THE OSPREY W.A.R. June 2, 2006

Col. Bill Taylor, USMC V-22 Joint Program Manager

OSPREY HEADLINES


VMX-22 conducts first Osprey over-water hoists and rooftop
fast ropes


Last week VMX-22 and NAVAIR testers conducted the first
over-water hoist operations from an Osprey, using a Block B
MV-22 to demonstrate the viability of this platform for
maritime search and rescue. Following the over-water
operations, the test team proved the utility of the Osprey
in urban environments, with a series of fast-rope and
hoisting evolutions to and from a rooftop in the Military
Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training town at Camp
Lejeune, N.C.



These efforts were part of the planned schedule for
follow-on integrated testing of the new capabilities
featured in the Block B aircraft. Other planned follow-on
testing will focus on integration of the Ramp Mounted Weapon
System, retractable fuel probe, ice protection system, and
mission auxillary tanks.



For the over-water operations, Air Force Special Operations
Command Pararescuemen (or “PJs”) and a Navy Search and
Rescue swimmer conducted typical water rescue operations as
the aircraft hovered at various altitudes, to evaluate
optimal tactics, techniques and procedures for the Osprey.
Rescuers commented on how the range and speed of the V-22
would cut the exposure time of a survivor in the water by
half or better, significantly increasing odds of survival.



The new personnel hoist, manufactured by B.F. Goodrich, is
delivered as a kit for the Block B aircraft. The high-speed
hoist can lift 600 pounds at an adjustable rate up to 340
feet per minute, and is mounted above the ramp to give
rescuers plenty of real estate to maneuver litters and other
equipment.



For the MOUT trials, PJs simulated a special operations
mission by fast roping to the roof of a three-story
building, then hoisting recovered personnel from the roof
with and without a litter. Trainers from the Marine Corps
Special Operations Training Group also observed the
operational testing, and plan to conduct similar exercises
in future.



Overall feedback on the aircraft as both a hoisting and
fast-roping platform has been extremely positive. Both
pilots and operators praised the stability of the Osprey,
with its ability in either coupled or uncoupled hover mode
to hold to a fixed point over the ground or a rooftop. This
is critical in urban operations, where small lateral
movements or altitude changes can mean the difference
between sliding to the roof or falling off the end of a rope
to the street below. One PJ commented that he would
willingly attempt some operations from the V-22 that he
would never consider safe from the other platforms he was
used to.

Cut and pasted from:

http://forums.military.com/eve/forum...591104612/p/93

all the way at the bottom. There's also a photo of them
fast roping.

Guy