"V-22 squadron achieves successin Iraq, USMC says"

V-22 squadron achieves successin Iraq, USMC says
Aerospace Daily
01/25/2008 , page 12

U.S. Marine Corps Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 - the service's first
V-22 Osprey squadron - has been successful in its air operations of Al
Anbar province since arriving in October, the service reports.

The Marines took some heat when they gambled on Osprey development as
an aviation linchpin, and some industry experts wondered if the
aircraft would be able to survive combat operations.

2,000 missions

The squadron has completed more than 2,000 missions in the first three
months of the deployment, keeping about 8,000 people off dangerous
roadways and tallying about 2,000 flight hours, the Marines report.
The tiltrotors have accomplished every mission and met every schedule,
according to the service.

VMM-263 - the "Thunder Chickens" - has flown five Aeroscout missions,
one raid, more than 1,400 combat sorties, and maintained an average
mission capable readiness rate of 68.1 percent during its deployment,
the service reported.

The squad took over the entire range of combat medium-lift assault
support missions in support of Multi-National Forces - West from
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 to include battlefield
circulation, raid and Aeroscout operations, helicopter/tiltrotor
governance, and tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel. The
Ospreys flew everywhere throughout the battlefield from Baghdad to Al
Qaim, providing an operational capability over distance and time that
has "effectively collapsed the battlespace," the Marines say.

'Much appreciated'

"Our area of operations is large and the aircraft's speed and range
has been much-appreciated by many of the folks the squadron has
supported," said Lt. Col. Paul Rock, VMM-263's commanding officer.
"The precision navigation and situational awareness systems in the
aircraft have enhanced our ability to perform desert landings in
brownout conditions."

During brownout, the MV-22's unique hover capability significantly
increases the safety of troops in the execution of combat missions,
enabling troops to deploy at precisely the desired coordinates, the
Marines said.

"The aircraft has performed better than expected," said Cpl. Daniel
Stratman, a VMM-263 crew chief. "We haven't had to replace any major
parts like prop boxes or anything; the main problem out here is
getting the parts for this aircraft. We can fix just about anything,
the only thing that slows us down is getting the parts."