V-22: Premature Deployment?
The AP (via DefenseTech) is reporting that the V-22 Osprey will deploying to “combat zones” within a year, but POGO is concerned that this may a clever, but misleading ploy to tout the aircraft or is just plain stupid. It could be both. Recently, the Pentagon’s Operational Test and Evaluation office only approved the Osprey for a medium threat environment (pdf), though POGO has heard that the bird is really only suitable for a low threat environment at this point.
The V-22 is prone to entering an asymmetric lift situation called the Vortex Ring State (VRS) that leads to the aircraft rolling. VRS killed a four-man aircrew and 15 Marines being transported aboard the aircraft in April 2000. Unlike most helicopters, the V-22 cannot land safely in helicopter mode without power, a procedure known as autorotation. Nor does the Osprey have a defensive gun at this time. And there has been only limited testing of the Osprey in brown-out conditions—swirling dirt, dust and debris caused by the aircrafts two large props—a problem particularly acute in the sands of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and a lot of the places the US has fought or is likely to fight. (POGO outlined most of its concerns here.)
All of these problems equal potential catastrophe if indeed the Osprey encounters any serious opposition from ground fire. However, it remains to be seen if the V-22 will truly face the kinds of threats its supporters say it will provide great advantages against. If it does, it might be facing them prematurely to our soldiers’ peril.
Concur with the previous poster, talk to the experts; pilots and aircrew.
Your statements about VRS problems in the Osprey cause POGO to lose all credibility. If you want to talk about helicopter aerodynamics, get an expert next time. Don't let your "reporters" rely on some fixed wing donut-eater who happens to have some free time on his hands....
Posted on: Mar 28, 2006 at 03:42 PM
I forgot to add below. The flight test were cut short when a part fell off and hit somebody.
Posted on: Mar 16, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Has anyone ever seen a V-22 land on the deck of an LHD. I have, and it's down right frightening. The wing span, plus prop radius leaves little room for error. Another problem with the V-22 is that when sitting on deck the props are skyward, and the exahust blows straight down bellow. I don't know the exact temperature of turbopropr exhaust, but it was enough to cause peeling paint and buckling of the flight deck, right above offices and workshops.
This craft is a disaster waiting to happen, again, and a waste of money.
Posted on: Mar 16, 2006 at 10:55 PM
Ask any reputable engineer, the V-22 is always destine to crash. You are either for the troops or you're for the contractors.
Posted on: Mar 05, 2006 at 08:31 PM
If Family Dysfunctionality is Heredatery,, if Dysfunction is Inherented, Then , We are in alot of trouble.
If a family member Kills another family member, lets say, a brother kills a brother, wouldn,t that qualify as a Dysfunctional Family? and if that trait is hereditary, Then we ALL Inherented it from Adam and Eve, Right?
Pass the word, we are in t.r.o.u.b.l.e.
We got ourselves into this mess, are we functional enough to get out of the mess?
Posted on: Mar 02, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Created: Wednesday, March 01, 2006, at 21:08:39 EDT
Do you think the U.S. should provide nuclear expertise and fuel to India?
Yes 55% 7224 votes
No 45% 5795 votes
Total: 13019 votes
Posted on: Mar 02, 2006 at 10:58 PM
Why don't you blog on the lack of security at nuclear power plants. I just read POGO's letter to the NRC and was surprised you didn't post any information here about it.
Posted on: Mar 02, 2006 at 10:27 PM
G-Man
You need to find a G-Spot. Sure let's just put some grunts in harms way. No big deal to you. I like how POGO cited sources and documents. While you just ranted.
G-Wiz
Posted on: Mar 02, 2006 at 09:09 PM
Once again POGO got it wrong! POGO should be professionally embarrassed at the lack of truthfulness in this article. I guess an organization like POGO would not be embarrassed since you would first have to have integrity. To clarify another point which you chose to overlook so you can sensationalize your article, the Marine Corps plan to be ready to deploy was always associated with the Initial Operational Capability of the V-22..... which is scheduled for March of 2007. Guess what geniuses...that would be a year from now.
Posted on: Mar 01, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Wow. Some bitter feelings here. At this stage, the best thing to do is put it into combat. If the Marines who will be flying the thing feel confident in it, let them test it against the harshest possible conditions before we commit to buying large numbers at $70 million a pop. Better we do it now than wait another few years.
Posted on: Mar 01, 2006 at 10:34 AM
After wiping all of that egg off of your faces with your misreporting of the icing incident with CV06, one would think that you had learned your lesson. However, this latest "report" is replete with mistakes and omissions, thus confirming that you haven't.
"approved the Osprey for a medium threat environment"
What threat environments are the CH-46E and CH-53D approved for?
"The V-22 is prone to entering an asymmetric lift situation called the Vortex Ring State (VRS) that leads to the aircraft rolling. VRS killed a four-man aircrew and 15 Marines being transported aboard the aircraft in April 2000."
Pilot error, allowing his aircraft to enter VRS and failing to recover, is what killed those 19 Marines. As confirmed in extensive HROD testing, the aircraft has a much higher rate of descent/forward air speed operating envelope than the traditional 800/40 rule of all rotary winged platforms in service. Recovery from VRS is accomplished easier and quicker in a V-22 than in a helicopter. The V-22 is no more susceptible to entering VRS than any rotary winged platform in the fleet.
"Unlike most helicopters"
The V-22 isn't a helicopter.
"Nor does the Osprey have a defensive gun at this time."
What work on arming the aircraft is currently underway?
"And there has been only limited testing of the Osprey in brown-out conditions"
Quite a bit of brownout testing has occurred. Enough so that it is common knowledge that nacelle tilt of 95 degrees during landing greatly reduces the brownout effect. Landing visibility in brownout conditions is reported to be equal to if not superior to that of the Sea Knight and Sea Stallion.
"All of these problems equal potential catastrophe if indeed the Osprey encounters any serious opposition from ground fire."
How convenient of you to omit the substantial reductions in IR, RCS and acoustic signatures of the V-22 compared to the legacy platforms it will be replacing. The fact that you also failed to mention the greater ballistic integrity is telling as well. I suppose you consider the ability of the aircraft to rapidly accelerate out of and decelerate into LZs, thus reducing exposure time of aircraft, crew and passengers to hostile fire, to be insignificant too.
I suggest in the future, if you're really concerned with honesty and integrity in your self-appointed oversight role, that you actually speak with the pilots and aircrews at New River, PAX River and Edwards who are flying and maintaining the aircraft before you continue to embarrass yourselves.
These anonymous "sources" that you continue to rely on wouldn't happen to include one Carlton Meyer, would they?
Posted on: Feb 28, 2006 at 06:14 PM