Illustrious takes the MV-22 Osprey onboard
 

By Andrew Chuter - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 19:11:23 EDT

LONDON - A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey landed Tuesday on the Royal Navy
aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, the first time the vertical-takeoff-and-landing tiltrotor had operated from the deck of a foreign warship, a Royal Navy spokeswoman said.
The touchdown was the first of several expected over the several weeks of a
Joint Task Force Exercise involving U.S. and Britain warships off America's
eastern seaboard. Illustrious, which is leading one of three strike groups
in the exercise, will also host as many as 14 U.S. AV-8B Harrier combat
aircraft, the largest number of foreign aircraft to operate at one time from
an Invincible-class carrier, the spokeswoman said. The ship is also home
base for two squadrons of British Sea Kings.
The spokeswoman said the landing was to enable the British and U.S. navies
improve interoperability.
Industry sources said the landing would also inform the debate in Britain
over the provision of a Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft
for two 65,000-ton carriers expected to be built for the Royal Navy for
operation from the middle of the next decade.
Lockheed Martin is leading AgustaWestland and Thales UK in an assessment of the requirement.
The most likely aircraft is seen as the EH101 Merlin, but other options,
including the V-22, have been considered. The British navy uses a modified
Sea King for airborne surveillance from its Invincible-class carriers.

New plane, old ship. won't be able to do this for much longer. New plane, hired rowing boat from billy butlin

Why? The V22 in question was a Marine variant and the deck is nothing like a CVF. What 'informing' exactly was gleaned other than, look, I can land this on a Brit Carrier which is itty bitty and much smaller than my own?

New Plane.... ???? apart from it conducted its maiden flight 18 years ago.


It may have been a Marine variant and the CVS doesnt look like a CVF apart from:

They are both grey
They are both big
They both have a big flat top.

But if the V22 isn't suitable or doesn't meet the requirement then at least we will have tried...

"The V22 in question was a Marine variant and the deck is nothing like a CVF"

USMC doesn't operate normally on large deck carriers but rather on smaller
carriers as illustrated in the link below.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lha-1.htm

Now my question, the article says the Illustrious is home for two squadrons of British Sea Kings. That's it? I haven't opened up any of the numerous threads here about the sea harrier. Perhaps I should, are they all retired now?

WC,
The Sea Harriers are now all retired and Royal Navy fixed wing capability now consists of Harrier GR7/9 aircraft shared with the RAF. The Harriers are heavily commited to Afghanistan right now and so rarely go to sea for any lengthy period.
Incidentally, our CVS are somewhat smaller than your LHDs.
Regards,
MM

Will the USMC crews make use of the ski-ramp on Lusty and if so will they be gaining competencey ashore first?

Ramping Osprey
 

Helpful, do I detect a certain amount of tongue in cheek there ?!

Can just imagine a very expensive loud clattering noise, if an Osprey on a ski-jump got angles even slightly wrong..

00,

Is that a wah? I assume he's talking about the USMC AV-8B dudes given that they don't have ramps on their LPHs.

Thank you MM, yes I was referring to the fine pieces of British engineering that the continental marines are bringing with them.

I'm amazed they could fit a V-22 on Lusty, did they land down the aft end??

So, V22 lands on grey flat thing with RN Flag on rather than US Flag on. That will really inform the MASC capability options review:rolleyes:, sorry but I think this proved nothing other than some lobbying for V22. We all know MASC will look like Merlin, why do we always kid ourselves that we have other options?

Mr AEO, why so negative? This can only be positive news. There is a lot more to this than just plonking an Osprey on the deck. It will be an opportunity, to look at deck limits, wind limits, what sort of recovery/instrument profile it can fly, what stores support it will require, where the lashing points are, how to handle or manouevre one on the deck, shut down, impact on other aircraft, NVG capability/compatability, stores lift capacity. What mission system support it wil require...I could go on....:ok:

Article with Pics
 

West Coast

Yes, the Sea Harrier has now retired (as discussed at length here). We therefore have no dedicated carrier aircraft, and a humber of carrier capable aircraft that permits only part time carrier operations - and at the same time we're trying to up the tempo in preparation for the new carriers.

So yes, we should be grateful to the USMC guys for helping keep up the skills of our flight deck crews.

Oh bloody hell, here we go again...:zzz:

Gawds struth.....'Eaven help us


The Sea Harrier hasn't "retired"


It was sacked as it was a crock of poo.

Did you read one of the comments on that page?


:hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

You are right, I am tainted by cynicism.:} I was thinking more of Capability demo, rather than the data/info you have raised. I stand corrected.

Mildenhall SOS
 

Does anyone know when the MH53M Special Operations Squadron at Mildenhall is due to convert to the CV22?