History
CC, one interpretation of your note might be that the reasons cited at the time for the Marana and Eglin events were incorrect. Nonetheless, the accidents happened, and the descriptions of the flight situations involved in each weren't really out of the ordinary. As in, for instance, anyone ever get stacked up by the leader going into a hot LZ? Out of the 44K Vietnam pilots, there might be only 8-10 thousand in that category. Anyone ever get in the down wash of the ship in front while in formation? Same answer. Stuff happens and the JMR ought to be able to handle it. Is the argument that the JMR TR will be different, immune to V-22 proclivities? Bell will have to answer that query, and it will be interesting to see the response.
Not an anti-V-22 rant. It is a very fine machine, whose efficiency doing certain tasks is excellent. Every different rotor propulsion system has its strong points and compromises, be it single MR, tandem, coax, stiff coax, TR. Mission requirements will shine a bright light on which strong points and compromises make the most sense.
Thanks,
John