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MV-22 demonstrates overwater hoist and fast rope
THE OSPREY W.A.R. June 2, 2006
Col. Bill Taylor, USMC V-22 Joint Program Manager OSPREY HEADLINES VMX-22 conducts first Osprey over-water hoists and rooftop fast ropes Last week VMX-22 and NAVAIR testers conducted the first over-water hoist operations from an Osprey, using a Block B MV-22 to demonstrate the viability of this platform for maritime search and rescue. Following the over-water operations, the test team proved the utility of the Osprey in urban environments, with a series of fast-rope and hoisting evolutions to and from a rooftop in the Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training town at Camp Lejeune, N.C. These efforts were part of the planned schedule for follow-on integrated testing of the new capabilities featured in the Block B aircraft. Other planned follow-on testing will focus on integration of the Ramp Mounted Weapon System, retractable fuel probe, ice protection system, and mission auxillary tanks. For the over-water operations, Air Force Special Operations Command Pararescuemen (or “PJs”) and a Navy Search and Rescue swimmer conducted typical water rescue operations as the aircraft hovered at various altitudes, to evaluate optimal tactics, techniques and procedures for the Osprey. Rescuers commented on how the range and speed of the V-22 would cut the exposure time of a survivor in the water by half or better, significantly increasing odds of survival. The new personnel hoist, manufactured by B.F. Goodrich, is delivered as a kit for the Block B aircraft. The high-speed hoist can lift 600 pounds at an adjustable rate up to 340 feet per minute, and is mounted above the ramp to give rescuers plenty of real estate to maneuver litters and other equipment. For the MOUT trials, PJs simulated a special operations mission by fast roping to the roof of a three-story building, then hoisting recovered personnel from the roof with and without a litter. Trainers from the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group also observed the operational testing, and plan to conduct similar exercises in future. Overall feedback on the aircraft as both a hoisting and fast-roping platform has been extremely positive. Both pilots and operators praised the stability of the Osprey, with its ability in either coupled or uncoupled hover mode to hold to a fixed point over the ground or a rooftop. This is critical in urban operations, where small lateral movements or altitude changes can mean the difference between sliding to the roof or falling off the end of a rope to the street below. One PJ commented that he would willingly attempt some operations from the V-22 that he would never consider safe from the other platforms he was used to. Cut and pasted from: http://forums.military.com/eve/forum...591104612/p/93 all the way at the bottom. There's also a photo of them fast roping. Guy |
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MV-22 demonstrates overwater hoist and fast rope
Guy Alcala wrote:
The new personnel hoist, manufactured by B.F. Goodrich, is delivered as a kit for the Block B aircraft. The high-speed hoist can lift 600 pounds at an adjustable rate up to 340 feet per minute, and is mounted above the ramp to give rescuers plenty of real estate to maneuver litters and other equipment. FNORD! The main reason given for why the wings didn't swivel with the engines to the vertical was to provide a calm area under the props for operations like this and now they relocate the hoist to the rear. So what fraction of the vertical lift did they give up for nothing? (After subtracting the extra weight for wings that swivel with the engines in flight in addition to folding around for storage.) -HJC |
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