Ey, qué bien volver a leer algo sobre el Osprey... estoy bastante poco informado sobre él.
Yo tengo esta pequeña noticia de hace una semana (resumen de lo que ahn hecho con sus MV-22 durante estos tres meses.. al parecer funcionaron bien con una tasa media de disponibilidad de cerca del 70% :
The Marines of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 arrived at Al Asad to support air operations in the Al Anbar province on Oct. 4, 2007.
The 'Thunder Chickens' took over the entire range of combat medium lift assault support missions in support of Multi-National Forces '' West from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 to include battlefield circulation, raid and Aeroscout operations, helicopter/tiltrotor governance,Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel alert and casualty evacuation alert, flying everywhere within MNF-West throughout the battlefield from Baghdad to Al Qaim providing an operational capability over distance and time that has effectively collapsed the battlespace.
The squadron has completed more than 2,000 ASRs (misiones de recogida de personal) in the first 3 months of the deployment, keeping approximately 8,000 personnel off dangerous roadways and accruing approximately 2,000 flight hours.
They have accomplished every mission and met every schedule while maintaining an average mission capable availability rate of 68.1%. The New River based MV-22 squadron has experienced a higher operational tempo while deployed, with the squadron completing missions and accumulating flight hours at a sustained rate well in excess of anything they've done before.
Y esta otra, sobre un sistema que proporcine fuego defensivo alrededor de todo el V-22:
BAE Systems will develop an interim all-quadrant defensive weapon system for the CV-22 Osprey aircraft.
The contract awarded by the U.S. Special Operations Command, calls for rapid development, installation, testing, and qualification of a weapon capability that provides defensive fire protection to all quadrants of the aircraft.
The belly-mounted system is remotely operated and capable of delivering accurate, sustained fire throughout the CV-22's flight envelope.
The contract is valued at $491,000, with a potential value of $16.3 million, including options. "At BAE Systems, we pride ourselves on the work we do to protect those who protect us," said Clark Freise, vice president of defense avionics for BAE Systems in Johnson City, New York. "This system will provide vital protection to this aircraft, its operators, and the Special Operations personnel that it will carry.â€
Un saludo