Shaffer
01-22-03, 08:07 AM
Gen. Michael W. Hagee, who assumed the duties of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Jan. 13, has taken the first VIP flight in the V-22 Osprey since the aircraft's return to flight in late May of last year.
Osprey No. 21 was used for the 20-minute sortie, which originated at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., home of NAVAIR and headquarters for the V-22 Integrated Test Team.
"What a blast," Hagee said after the flight. "The acceleration when we converted from vertical to horizontal flight was unbelievable."
Hagee also received a program overview from Col. Dan Schultz, and offered words of encouragement and praise to a gathering of engineers and technicians from the Osprey's ITT.
"I want to congratulate the test team on all that's been accomplished in recent months," the general said. "The Marine Corps is depending on you to keep the press on in the future."
Hagee was joined on the flight by Tom Laux, NAVAIR's Program Executive Officer for Air, Assault, ASW, and Special Mission Programs.
"We're proud to show the incoming commandant a first-class operation," said Laux. "It's important that General Hagee see firsthand the great work that's going on here."
Over the next few weeks, the Osprey team will continue High Rate of Descent Phase I testing on Aircraft No. 8, take Aircraft No. 10 to the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) for initial shipboard suitability testing, and accept delivery of Aircraft No. 22 from the Bell-Boeing plant in Amarillo.
Osprey No. 21 was used for the 20-minute sortie, which originated at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., home of NAVAIR and headquarters for the V-22 Integrated Test Team.
"What a blast," Hagee said after the flight. "The acceleration when we converted from vertical to horizontal flight was unbelievable."
Hagee also received a program overview from Col. Dan Schultz, and offered words of encouragement and praise to a gathering of engineers and technicians from the Osprey's ITT.
"I want to congratulate the test team on all that's been accomplished in recent months," the general said. "The Marine Corps is depending on you to keep the press on in the future."
Hagee was joined on the flight by Tom Laux, NAVAIR's Program Executive Officer for Air, Assault, ASW, and Special Mission Programs.
"We're proud to show the incoming commandant a first-class operation," said Laux. "It's important that General Hagee see firsthand the great work that's going on here."
Over the next few weeks, the Osprey team will continue High Rate of Descent Phase I testing on Aircraft No. 8, take Aircraft No. 10 to the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) for initial shipboard suitability testing, and accept delivery of Aircraft No. 22 from the Bell-Boeing plant in Amarillo.