MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR,Calif. -- Two MV-22 Ospreys, accompanied by a pair of KC-130J Hercules aircraft, from Marine Corps Air Station New River, S.C.,  landed at MCAS Miramar June 12 after completing a 2,089 mile trip across the country.

The Ospreys, which conducted the long distance flight over land to experiment with the self deployment of the aircraft, are with Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX)
“The Osprey is going to take the job of our older helicopters like the Vietnam-era CH-46 currently used by the Marine Corps, and will be used as a troop transport and cargo helicopter,” said Col. Glenn Walters, commanding officer, VMX-22.

Built of composite materials, the Osprey has the outward appearance of a swift, silver bird with distinctive wings.

The MV-22, the newest in rotor technology, is a tiltrotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a plane, with other unique features. The Osprey has a 38-foot prop rotor and an engine/transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip to allow it to operate like a helicopter for take off and landing purposes. Once in the air, the Osprey’s engine nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees and convert the aircraft into a high-speed, high-altitude and fuel efficient turbo-prop aircraft.

The Osprey is capable of aerial refueling as well as flying at speeds greater than 250 knots. For the purposes of transporting troops and equipment in a combat zone, speed and the ability to accomplish missions with minimum risk is paramount in a combat zone.

The Osprey will be deployed in combat within the next year, said Walters.

“In July we plan on flying across the Atlantic, landing in England, taking the same route we would take if going to self deploy the aircraft,” said Walters. “We do these flights to practice the procedures and control measures needed when making long distance flights. There is currently one up and running Osprey squadron at MCAS New River. “We expect the next squadron to be ready within the next two months. When we finish outfitting the east coast with this aircraft they will move west to Miramar.”

Seeing the Osprey fly is a unique experience. It is the only aircraft of its kind used by the military.

“To me it is similar to the AV8B-Harrier jet, which can take off vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane,” said Master Sgt. Ann S. Brown, traffic management office, MCAS Miramar. “This is the third time I have seen this aircraft at Miramar, and it is a great sight.”

During the flight to Miramar, the Marines with VMX-22 were able to take full advantage of the Osprey’s aerial refueling capabilities.

“We practiced the aerial refueling two times during our nine hour session,” said Walters. “We carried more than 16,000 pounds of fuel. During this flight we used an internal fuel tank in the aircraft to carry an extra 3,000 pounds of fuel.”

The pilots are not the only Marines responsible for the aircraft, the enlisted crew which support the aircraft are just as important.

“If we can support the aircraft here at Miramar it is a great thing,” said Lance Cpl. Kyle B. Jones, flight planner, MCAS Miramar. “It is a step towards the future of Marine Corps aviation.”