thedrifter
06-22-03, 07:42 AM
June 20, 2003
Confidence in Osprey grows
Associated Press
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — For years, leaders of the V-22 Osprey program have dealt with design flaws and criticism from some military officials.
But on Thursday, leaders of the long-troubled program showed new confidence in the tilt-rotor transport aircraft.
Marine Corps officials staged a flight demonstration, and boasted about safety and performance improvements — as well as an endorsement last month from the Pentagon’s top procurement official, who had criticized the $48 billion project.
“We just wanted people to see what we’re doing and how far we’ve come,” said Col. Dan Schultz, the Osprey project manager. “I don’t think the word has gotten out there.”
The Marines have counted on the aircraft — which takes off and lands like a helicopter and cruises like an airplane — to become their transport workhorse of the 21st century. The Ospreys would be faster, quieter and have a longer range than aging transport helicopters.
But the aircraft has been plagued by problems, from unreliable warning lights to catastrophic crashes that have killed 30 people.
Nineteen Marines were killed in an April 2000 crash in Arizona. That December, an Osprey crashed in a forest near Jacksonville, N.C., killing the four Marines aboard.
The aircraft was grounded after that crash, just days before the Navy was scheduled to decide whether to move the V-22 into full production. In addition, the commander of the Osprey unit in North Carolina ordered his unit to falsify maintenance records to make the V-22 look more reliable.
The Arizona crash was triggered by an aerodynamic situation called vortex ring state, which can occur when a rotorcraft descends too quickly while moving slowly forward, losing lift due to its own rotor turbulence.
The North Carolina crash was caused by a leak in the hydraulic lines, compounded by faulty flight control software.
Schultz said the program has improved in those areas. In the 543 hours of test flights since the Osprey returned to the air a year ago, there have been no hydraulic failures, he said.
Testing had led to guidelines for pilots to avoid vortex ring state and recover from it. In addition, audio and visual warning systems were added, Schultz said.
The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., reported in April that internal documents showed the aircraft hadn’t yet met some key performance tests, including flying 2,100 miles with one in-flight refueling and carrying a five-ton artillery piece 50 miles.
V-22 program officials said Thursday that they were on track to meet or exceed requirements.
Schultz said Thursday that the Osprey had flown 50 miles while carrying a concrete block weighing more than 11,000 pounds. But experts say a cannon would have more aerodynamic drag, forcing the V-22 to use more fuel.
Schultz said the aircraft had lifted an artillery piece, but only to hover with it. He also said that the version of the aircraft now flying couldn’t meet the 2,100-mile distance test, but said changes to the fuel tanks would extend its range to 2,300 miles with a single refueling.
A joint program of Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the aircraft has steadily increased in price. Each is estimated to cost more than $105 million. The Marines want to buy 360 Ospreys, and the Air Force and Navy plan to buy 98.
The program got a lift last month when the Pentagon’s acquisition board lauded its progress and opened the possibility of higher production levels, now limited to 11 aircraft annually. In a related memo, E.C. “Pete” Aldridge, then the Pentagon’s top acquisition officer, wrote that the testing had alleviated many of his concerns.
Schultz said the Osprey will go into service in December 2005 if the current testing timetable stands.
“It’s an extraordinarily easy aircraft to fly, to be truthful,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Gross of the Marine Corps, the chief government test pilot for the Osprey.
Hovering is particularly easy, he said, and he can take his hands off the controls, something he would never do in a Harrier or helicopter.
He said the fatal crashes represented the fact that testing aircraft can lead to hard lessons.
“Unfortunately, that’s the nature of aviation,” he said. “You have to find the root cause, fix it and continue on. That’s what we’re doing with the Osprey.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Confidence in Osprey grows
Associated Press
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — For years, leaders of the V-22 Osprey program have dealt with design flaws and criticism from some military officials.
But on Thursday, leaders of the long-troubled program showed new confidence in the tilt-rotor transport aircraft.
Marine Corps officials staged a flight demonstration, and boasted about safety and performance improvements — as well as an endorsement last month from the Pentagon’s top procurement official, who had criticized the $48 billion project.
“We just wanted people to see what we’re doing and how far we’ve come,” said Col. Dan Schultz, the Osprey project manager. “I don’t think the word has gotten out there.”
The Marines have counted on the aircraft — which takes off and lands like a helicopter and cruises like an airplane — to become their transport workhorse of the 21st century. The Ospreys would be faster, quieter and have a longer range than aging transport helicopters.
But the aircraft has been plagued by problems, from unreliable warning lights to catastrophic crashes that have killed 30 people.
Nineteen Marines were killed in an April 2000 crash in Arizona. That December, an Osprey crashed in a forest near Jacksonville, N.C., killing the four Marines aboard.
The aircraft was grounded after that crash, just days before the Navy was scheduled to decide whether to move the V-22 into full production. In addition, the commander of the Osprey unit in North Carolina ordered his unit to falsify maintenance records to make the V-22 look more reliable.
The Arizona crash was triggered by an aerodynamic situation called vortex ring state, which can occur when a rotorcraft descends too quickly while moving slowly forward, losing lift due to its own rotor turbulence.
The North Carolina crash was caused by a leak in the hydraulic lines, compounded by faulty flight control software.
Schultz said the program has improved in those areas. In the 543 hours of test flights since the Osprey returned to the air a year ago, there have been no hydraulic failures, he said.
Testing had led to guidelines for pilots to avoid vortex ring state and recover from it. In addition, audio and visual warning systems were added, Schultz said.
The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., reported in April that internal documents showed the aircraft hadn’t yet met some key performance tests, including flying 2,100 miles with one in-flight refueling and carrying a five-ton artillery piece 50 miles.
V-22 program officials said Thursday that they were on track to meet or exceed requirements.
Schultz said Thursday that the Osprey had flown 50 miles while carrying a concrete block weighing more than 11,000 pounds. But experts say a cannon would have more aerodynamic drag, forcing the V-22 to use more fuel.
Schultz said the aircraft had lifted an artillery piece, but only to hover with it. He also said that the version of the aircraft now flying couldn’t meet the 2,100-mile distance test, but said changes to the fuel tanks would extend its range to 2,300 miles with a single refueling.
A joint program of Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the aircraft has steadily increased in price. Each is estimated to cost more than $105 million. The Marines want to buy 360 Ospreys, and the Air Force and Navy plan to buy 98.
The program got a lift last month when the Pentagon’s acquisition board lauded its progress and opened the possibility of higher production levels, now limited to 11 aircraft annually. In a related memo, E.C. “Pete” Aldridge, then the Pentagon’s top acquisition officer, wrote that the testing had alleviated many of his concerns.
Schultz said the Osprey will go into service in December 2005 if the current testing timetable stands.
“It’s an extraordinarily easy aircraft to fly, to be truthful,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Gross of the Marine Corps, the chief government test pilot for the Osprey.
Hovering is particularly easy, he said, and he can take his hands off the controls, something he would never do in a Harrier or helicopter.
He said the fatal crashes represented the fact that testing aircraft can lead to hard lessons.
“Unfortunately, that’s the nature of aviation,” he said. “You have to find the root cause, fix it and continue on. That’s what we’re doing with the Osprey.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: