Monday
September 19, 2005
Bell Boeing deliver 1st production CV-22 Osprey
Amarillo, Texas, USA ( Bell Boeing Program Office Press Release) -
The U.S. Air Force has taken delivery
of the first production CV-22 Osprey at the Bell Helicopter production
facility in Amarillo, Texas.
Produced jointly by Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company and The
Boeing Company , the CV-22 is the U.S. Air Force Special
Operations variant of the V-22 and will be used for long-range special
operations missions, contingency operations, and evacuations and maritime
operations.
"The CV-22 delivers on its promise," said Bob Kenney, Vice President, Bell
Boeing V-22 Joint Program Director. "The combination of vertical lift
capability, speed and range provides the special operations warfighter with
the aircraft necessary to complete long-range missions."
In addition to the standard communications and navigations suite found on
all V-22s, the CV-22 has an advanced electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode
radar which permits flight at very low altitude in zero visibility, a
retractable aerial refueling probe, four radios and flight engineer
seat/crew positions in the cockpit.
The current program calls for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
to field 50 CV-22s to join the global war on terrorism and other special
operations missions. Prior to initial operational capability in 2009, the
CV-22 will complete developmental testing at Edwards AFB, Calif., followed
by initial operational test and evaluation. Then the aircraft will conduct
an operational utility evaluation next year.
VMX-22, the U.S. Marine Corps Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron,
recently completed the MV-22 operational test and evaluation, a critical
step leading to a full-rate production decision.
Bell Helicopter, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $1.6 billion, leading
producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the
revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service,
innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500
employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000
employees in nearly 40 countries. The company leverages its global network
of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with
innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its
powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming,
E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is
one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in
St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.5 billion business. It
provides network-centric system solutions to its global military,
government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest
military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer
and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems
integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global
leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
News: MV-22 resume flight testing ( Feb 28, 2002 )
V-22 Osprey
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