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October 3, 2007
TIME Magazine Letters
Dear Editor: TIME’s cover article, “V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame,” which appeared on September 28, 2007, offers an outdated, sensationalistic, and wholly inaccurate view of the V-22 program. It is time to separate fact from fiction. Since its return to flight status on May 29, 2002, the V-22 has accumulated more than 25,929 accident-free total flight hours, of which more than 22,550 were operational flight hours. It has experienced more thorough testing than probably any military aircraft in the U.S. inventory. Documented evidence has shown that the V-22 is 50 percent more productive than the classic CH-46 helicopter it will replace. Using equal cost comparisons, more than 17 independent studies and four cost operational effectiveness analyses have shown that the V-22 is the most affordable and cost-effective solution to the Marine Corps medium lift requirement. Contrary to the author’s statements, there were no “short cuts” taken during testing. Further, there were no restrictions placed on pilots as a result of the Marana mishap. The rate of descent limit remains the same. Vortex ring state (VRS) or power settling, the leading cause of that mishap, occurs when an aircraft has a low rate of forward airspeed and a high rate of descent. This affects all rotary winged aircraft, but the MV-22 is less susceptible to this condition and can exit such a condition quickly should it occur. Moreover, the Osprey is the only military aircraft which has a power settling warning system. The V-22, which is not a helicopter, has never had a specific requirement for autorotation, but strictly speaking it can perform single engine autorotations with ease. Though unquestionably worse performing twin-engines out autorotations than a helicopter, it still has a glide landing capability that no helicopter possesses. The aircraft is highly survivable. It is faster and more maneuverable in and out of a landing zone than any other assault support aircraft in the world. As for the absence of a forward-firing weapon, no assault support aircraft in the DoD inventory has such a weapon, though the MV-22 has a ramp mounted aft-facing weapon. The MV-22 is not a gunship; it is an assault support aircraft. Mission capable rates for Block B MV-22s Corps-wide are currently near 70 percent; in recent desert testing they were 78 percent. In sum, the Osprey is a mature, fielded technology that will change the way wars are waged. Rather than flag the MV-22 on the basis of inaccurate and outdated information, why not wait for the reports from Iraq on the aircraft’s combat effectiveness? Very truly yours,
M.E. Rhett Flater |
