The cover story of the October 8 issue of Time magazine--tellingly titled "A Flying Shame"--was far less optimistic about the Osprey: "a plane," it says, "that may be as notable for its shortcomings as for its technological advances." Most notably, the article argues, the Osprey lacks adequate weaponry and has a poor chance of surviving engine failure. Critics contend that the Osprey's unusual design requires too many compromises in critical flight maneuvers, whether in landing or in how high it can fly.
This photo from March 2007 shows an Osprey from a Marine training squadron flying over the Gulf of Mexico shoreline during an exercise at Hurlburt Field, Fla. During the April briefing, Castellaw said the Marines have five V-22 squadrons: the training unit; VMM-263, now headed to Iraq; and three others. A Navy Times story from September says that the Marine Corps has more than 50 Ospreys and that it will take delivery of 14 more next year.
Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andy M. Kin
Caption by Jonathan Skillings
