V22 Osprey

[100SRV]

Saw one heading roughly NNW over Worcester yesterday afternoon, heard what sounded like a speeded up Chinook. Went outside and there it was. Amazing sight. Hear they aren't especially cheap or trouble free though.

[Tony1963]

100SRV said:

Saw one heading roughly NNW over Worcester yesterday afternoon, heard what sounded like a speeded up Chinook. Went outside and there it was. Amazing sight. Hear they aren't especially cheap or trouble free though.

You may struggle to find any decent military aircraft that’s cheap and trouble free. Something as different as an Osprey more so.

[slartibartfast]

We get there here in Lincolnshire quite often as they use Donna nook range.
I got to film one on the range one evening back in 2017, fabulous to watch them firing tracers.

footage from that night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbPsWd3Wm8&t=...

first gun fire at 4:00

[Narcisus]

slartibartfast said:

We get there here in Lincolnshire quite often as they use Donna nook range.
I got to film one on the range one evening back in 2017, fabulous to watch them firing tracers.

footage from that night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbPsWd3Wm8&t=...

first gun fire at 4:00

Great vid nice dinnertime viewing :-) I've subscribed. If you could subscribe to me would be appreciated trying to get 1k subscribers lol !

[RDBx]

I was staying midway down the Newlands Valley, Cumbria last week. Saw two Osprey fly down the valley, throw a u turn in front of the Siddaw massif and fly back up. They were that close passing the house that I'd probably be able to ID the pilots if I saw them again.

Fantastic sight.

[slartibartfast]

Narcisus said:

slartibartfast said:

We get there here in Lincolnshire quite often as they use Donna nook range.
I got to film one on the range one evening back in 2017, fabulous to watch them firing tracers.

footage from that night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbPsWd3Wm8&t=...

first gun fire at 4:00

Great vid nice dinnertime viewing :-) I've subscribed. If you could subscribe to me would be appreciated trying to get 1k subscribers lol !

thanks, whats your username? or probably easier to leave a comment and I'll get a notification

[Tom1312]

Have seen these landing close up, nothing else quite like it.

Managed to make Airforce 1 seem like a shrinking violet.

[DavieBNL]

It's the rotor lights I find amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RISJR37z1gk

[I Love Cake]

Fascinating machines. In the rear all the pipes and cables are exposed, thee crews are trained not to grab them. Odd / interesting fact.

[Tony1963]

I’ve been on board an Osprey, but only on the ground. I was surprised how small it is, but wow, those engines and blades dominate!

[Evanivitch]

Seen them at airshows a few times, somewhat unimpressive as a flying display but I guess that's because they neither amaze as a helicopter or a plane.


Expect to see many more over the next few weeks when Trump visits.

[V10leptoquark]

Has the RAF bought any V-22s yet ?

[Evanivitch]

V10leptoquark said:

Has the RAF bought any V-22s yet ?

Nope. Doubt it will.

[Lurking Lawyer]

Evanivitch said:

Nope. Doubt it will.

Indeed. Far too maintenance-intensive, by all accounts.

[V10leptoquark]

How many of them are 'resident' in the UK these days?

[aeropilot]

V10leptoquark said:

How many of them are 'resident' in the UK these days?

7th SOS based at RAF Mildenhall, have about 10 of them there I think.

[Yertis]

I'm not an expert, but they strike me as the solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. What's their big advantage, that's worth spending so much money on?

[Evanivitch]

Yertis said:

I'm not an expert, but they strike me as the solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. What's their big advantage, that's worth spending so much money on?

Better range and survivability than a Chinook, more deployable and flexible than a C130.

The issue is that the UK could only justify a small fleet to support the QE class and SF activities. Which means the already high maintenance costs would be even higher.

[100SRV]

Yertis said:

I'm not an expert, but they strike me as the solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. What's their big advantage, that's worth spending so much money on?

If I remember rightly I read somewhere that the genesis of the V-22 requirement was the failed rescue attempt "Eagle Claw" to rescue people from Iran.

The CH53s needed air to air refuelling (short range) and had to be supported by C130s.

Desert refuelling point, sandstorm leading to a crash(es?) bad ending for all.

[Johnnytheboy]

Two just flew over my Dorset home! Funny kind of deep drone.