V-22 Osprey

© Photo: James Darcy, United States Navy
Osprey in action.

The V-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that marries the function of a helicopter with an airplane. A tiltrotor craft takes off like a helicopter and then switches to flying like an airplane while in flight. The tiltrotor craft is able to do this thanks to “fly by wire” technology.

According to the United States Navy Fact File, the Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft with a 38-foot rotor system and engine/transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip. It can operate as a helicopter when taking off and landing vertically. Once airborne, the nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees for horizontal flight, converting the V-22 to a high-speed, fuel-efficient turboprop airplane. The wing rotates for compact storage aboard ship. The first flight occurred in March 1989. The V-22 is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft. Planned purchases include 360 for the Marine Corps, 48 for the Navy and 50 for the Air Force.

The Osprey can carry 24 combat troops, up to 20,000 pounds internal cargo or 15,000 pounds external cargo, according to Boeing Defense, Space and Security. Boeing is responsible for building the fuselage, empennage, and all subsystems, digital avionics, and fly-by-wire control systems. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. is responsible for the wing, transmissions, rotor systes, engine installation and finally assembly at their assembly plant located in Amarillo, Texas, USA.

The Osprey was approved for full-rate production by United States Department of Defense in September 2005. A mult-year contract was approved in March 2008 for 167 aircraft. Later approval was given for building 174 aircraft, according to Boeing.

The 2010 production schedule calls for making 29 deliveries of the Osprey.

Variants

MV-22 is the Marine Corps version of the Osprey which promises serve as an expeditionary aircraft with assault capabilities. The Marine version of the Osprey is designed as an assault aircraft and for use in special operations.

The USMC currently has five Osprey combat squadrons. VMM-263, were sent to Iraq in October 2007. This was the maiden combat debut for the Osprey. The Marines also sent three squadrons to Iraqi Freedom and returned to the US in 2009. Several MV-22's made the first inaugural voyage with the 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2009.

The Osprey was sent to Afghanistan in November 2009.

HV-22A is the United States Navy version of the V­22. The USN version is designed to provide combat search and rescue, the delivery of special warfare teams and their removal from the theater, and fleet support.

CV-22A is the Air Force version of the V-22. The Air Force version will provide long-range special operation missions. The US Airforce Special Operations Command received the Osprey in 2006. The Osprey was sent to Mali, Africa to support Exercise Flintock in November 2008. Currently, the Osprey is support the US Air Force's special operations mission worldwide.

Flying An Osprey

The pilot uses a single set of controls to fly the Ospry and can during flight switch from helicopter to fixed wing mode with ease by using automatic controls to switch from helicopter to fixed wing mode.

The nacelle angle is controlled by the pilot using the nacelle control. The pilot can also adjust for angle, acceleration for forward or aft and control aircraft pitch. The nacelle control complements the longitudinal cyclic stick and includes automatic conversion corridor protection control.

During flight the nacelles will begin to rotate allowing the craft to swtich from helicopter mode to airplane mode. The process is called transition. During transition the piot can manually control the operation or opt for automatic transition using the flight control system. It takes approximately 16 seconds to complete the transition process. Note: A nacelle is a separate streamlined enclosure mounted on an aircraft to house an engine, cargo, or crew, or it is the part between the tower and rotor of a wind turbine. In the case of the Osprey, the nacelle is used to house or enclose the aircraft's engine.

Conversion is the opposite process. The Osprey will switch from aircraft mode to helicopter mode during the conversion process. Again, the nacelles are a key part of the conversion process.

Both the transition and conversion modes of flying can take place continuously, stopped as needed, or reversed. Airplane flight though needs to take place when the Osprey is flying between 40 to 80 knots and has a wide range of permissible air speeds (approximately 100 knots).

Characteristics

• Engines
  • Two Rolls-Royce Liberty AE1107C
  • AEO VTOL Normal Power, shp (kW) : 6,150 (4,586)
  • AEO VTOL Interim Power, shp (kW) : 6,830 (5,093)
  • OEI VTOL, shp (kW) : 6,830 (5,093)
• Transmission
  • AEO VTOL Max Cont., rhp (kW) : 4,570 (3,408)
  • AEO VTOL Takeoff, rhp (kW) : 5,183 (3,865)
• Proprotor System
  • Blades per hub : 3
  • Construction : Graphite/fiberglass
  • Tip speed, fps (mps) : 661.90 (201.75)
  • Diameter, ft (m) : 38.00 (11.58)
  • Blade area, ft2 (m2) : 261.52 (24.30)
  • Disc area, ft2 (m2) : 2,268.00 (210.70)
  • Blade folding : Automatic, powered
• Performance
  • Max Cruise speed (MCP), SL, kts (km/h) : 241-257 (446-476)
  • Max R/C, A/P Mode, SL, fpm (m/m) : 3,200 (975)
  • Service ceiling, ISA, ft (m) : 24,700 (7,529)
  • OEI Service ceiling, ISA, ft (m) : 10,300 (3,139)
  • HOGE ceiling, ISA, ft (m) : 5,400 (1,646)
• Mission radius with aft sponson tank
  • Land-Assault Troop Mission (24 Troops), nm (km) : 242 (448)
  • Pre-Assault Raid, nm (km) : 267 (495)
• Mission radius with wing tanks
  • Land-Assault Troop Mission (24 Troops), nm (km) : 233 (432)
  • Pre-Assault Raid, nm (km) : 306 (567)
• Accommodation
  • Cockpit - crew seats : 2 MV / 3 CV
  • Cabin - crew seat/troop seats/litters : 1/24/12
• Dimensions (External)
  • Length, fuselage, ft (m) : 57.3 (17.48)
  • Width, rotors turning, ft (m) : 84.6 (25.55)
  • Length, stowed, ft (m) : 63 (19.20)
  • Width, stowed, ft (m) : 18.4 (5.61)
  • Width, horizontal stabilizer, ft (m) : 18.4 (5.61)
  • Height, nacelles fully vertical, ft (m) : 22.1 (6.73)
  • Height, vertical stabilizer, ft (m) : 17.9 (5.46)
  • Height, stowed, ft (m) : 18.3 (5.56)
• Dimensions (Internal)
  • Length, max, ft (m) : 24.17 (7.37)
  • Width, max, ft (m) : 5.92 (1.80)
  • Height, max, ft (m) : 6.00 (1.83)
• Weights
  • Empty, lbs (kg) : 33,459 (15,177)
  • Takeoff, vertical, max, lbs (kg) : 52,600 (23,495)
  • Takeoff, short running, max, lbs (kg) : 57,000 (25,909)
  • Takeoff, self-deploy mission, lbs (kg) : 60,500 (27,443)
  • Cargo hook, single, lbs (kg) : 10,000 (4,536)
  • Cargo hook, dual, lbs (kg) : 15,000 (6,804)
• Fuel Capacity
  • MV-22 (including aft sponson tank), gallons (liters) : 1,448 (5,481)
  • CV-22 (including aft sponson tank), gallons (liters) : 2,040 (7,722)
• Fuel Capacity with wing tanks
  • MV-22 (including wing tanks, no aft sponson tank), gallons (liters) : 1,724 (6,526)