Crash of NATO tilt-rotor craft in Afghanistan kills 4

[bemildred]

Source: LAT

The crash of a NATO aircraft in volatile southern Afghanistan killed three U.S. service members and a civilian contractor, the Western military said Friday.

The overnight crash in Zabul province also injured a number of others aboard, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement, without giving details. It identified the craft as an Air Force CV-22 Osprey, which uses tilt-rotor technology to take off and land like a helicopter but fly like a plane.

The Taliban claimed to have shot down the aircraft, but insurgents routinely issue such boasts whenever any Western plane or helicopter goes down.

NATO said the cause of the crash was not immediately known. Ospreys, which can fly twice as fast as conventional helicopters, suffered a number of crashes and mechanical failures in the early years of development, together with significant cost overruns.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghan-helicopter-crash10-2010apr10,0,5674021.story

[TwilightGardener]

1. Sorry to hear that. RIP to those onboard who died.

[Plucketeer]

2. Hats off and hearts out to the victims of this crash

That said, this aircraft is another example of something WAY too expensive for what's gotten in return. ONE lucky bullet can bring this thing down, and when in helicopter mode, it's vulnerable. Hell, it's vulnerable to it's own complexity, for that matter! Another OUTRAGEOUS expenditure of our tax dollars. :grr:

[AtheistCrusader]

3. I used to think that as well

but then I was looking at the design specifics of the v-22, and discovered something interesting. It can hover on just one engine. There are drive shaft linkages between both engine pods, and one engine alone can drive both props. I was previously under the assumption one bullet through the block of either engine in that mode would bring the whole thing down in a horrific wreck, but it's a little more durable than that.

But it is immensely complex, maintenence is even more critical than a normal helo, and it requires even more training to fly safely. I've never been convinced the added cruise speed is worth it, aside from bringing wounded troops to a hospital.

[Plucketeer]

4. Yes, I knew that about the power shaft.

In fact, when I was in the Air Force in 1964, I was privvy to a tactical demonstration of a 4-engine STOL transport being marketed by the french firm, Breguet. While it wasn't a VTOL plane, it had power-shafts that let other engines turn props of any engine that had failed. Still awfully complex and therefor vulnerable.