Why The CV-22 Osprey Was A Game Changer For Aerial Operations – SlashGear

To be clear, the development of the V-22 was every bit the goat rope the press at the time reported. First taking to the air in 1989, the V-22 would not enter full-scale service until 2007. The intervening time was taken up by relentless debate, constant repairs and redesigns, and too many tragedies. Tragically, 30 crewmembers died in testing accidents between 1991 and 2006, including seven in front of a gathered audience at Marine Base Quantico in 1992.

That accident grounded the aircraft for 11 months. It may also have saved it, and in doing so, saved the lives of American service members all over the world. Having received extensive redesigns, repairs, and updates, when the Osprey was finally ready, it proved to be one of the most flexible and versatile designs in military aviation. It serves the vital role of delivering cargo and personnel at long range, maximizing the tiltrotor design’s ability to land on a dime and operate with minimum fuel consumption. To date, the Air Force and Marine Corps both use the CV-22 variant to deliver cargo and deploy their special forces. The Navy is in the process of adopting its own variant, the CMV-22B, to serve as a cargo and transport craft between ships at sea.