12/142012: Two MV-22B Ospreys landed on West Field here Dec. 10 during exercise Forager Fury 2012. These were the first Ospreys to land on Tinian which marks another milestone achieved during the exercise.
This is the first exercise the Osprey has participated in since replacing the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter in Okinawa, Japan.
When compared to a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, the MV-22 is roughly twice as fast, can carry nearly three times the payload and has approximately four times the combat radius. Additionally, the MV-22 has the ability to operate at much higher altitudes and refuel while airborne.
The aircraft are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
This deployment was part of what demonstrates the unique qualities of what the Osprey brings to operations.
As the comment below from an article in the local Marine Corps press noted:
Marine Corps Aviation hit another significant landmark with the successful deployment of three MV-22 Osprey across more than 1,700 miles in a little more than five hours from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam, according to a press release. The three aircraft arrived at Andersen Air Force Base at 5:09 p.m. Friday. The aircraft are participating in exercise Forager Fury 2012, which will be centered at Andersen.
Training will extend to Tinian’s West Field. This is the first exercise the Osprey have participated in since they replaced the Marines’ aging CH-46 helicopters in Okinawa, the press release stated. The MV-22 Osprey combines the vertical capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft, according to the release. With its proprotors in vertical position, it can take-off, land and hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, its proprotors can be rotated to transition the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.
Friday’s flight from Okinawa was used as an training opportunity for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to simulate safe-flight passage through about 575 miles of permissive territory free of enemy threats, then fly about 230 miles in “hostile territory” with four F/A-18s providing realistic replication of enemy aircraft, the release stated.“This event reinforces Marine Air-Ground Task Force integration and exercises maneuver to an objective from over the horizon,” the release stated. “Lessons learned from this exercise will enable the Marine Corps to refine the tactical application of MV-22s in support of current and future contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific area.” Forager Fury 2012 provides the Marine forces an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to shift and build combat power in any situation.
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20121210/NEWS01/212100308
Credit Videos:Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni:12/10/12
Ospreys Make Historic Landing on Tinian II from SldInfo.com on Vimeo.