US orders 21 more V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft

The United States has awarded a $1.4 billion contract for 21 additional V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to Boeing and Textron's unit, Bell Helicopter.

The contract includes funding for advanced procurement of materials for 22 Osprey aircraft for the following fiscal year.

The multi-purpose V-22 Osprey combines the characteristics of a conventional helicopter with that of a turboprop aircraft to gain the benefits of both designs. It has both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability.

It will act like a helicopter during takeoff with both rotors in horizontal position. During flight the rotors are at an almost vertical position. This allows the Osprey to have higher speed, increased range and payload than would otherwise have been possible.

It is the first tiltrotor aircraft design to have entered serial production. The Osprey specifications are:

• a length of 17.5 m
• a rotor diameter of 11.6 m
• a wingspan of 14 m
• an empty weight of 33140 lbs
• a maximum takeoff weight of 60500 lbs
• a maximum speed of 275 knots 
• a combat radius of 722 km
• a ceiling of 25000 feet

The aircraft is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce/Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, each delivering 6150 hp each.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/boeing-textron-win-1-4-233236857.html

By James Haseltine (USAF) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons