V-22 Osprey Title-Rotor Aircraft

The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft, capable of vertical or short take off and landing, with forward flight like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The MV-22 is the Marine Corps top aviation priority. Marine Corps leaders believe that the Osprey will provide them an unprecedented capability to quickly and decisively project power from well over the horizon. The Air Force s CV-22 version will be used for special operations. Army officials have testified that the service has no requirement for the V-22, but he Navy has expressed interest in purchasing MV-22s for a variety of missions. The V-22 program has been under development for over 25 years. Safety and maintenance concerns have arisen during this period due in large part to three fatal accidents. The commander of the V-22 maintenance squadron admitted to falsifying maintenance records to make the aircraft appear more maintainable than it was, and three Marines were found guilty of misconduct. The program has maintained support from many in Congress despite these deficiencies. The program has undergone restructuring to accommodate congressional direction, budget constraints, and recommendations from outside experts, and DOD managers.