V-22 Osprey Drivers

killbilly

killbilly

Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Any of you guys ever flown (or are flying one?) Any of you know anyone who is?

We've got lots of rotary and fixed-wing guys around here, but I'd be really interested to hear/read some stories from folks who fly these awesome powered-lift contraptions.

I see them every couple of days flying where the Anacostia and Potomac rivers meet and I am fascinated with the darn things.
 
ppragman said:
I would freaking love to fly one. I hope and pray it's the future of medevac.
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I already threw my hat in if it is. The AW609 should be certified next year.

The problem might be the 60' tip-to-tip width and 44' length as well as 16,800 lb max wt. @MikeD how do these numbers work with the average hospital pad?
 
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killbilly said:
t I'd be really interested to hear/read some stories from folks who fly these awesome powered-lift contraptions..
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I never flew or even worked on the osprey, but I knew several guys who did. The crew chief in the crash in AZ was my roommate for a few weeks before he was transferred to Pax River.

Basically it's a twin rotor helicopter that cruises with the turboprops in the high teens and low 20s. There is nothing special about how it flys in either mode. At low speed, it's no different than any other helo. At high speed it flies like any turboprop.

When I was in the Marines, the thing was a total hangar queen because it was so new but I'm told that it is actually now quite reliable.
 
USMCmech said:
I never flew or even worked on the osprey, but I knew several guys who did. The crew chief in the crash in AZ was my roommate for a few weeks before he was transferred to Pax River.

Basically it's a twin rotor helicopter that cruises with the turboprops in the high teens and low 20s. There is nothing special about how it flys in either mode. At low speed, it's no different than any other helo. At high speed it flies like any turboprop.

When I was in the Marines, the thing was a total hangar queen because it was so new but I'm told that it is actually now quite reliable.
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I had just entered the fleet as a boot crashcrew Marine in Yuma, AZ when that one went down. Some of the guys in our section were there at the crash site, there was nothing they could have done.
 
ppragman said:
I would freaking love to fly one. I hope and pray it's the future of medevac.
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I doubt it. I don't have any figures to go on, so this is pure conjecture, and maybe @MikeD can add some info here- but the profile that suits the Osprey well is long range/high altitude pickups/drops. In the States, since airports and hospitals are so common, I can't image it being more economical than a standard helicopter-to-waiting-airplane transfer.
 
NewYorkophile said:
I doubt it. I don't have any figures to go on, so this is pure conjecture, and maybe @MikeD can add some info here- but the profile that suits the Osprey well is long range/high altitude pickups/drops. In the States, since airports and hospitals are so common, I can't image it being more economical than a standard helicopter-to-waiting-airplane transfer.
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Even if only used for fixed wing, its cost to operate would be horrendous for EMS operators. Used as a rotary wing, it wouldn't be able to utilize a majority of hospital helipads here in the USA due to size, weight, or both considerations; part and parcel from the operational cost aspect.
 
Was told by a Marine pilot that you can now go straight to Osprey training without any FW or RW training or time first. That was interesting to me, because the FAA considers it "powered lift." Not a lot of civilian applications for that right now, are there?
 
killbilly said:
Was told by a Marine pilot that you can now go straight to Osprey training without any FW or RW training or time first. That was interesting to me, because the FAA considers it "powered lift." Not a lot of civilian applications for that right now, are there?
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That is indeed the Category it is. And to my knowledge, not much call for that. So a V-22 person from the USAF going to it straight from pilot training (still currently coming from the RW pipeline), will be eligible for FAA Commercial ASEL, Rotary Wing Helicopter, and Powered Lift.
 
My cousin is currently flying it for the AF, in which he previously flew the C-130. He said typically fixed wing guys had a easier transition than helicopter guys.
 
CFIscare said:
My cousin is currently flying it for the AF, in which he previously flew the C-130. He said typically fixed wing guys had a easier transition than helicopter guys.
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You oughta get him to join JC, talk a little bit about it.

One of the things I'm curious about...when the rotors are more vertical, is it flown with typical cyclic/collective controls and behaviors? What happens then when it's flying like a turboprop?
 
killbilly said:
One of the things I'm curious about...when the rotors are more vertical, is it flown with typical cyclic/collective controls and behaviors?
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Yes, when the Rotors are vertical, the pilot uses the controls just like any other helo. As they gain forward airspeed, the computer calls for more forward tilt and the pilot tilts the rotors with a thumb-wheel on the collective.

What happens then when it's flying like a turboprop?
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The only difference from a fixed wing is that the collective acts as a throttle, pull up to go faster, push down to go slower.
 
USMCmech said:
Yes, when the Rotors are vertical, the pilot uses the controls just like any other helo. As they gain forward airspeed, the computer calls for more forward tilt and the pilot tilts the rotors with a thumb-wheel on the collective.



The only difference from a fixed wing is that the collective acts as a throttle, pull up to go faster, push down to go slower.
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Ah, Interesting! I wondered if it was more like the Harrier where you had the thrust-vector lever....cool stuff.
 
fast89pony said:
Would be an interesting landing if the nacelles got stuck in the forward position.
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The rotors turn outboard so that if they have to make a landing with the rotors in full forward the shrapnel will be directed away from the cabin. It's an emergency, but should not be dangerous.

The osprey (and most other helicopters) at heavy weights will do a short takeoff roll rather than pulling into a hover. They can tilt the rotors about 30 degrees forward of vertical while on the ground.
 
USMCmech said:
The rotors turn outboard so that if they have to make a landing with the rotors in full forward the shrapnel will be directed away from the cabin. It's an emergency, but should not be dangerous.

The osprey (and most other helicopters) at heavy weights will do a short takeoff roll rather than pulling into a hover. They can tilt the rotors about 30 degrees forward of vertical while on the ground.
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For as long as it was in development and with as many growing pains as it had, it's been doing good in operational service. It has strengths and limitations just like any other airframe, but for the most part has been doing good.

Similar growing pains as the A model Harrier had. The F-35 may or may not have similar growing pains. Will be interesting to see in a few months when VMFA-121 goes operational at Yuma.
 
I've been toying with the idea of taking a few hours on a decent morning and walking down to the Douglass bridge...the V-22s have been flying low and slow over the river most mornings....you can hear this very distinct thrumming noise when they're near - they don't sound like ANYTHING else...and taking pictures.

I've gotten to where I can hear the differences in the US Park Police UH-1s, DHS/Coast Guard Dolphins, the A-Star (I think) that DC metro flies, and the big Sikorskys in the presidential fleet. There's a whole slew of Blackhawks, Kiowas and other types, too...but the V-22 sound is unique.
 
killbilly said:
I've been toying with the idea of taking a few hours on a decent morning and walking down to the Douglass bridge...the V-22s have been flying low and slow over the river most mornings....you can hear this very distinct thrumming noise when they're near - they don't sound like ANYTHING else...and taking pictures.

I've gotten to where I can hear the differences in the US Park Police UH-1s, DHS/Coast Guard Dolphins, the A-Star (I think) that DC metro flies, and the big Sikorskys in the presidential fleet. There's a whole slew of Blackhawks, Kiowas and other types, too...but the V-22 sound is unique.
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All the types you mention have a uniqueness to them of sorts, sound-wise. But like you say, the V-22 is very distinct. Much like how the UH-1 is. The Dolphin, with it's Fenestron tail rotor, too.
 
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