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thedrifter
02-28-06, 05:31 AM
First operational Osprey unit stands up Friday at New River
February 28,2006
STAFF AND WIRE REPORT

staff and wire reportThe Marine Corps plans to send the MV-22 Osprey aircraft into combat zones and is activating the first squadron of the tilt-rotor aircraft at New River Air Station on Friday.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, which carries the Vietnam-era “Thunder Chickens” nickname, will become the Marines’ first operational MV-22 squadron. The unit has about 250 people and nine aircraft. It stood down as a CH-46 squadron in early June to begin Osprey training.

Although New River spokesman Master Sgt. Phil Mehringer couldn’t divulge exactly when the squadron would deploy, he said, “It’s certainly going to happen in the near future. Definitely within a year.”

The $71 million Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter and can fly like an airplane, had a troubled start.

Four Marines died in a 2000 crash near Jacksonville that was caused by a ruptured hydraulic line. Nineteen others were killed in a crash earlier that year in Arizona.

Yet the Osprey clawed back. Following an operational evaluation last summer, the Pentagon approved full production of the Osprey in a $19 billion program in September.

The Ospreys will replace the fleet of CH-46E twin-rotor helicopters. The new aircraft can carry more cargo and fly five times farther at speeds around 300 mph.

Built by Bell Textron and Boeing, the Osprey first flew in 1989.

Ellie