The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces.
Built by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and the Boeing Co., the CV-22 is a Special Operation Forces variant of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey. Equipped with integrated threat countermeasures, terrain-following radar, forward-looking infrared sensor (FLIR) and other advanced avionics systems, the CV-22 can operate at low altitude, in bad weather and high-threat environments. The first operational CV-22 was delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command's 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in November 2006.
The Osprey at the museum was originally built as a preproduction aircraft for the U.S. Navy (serial number 165839). In 2005 this aircraft was modified into a CV-22B and was designated an Additional Test Asset (ATA). At Edwards AFB, Calif., it flew more than 200 developmental test missions. Transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 2007, it received the serial number 99-0021 and was assigned to the 413th Flight Test Squadron, at Hurlburt Field. Completing over 400 additional test missions, it was flown to the museum in December 2013.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Crew: Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers)
Armament: One .50-cal. machine gun on ramp
Engines: Two Rolls Royce-Allison AE1107C turbo shaft engines with more than 6,200 shaft hp per engine
Load: 24 troops (seated), 32 troops (floor loaded) or 10,000 lbs. of cargo
Maximum cruising speed: 277 mph
Range: Combat radius of 575 miles with 1 internal auxiliary fuel tank; unlimited range with aerial refueling
Ceiling: 25,000 ft.
Wingspan: 84 ft., 7 in. (rotary diameter: 38 ft.)
Length: 57 ft., 4 in.
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