AEROFAX: BELL/BOEING V-22 OSPREY

This joint Bell and Boeing project was established in 1982 in response to the Joint Services Advanced Vertical Lift Program covering a wide performance envelope and multiple tasks. The answer came in the form of the V-22 tilt-rotor, a concept tested earlier by Bell with their 1977 XV-15. The transport aircraft style fuselage of the V-22, able to carry 24 troops, is topped by a wing with a complex flap/aileron system and two swivelling pods housing Rolls-Royce turbo shaft engines, each driving enormous three-bladed propellers. The intention was that the US Air Force would receive the CV-22B for special missions work, the US Marine Corps the MV-22B assault transports, and the US Navy the HV-22B CSAR/fleet logistics version. However, the technologically challenging programme was set back by fatal accidents and an eighteen month grounding while flight safety issues were addressed. However, it is set to recommence a restricted development programme with the intention of gaining initial operating capability by 2005 making this comprehensive new book a timely in-depth coverage of the aircraft. With 186 colour and 54 black and white photographs, plus line drawings.