V-22 Osprey Aircraft - Great Aviation disaster?

Did anyone pick up the 10/8th issue of TIME and read about this flying disaster that is about to go to Iraq carrying our Marines? If I was an Marine wife or Mother, I'd be gathering all the others like me and marching my little fanny up to the White House for some answers. Unbelieveable. It's good news for the emeny. Chances are, they won't even make ground. 24 - 26 Marines. No ejection seats. No parachutes. A whole lot of flaws. Are you kidding me?

Public Comments

1. We don't use them. They are still being tested and slowly improved. Also, I have never rode in any mass transport aircraft that had parachutes or ejection seats... what are those again? The Osprey, if improved would provide US troops with fast movement on and off the battlefield without having to land. The speed would be far superior to any chopper in the air today... again, we are not currently using them for military operations or training.
2. HAHAHAH, I've known about the disaster that is the V-22 for years! If there ever was a reason not to join the Marines, this is it! I can't believe this thing is going into service, the article basically confirmed my worst fears and added new ones! It's morally reprehensible for the government to send this junk into combat! I don't even think the terrorists have to shoot at this crap, it's probably one of the few weapons in history ever to be it's own army's worst enemy! Look up the outrageous videos on the internet, youtube might be a good place to start. There will be military cheerleaders defending this crap on here, don't listen to them, this weapon is a prime example of the how horrid the military-industry is in America. For all the propaganda against the communists, many of their weapons, like the AK-47, were still more reliable than American ones! *Poster above is right, most transport vehicles don't have parachutes, probably because of the outrage if pilots can eject but the passengers can't. This thing has been known to crash when executing combat maneuvers, which is straight up nuts to send into COMBAT. I've heard the usefulness of the Osprey is marginal anyway compared to standard helicopters. **The Apache has ejection seats, the blades are blown off before the pilot can eject.
3. I hope they fix all the bugs and get some parachutes in there for our boys before they send them over there!
4. Normally, I avoid TIME because of its heavily biased comments, but in the case of the V-22, I'm appauled. Too many lives are at stake under the risk of an experimental aircraft that has been in development for years! I think that all the funding poured into this piece of trash should be re-routed to a newer, safer design, or improvements on proven aircraft, such as the Blackhawk. Helicopter-based aircraft do not fly high enough for parachuting- generally less than 500 feet. Army Airborne soldiers typically work at a minimum of 750 feet above the ground, so that option is not even considerable in an emergency situation. Ejection seats- what, so the crew is thrown up into the rotors? Gee, that's smart! What suicidal idiot invented that one?
5. Time is trying to scare you into buying there magazine. With all the scrutiny about the Osprey - and I've been hearing the same thing for almost 20 years - the politicians and generals would be to scared to put it in the field, unless they really, really, REALLY expected them to work. BTW, the helicopters that the Marines use now don't have parachutes of ejections seats and for that matter neither do commercial airplanes.
6. The V-22 is a waste of taxpayer dollars. It is too unreliable to be fielded, and is free money for Boeing right now, which acquired the project from Bell. Although it was supposed to be a major revolution, VTOL, but with the performance of a WWII fighter in terms of speed, it is not really the reliable thing that people say it is. I note that the military has been quite hesitant to fully load the airplane with passengers, after several accidents. It is supposed to be able to fly with 1 engine, if the other one is knocked out. I'd like to see whether that is just military propoganda, or if it is true. Still, I wouldn't want to take the V-22 into combat. If it gets hit by enemy fire (most likely a missile launcher, RPG, or 20 mm gun), I wouldn't be surprised it came down. During the Vietnam war, the main North Vietnamese anti-helicopter weapon for Huey Cobras was the 12.7 mm machine gun, although a lucky hit from an AK-47 could bring 1 down! By the way, you can't use parachutes at the intended altitude that the V-22 is to operate. Of course, many helicopters don't have ejection seats.
7. The V22 Osprey's role is as a Heavy Airmobile Asault Aircraft, as such it will in time replace the aging fleet of Army CH47 Chinooks and the Marine CH53 Sea Stallions. It is completely and utterly impractical the assault troops being carried in any of these aircraft to wear parachutes. Additionally, no American helicopter or Tilt Rotor Aircraft has ever been fitted with ejector seats. It has been discussed over the years, however no such modification has been made. The Russian made Ka-50 and Ka-52 are the only helicopters known to have such an air crew survival system. As far as I know the USMC has two operational squadrons deployed as of 17 September 2007. The Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy are all slated to have V22 at some point in the future...
8. I think it has no business in military service what so ever. There has been nothing with problems with it since day one. I was in the infantry and my company was a helo. company. Luckily we never had to enter one of those things. It was honestly one of the biggest fears of many of the guys in my company that one day we would be sent up in one. The 46's and 53's the marines use now may be a little old but, at least they can stay in the air.
9. It is very sad and makes mi sick,but things happen when you are in the Army.