CV-22s Complete 1st Operational Deployment

[unhappycamper]

CV-22s Complete 1st Operational Deployment
December 03, 2008
Air Force Print News|by 1st Lt. Lauren Johnson

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Four CV-22 Ospreys from the 8th Special Operations Squadron here returned after completing their first operational deployment supporting Exercise Flintlock 2009 in November in Bamako, Mali.

The aircraft supported the training exercise in the Trans-Saharan region designed to build relationships and capacity and to enhance African nations' ability to patrol and control their sovereign territory.

The exercise included personnel from 15 countries, and the CV-22 served as a platform for multinational training. Specifically, the aircraft was used to transport Malian and Senegalese special operations forces and their leadership teams.

"We did long range, vertical lift, and dropped (teams) off at a landing zone," said Capt. Dennis Woodlief, an 8th SOS pilot. "They practiced their ground movements, then we brought them back."

Missions like this allowed the CV-22 to take advantage of its unique capabilities as a tilt rotor aircraft, said Lt. Col. Eric Hill, the 8th SOS squadron commander.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/cv22s-complete-1st-operational-deployment.html

[Adsos Letter]

1. Did they finally get the bugs worked out of that aircraft?

I recall that they were having some serious issues with keeping it in the air.