October 9, 2007 9:35 AM PDT
The primary mission of the Osprey, Castellaw said, "is to take Marines into combat." For all its years in development, the V-22 is still a youngster compared with the helicopter that it is intended to replace, the twin-rotored CH-46 Sea Knight, which has been in service since the mid-1960s. (The CH-46 is expected to be in service for another decade or so.)
The 16.5-ton Osprey can carry up to about 20,000 pounds in its cargo area, or about 10,000 externally on a cargo hook.
Photo by U.S. Navy
Caption by Jonathan Skillings
