thedrifter
07-12-06, 09:46 AM
July 11, 2006
Osprey makes precautionary landing en route to U.K.
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
One of two MV-22 Ospreys bound for England during the tilt-rotor aircraft’s first trans-Atlantic flight made a precautionary landing in Iceland after experiencing compression stalls in its right engine, according to a July 11 Marine Corps news release.
Marine Corps aviation spokesman Lt. Col. Scott Fazekas said the Osprey landed safely at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, with the pilot, co-pilot and crew chief from Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 onboard.
“The engine did not stop, according to what I’m being told,” Fazekas said.
The engine trouble is not specific to the aircraft, which can fly like an airplane and hover like a helicopter, according to Fazekas.
“Any kind of aircraft with a turbo-fan engine could have had this happen,” he said.
The second Osprey continued its flight and landed in Farnborough, England, the same day, according to the release.
Fazekas said the problem engine will be sent to manufacturer Rolls-Royce for repairs. In the meantime, a replacement engine the Corps pre-staged in England is on its way to Iceland. Once it arrives, the Marines will switch it out and continue the flight, which started in New River, N.C. The Osprey will be featured at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England, on July 15 and 16.
Though the flights to and from Europe are a military operation with Marine crews, the Osprey’s appearance at the air show is a commercial venture. Both aircraft will be temporarily leased back to the manufacturer and piloted by civilians during the show, according to Bell Helicopter spokesman Bob Leder.
“It is my understanding that the aircraft lease takes effect once they arrive in the U.K.,” Leder said.
Fazekas said the trans-Atlantic flights are a “self-deployment exercise” intended as rehearsal for the Osprey’s planned operational debut next year.
Ellie
Osprey makes precautionary landing en route to U.K.
By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer
One of two MV-22 Ospreys bound for England during the tilt-rotor aircraft’s first trans-Atlantic flight made a precautionary landing in Iceland after experiencing compression stalls in its right engine, according to a July 11 Marine Corps news release.
Marine Corps aviation spokesman Lt. Col. Scott Fazekas said the Osprey landed safely at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, with the pilot, co-pilot and crew chief from Marine Tiltrotor Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 onboard.
“The engine did not stop, according to what I’m being told,” Fazekas said.
The engine trouble is not specific to the aircraft, which can fly like an airplane and hover like a helicopter, according to Fazekas.
“Any kind of aircraft with a turbo-fan engine could have had this happen,” he said.
The second Osprey continued its flight and landed in Farnborough, England, the same day, according to the release.
Fazekas said the problem engine will be sent to manufacturer Rolls-Royce for repairs. In the meantime, a replacement engine the Corps pre-staged in England is on its way to Iceland. Once it arrives, the Marines will switch it out and continue the flight, which started in New River, N.C. The Osprey will be featured at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, England, on July 15 and 16.
Though the flights to and from Europe are a military operation with Marine crews, the Osprey’s appearance at the air show is a commercial venture. Both aircraft will be temporarily leased back to the manufacturer and piloted by civilians during the show, according to Bell Helicopter spokesman Bob Leder.
“It is my understanding that the aircraft lease takes effect once they arrive in the U.K.,” Leder said.
Fazekas said the trans-Atlantic flights are a “self-deployment exercise” intended as rehearsal for the Osprey’s planned operational debut next year.
Ellie