Comments on: “Acid Test” for the Osprey in Afghanistan http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/ Military.com's News and National Policy Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:06:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MasterGunnerhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1222 MasterGunner Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:02:05 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1222 The Marine Corps MV-22 has a cruising speed of 275 mph. The top speed of the USMC's UH-1W/Z Sea Cobra is 190 mph. The AV-8B Harrier is way too fast to escort the Osprey and it is a total waste of assets. The only solution for escorting and covering Ospreys going into potentially hot LZ's is ARMED Ospreys. The MV-22 is a sitting duck if it is sent into combat without some kind of weapons to defend itself. The Remote Guardian System by BAe is not going to deploy anytime soon. The M240D ramp gun on the Osprey is a joke. The 7.62 NATO machine guns in use or proposed is only 1,100 yards effective range. Ditch the M240D ramp gun for the .50 GAU-21/A used by the CH-53D/E Marine Corps helos. Slap some stores racks on the belly or sides of the Osprey and mount a couple of .50 gun pods on them. Rig a fire button on the pilots' side stick control. Install a reflecting gunsight on the instrument panel in front of the pilot. Now you have an adequately armed Osprey that can defend itself. The .50 machine guns is 2,000 to 2,200 yards effective range. Case closed. The Marine Corps MV-22 has a cruising speed of 275 mph. The top speed of the USMC’s UH-1W/Z Sea Cobra is 190 mph. The AV-8B Harrier is way too fast to escort the Osprey and it is a total waste of assets. The only solution for escorting and covering Ospreys going into potentially hot LZ’s is ARMED Ospreys.

The MV-22 is a sitting duck if it is sent into combat without some kind of weapons to defend itself. The Remote Guardian System by BAe is not going to deploy anytime soon. The M240D ramp gun on the Osprey is a joke. The 7.62 NATO machine guns in use or proposed is only 1,100 yards effective range.

Ditch the M240D ramp gun for the .50 GAU-21/A used by the CH-53D/E Marine Corps helos. Slap some stores racks on the belly or sides of the Osprey and mount a couple of .50 gun pods on them. Rig a fire button on the pilots’ side stick control. Install a reflecting gunsight on the instrument panel in front of the pilot. Now you have an adequately armed Osprey that can defend itself. The .50 machine guns is 2,000 to 2,200 yards effective range.

Case closed.

]]> By: Jawaralal Bernsteinhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1391 Jawaralal Bernstein Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:44:01 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1391 u say the plane "proved its worth in Iraq" but say that it was [purposely] kept in friendly skies. and why is Afg. an "acid test" when only an idiot bent on killing even more Marines than this plane has already done it would put it stretch the envelope of its known flying limitations. So it will be babied along again. Its big waste and the felonious behavior of those approving its development cannot be hidden. u say the plane “proved its worth in Iraq” but say that it was [purposely] kept in friendly skies. and why is Afg. an “acid test” when only an idiot bent on killing even more Marines than this plane has already done it would put it stretch the envelope of its known flying limitations. So it will be babied along again. Its big waste and the felonious behavior of those approving its development cannot be hidden.

]]> By: CharlesHoustonhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1091 CharlesHouston Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:37:59 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1091 Can the Osprey land on unprepared fields? A problem with the fact that the engines rotate with the props is that the exhaust is blasted straight into the ground beneath. I think the Osprey has an exhaust deflector but how effective is it? Helicopters stir up a lot of dust but their prop wash is far less concentrated than an Osprey's. LtCol USAF Ret Can the Osprey land on unprepared fields? A problem with the fact that the engines rotate with the props is that the exhaust is blasted straight into the ground beneath. I think the Osprey has an exhaust deflector but how effective is it? Helicopters stir up a lot of dust but their prop wash is far less concentrated than an Osprey’s.
LtCol USAF Ret

]]> By: ronnie pondhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1084 ronnie pond Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:07:03 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1084 I think that the Osprey is a Fantastic Aircraft. Half Helicopter half Fixed wing Aircraft. You could not ask for any thing better. Except maybe ( Star Trek . and The Beam me up Scotty) type of transport. If it could Only be done???.But Look at the B25 Mitchell And the B26 Marauder Of ww2 . The B25 had a bad start and was very unstable at high altitudes. And the B26 was called the willow maker because most crews died Because of the high speed landings The culprit was the Type of wings that was designed for it. and if you lost a engine it dropped like a rock. Because of the short wings. Until the Surviving crews learned to react to it . And the adoption of the longer wings out board of the engines!!!. So I say the V-22 is the best the Military can Buy. I only wish the Army had them. But then the Air force would scream that the army is transported by the Air Force. other wise the Air Force is the Army s Taxi Cab Drivers. HaHa I think that the Osprey is a Fantastic Aircraft. Half Helicopter half Fixed wing Aircraft. You could not ask for any thing better. Except maybe ( Star Trek . and The Beam me up Scotty) type of transport. If it could Only be done???.But Look at the B25 Mitchell And the B26 Marauder Of ww2 . The B25 had a bad start and was very unstable at high altitudes. And the B26 was called the willow maker because most crews died Because of the high speed landings The culprit was the Type of wings that was designed for it. and if you lost a engine it dropped like a rock. Because of the short wings. Until the Surviving crews learned to react to it . And the adoption of the longer wings out board of the engines!!!. So I say the V-22 is the best the Military can Buy. I only wish the Army had them. But then the Air force would scream that the army is transported by the Air Force. other wise the Air Force is the Army s Taxi Cab Drivers. HaHa

]]> By: Joehttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1083 Joe Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:50:18 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1083 What better test for a war machine is there than combat Barry? I think it is going to prove it's worth in Afghanistan, only thing is it sure is vulnerable in heli mode...I bet we lose @ least one, sure hope not though. What better test for a war machine is there than combat Barry? I think it is going to prove it’s worth in Afghanistan, only thing is it sure is vulnerable in heli mode…I bet we lose @ least one, sure hope not though.

]]> By: Lem G*http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1082 Lem G* Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:36:42 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1082 The Osprey maintenance crews will be the ones to prove whether this bird can make a serious impact in AfPak. The flight crews will be filing after mission reports and have detailed assessments of the bird's capabilities, limitations and areas that need special attention. Until a year's worth of sorties have been accomplished through the severe altitude, mountainous wind sheers, blizzards, limited visibility in snow & rain, summer heat and dust AND the rigors of daily combat missions, it would be best to hold off on any judgment calls. The Osprey maintenance crews will be the ones to prove whether this bird can make a serious impact in AfPak.
The flight crews will be filing after mission reports and have detailed assessments of the bird’s capabilities, limitations and areas that need special attention. Until a year’s worth of sorties have been accomplished through
the severe altitude, mountainous wind sheers, blizzards, limited visibility in snow & rain, summer heat and dust
AND the rigors of daily combat missions, it would be best to hold off on any judgment calls.

]]> By: Leo Srhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1080 Leo Sr Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:22:58 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1080 The HIND problems were not related to altitude, but the tactics of the mujahideen. They would attack in small groups, hiding behind rocks. The HIND was forced to get down in the "weeds" to use their rockets/machine gun fire effectively. Their engine exhaust was vented directly out the sides, making them an easy target for the Stingers. The HINDs had to back off and stay high to avoid the Stingers. This made them ineffective in protecting the Soviet convoys and outposts. As for the Osprey, Congressional support many times has thwarted Presidential directives (ie: C-130H, B-1, F136 engine). Presidents have to decide what is worth fighting Congress over in the budget (F-22). The HIND problems were not related to altitude, but the tactics of the mujahideen. They would attack in small groups, hiding behind rocks. The HIND was forced to get down in the “weeds” to use their rockets/machine gun fire effectively. Their engine exhaust was vented directly out the sides, making them an easy target for the Stingers. The HINDs had to back off and stay high to avoid the Stingers. This made them ineffective in protecting the Soviet convoys and outposts. As for the Osprey, Congressional support many times has thwarted Presidential directives (ie: C-130H, B-1, F136 engine). Presidents have to decide what is worth fighting Congress over in the budget (F-22).

]]> By: Marcus Garciahttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1079 Marcus Garcia Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:20:51 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1079 Actually, on a road trip I took about 2-3 months ago through the Colorado High Country, I saw a local news paper in Durango that published an article on the Opsrey and that they would be running month-long testing of the craft's performance in the mountains surrounding Durango. From some of the mountain passes I drove over, those tests ought to have provided some pretty-good insight into the potential problems, pitfalls, or "wins" that the V-22 will endure in Afghanistan. Hooah! Seabees! Actually, on a road trip I took about 2–3 months ago through the Colorado High Country, I saw a local news paper in Durango that published an article on the Opsrey and that they would be running month-long testing of the craft’s performance in the mountains surrounding Durango. From some of the mountain passes I drove over, those tests ought to have provided some pretty-good insight into the potential problems, pitfalls, or “wins” that the V-22 will endure in Afghanistan.

Hooah! Seabees!

]]> By: Barry Hopehttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1078 Barry Hope Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:40:16 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1078 Just a suggestion, wouldn't it be a good idea to test this bird say at Fort Carson? They should have the right mountains to test on. Believe it or not I'm rooting for this bird. Just a suggestion, wouldn’t it be a good idea to test this bird say at Fort Carson? They should have the right mountains to test on. Believe it or not I’m rooting for this bird.

]]> By: Stan Phillipshttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/10/20/acid-test-for-the-osprey-in-afghanistan/#comment-1075 Stan Phillips Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:16:50 +0000 http://www.thelineofdeparture.com/?p=728#comment-1075 Enter text right here! Enter text right here!

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