V-22 first flight

When was the V-22 Osprey first flgiht? March 19, 1989? Was it a
prototype?
Thanks
Mike

wrote:

When was the V-22 Osprey first flgiht? March 19, 1989? Was it a
prototype?
Thanks
Mike



http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/mil...v22/flash.html

Thanks for remembering that.

Just for comparison. F/A-18 Hornet: first flight in 1978, operational
since mid 1980s, modernized versions appearing in late 1980s/early
1990s, now entering service the next generations of this plane. Often
criticized as "too average plane", but on schedule, on costs, and
available for service.

V-22 Osprey: a great idea, but for years "permanently under
development", still eating money and taking lives, whereas CH-46 and
CH-53 to be replaced by it have to fly on the wings of prayers of
maintainers and aviators.

Is that really a good direction?;-)

Best regards,

Jacek

wrote:

Thanks for remembering that.

Just for comparison. F/A-18 Hornet: first flight in 1978, operational
since mid 1980s, modernized versions appearing in late 1980s/early
1990s, now entering service the next generations of this plane. Often
criticized as "too average plane", but on schedule, on costs, and
available for service.

V-22 Osprey: a great idea, but for years "permanently under
development", still eating money and taking lives, whereas CH-46 and
CH-53 to be replaced by it have to fly on the wings of prayers of
maintainers and aviators.

Is that really a good direction?;-)

Best regards,

Jacek



There have been planes in the past alot worse than the V-22. Both in
money & lives dept. Many said the same about the F4U or the AV8 Harrier.

ouch, I'm wounded. I work in the AV8B program now , and I just found out
today, that I'm going to transition over to the V22 program.

Tiger wrote:

wrote:

Thanks for remembering that.

Just for comparison. F/A-18 Hornet: first flight in 1978, operational
since mid 1980s, modernized versions appearing in late 1980s/early
1990s, now entering service the next generations of this plane. Often
criticized as "too average plane", but on schedule, on costs, and
available for service.

V-22 Osprey: a great idea, but for years "permanently under
development", still eating money and taking lives, whereas CH-46 and
CH-53 to be replaced by it have to fly on the wings of prayers of
maintainers and aviators.

Is that really a good direction?;-)

Best regards,

Jacek



There have been planes in the past alot worse than the V-22. Both in
money & lives dept. Many said the same about the F4U or the AV8 Harrier.

"Tiger" wrote in message
...
wrote:

Thanks for remembering that.

Just for comparison. F/A-18 Hornet: first flight in 1978, operational
since mid 1980s, modernized versions appearing in late 1980s/early
1990s, now entering service the next generations of this plane. Often
criticized as "too average plane", but on schedule, on costs, and
available for service.

V-22 Osprey: a great idea, but for years "permanently under
development", still eating money and taking lives, whereas CH-46 and
CH-53 to be replaced by it have to fly on the wings of prayers of
maintainers and aviators.

Is that really a good direction?;-)

Best regards,

Jacek


There have been planes in the past alot worse than the V-22. Both in money
& lives dept. Many said the same about the F4U or the AV8 Harrier.

Speaking of "bad" planes one of the things I found most shocking about the
accounts of first deployments of helicopters on carriers was the number of
pilots they "rescued" during training. I think the lost 20 planes in the
drink on a peace time cruise.

Re old choppers - In the late '80s I lived near MCAS Torrance and had
exMarine roommates. There was -LOTS- of gripping about helicopters older
than the pilots and people getting killed in crashes due to the age of the
choppers in this small group it was the main reason given for not
reenlisting.

To answer the original question: The first of six Full Scale
Development (FSD) Ospreys flew on 19 March, 1989. It was followed by
Ship 2 on 9 August 1989, Ship Four on 21 December, 1989, and Ship 3 on
6 May, 1990. Ship Five rolled on its back on its first flight at the
Boeing plant on 11 June, 1991 when miswired sensors generated false
commands in the fly-by-wire control system. Aircraft Four was lost
with five lives in a crash at Quantico, Virginia on 20 July, 1992.
Aircraft Six was outpaced by changes in the design and never completed.
The FSD aircraft accumulated around 1,100 flight test hours. They were
followed by Engineering and Manufacturing Development birds, and now
Low Rate Initial Production aircraft in different Blocks.