded. There are generators in each wing and two in the mid-wing. So [the V-22] can really take a lot of abuse.” Light but strong The Osprey’s light semi-monocoque construction, which incorporates graphite-reinforced epoxy composite material into about 50 percent of the airframe, helps the aircraft absorb damage and enhances its speed. Composite aircraft construction once was considered quite complex, but the technique has gained traction quickly in the aviation community and today is even used in homebuilt aircraft. Working with composites is “not really difﬁcult, but it is a time-consuming process,” according to Cpl. Roger Phillip, USMC, who had never worked on anything more complicated than his car when he came to the squadron. “It consumes a lot of hours, because we have to make patches for any damage, get the hole routed out, and then apply the patches,” he says. “They take a long time to dry, and someone has to be there — anywhere from one to 12 hours — until it does. The patch can’t be allowed to heat up above or drop below a certain temperature.” Phillip and his fellow maintainers are responsible for keeping the V-22’s composite parts in good repair as well as overseeing the care and feeding of its hydraulic systems. An early concern was how well the V-22 would withstand the desert conditions, but that worry has been largely put to rest, says Cpl. Justin Baron, USMC, a V-22 crew chief: “We’ve done some operational tests out at Nellis AFB, Nevada, and the plane held up perfectly. It had next to no problems, and [required] very little maintenance. It seems to work even better in a dry climate. “We have a remote station in the back for situations where we’re doing external exercises and the pilot can’t see the back of the plane well enough.” says Baron. “I have a The Osprey is put to the test during practice firing countermeasures over Edwards AFB, Calif. Marines rope out during training exercises (far left). 54 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2007 PHOTOS: FROM LEFT, CPL. LANA D. WATERS, USMC; KEVIN KIDD/USAF

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Military Officer - January 2007 Contents From the Editor From the Chairman Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Osprey Rising? Battlefields of the Great War I Resolve ... New Mission Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Member Books Encore

Military Officer - January 2007

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