Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey unfolding - GIF and photos

[Jon]

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, an STOL and VTOL-capable tiltrotor military aircraft.

Like Operation Credible Sport, which we featured previously, the Osprey was created in response to Operation Eagle Claw, the failed attempt to rescue hostages during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980.

Unfolding:


Folded up:


Cockpit:


Troop deployment:


Night mission:


Original concept design:




Previously:

Operation Credible Sport: C-130s modified with rockets for hostage rescue
Aerobatic helicopter tricks
Helicopter lands on ship in rough seas
airplane short takeoff/landing records

[mklotz]

I'm sure it's well designed and all but I'd be a bit reluctant to fly in an airplane that can fold in that many non-airworthy places. One bit of shrapnel in the wrong place and...

[Jon]

Yeah, the Osprey doesn't exactly have a perfect safety record: Accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_V-22_Osprey.

17-second Osprey crash video:

[blkadder]

I love watching these convert from their stowed position to liftoff. I never got to ride in one, as they were not implemented into the Marine Corps inventory while I was serving. I think these are just awesome. You know at some point the Marines will modify these into some sort of gunship configuration. Thanks for posting this. Semper Fi.

[Jon]

Correct Osprey landing:

[Jon]

Did not realize this, but Ospreys are used for US presidential support staff transport. These aren't really "escorts", despite how the media is describing this photo. I don't even know if they're armed; they just accompany Marine One with aides and journalists.

[marksbug]

I see those every day.living at the largest AFB (Eglin afb)We see a lot.it's a training base too along with the head of the special ops base where my dad worked about 15 min away at hurlbert afb. around 20 years ago I saw the first osprey when it was hear for the climatic laboratory at eglin for extreme cold&heat testing,( many companys use the Mckinley climatic lab for testing,good year used to come down yearly for testing & we worked on the test vehicles at the other place I worked at) I thought the osprey was a RC model when it flew over, then 30 min lator I saw it on the tarmac. sweet!!! sadley when it was finished there it flew up to dover where it crashed and all died in it. we see all kinds of classifyed stuff hear and some that are no longer classified. the smart bombs were developed hear, a prototype shop I worked at in the 90's made the shredders for the MOAB bomb.we did lots of aerospace/defense prototype stuff. the F35 newest fighter,is hear for training.verticke take off, thats pertty to see too. there isant a day that go's by that there is not something flying over me.I love it, Sounds just like freedom!!! my dad died 3 years ago he flew for most of his life over 30000 flight hours, many many medals and accommodations. he is layed to rest at the end of the runway where the home base for the navy's blue angles are (Pensacola NAS) about 60 miles from hear.the angles flew over us the day we layed him to rest there during the 21 gun salute. totally awesome. he was USAF Special oops.he flew the black birds. funny he is at the end of runway at the navy base........ he was chief og training for Lockheed in Saudi after the USAF 28 years was up.

[marksbug]

my dad also trained most of the usaf guys that dies in the iran hostage mess. that tore him up.

[Jon]

F4U Corsair unfolding its wings.

[jimirwin]

My dad trained fighter pilots during WWII. Flew combat in Korea in the F4U off the tiny "jeep" carriers in the China Sea. Won his Distinguished Flying Cross there. Marine Flying Leatherneck, he was and darned proud of it! Was checked out in over 60 different aircraft over a few decades in the reserves. Rose to full bird colonel, he did.
Used to tell us that, "It seemed only fair that they were shooting at us, since we were shooting at them." I have pics of him and his buddies pointing to all the bullet holes in their Corsairs. I marched behind the riderless horse all the way across Arlington at his funeral. Still get chills!