Hopes Changes In Takeoffs And Landings Will Increase Cargo Loads

The U.S. Navy's Helicopter Test Squadron 21 recently completed nine days of tests aboard the USS Eisenhower with a goal of making minor changes to takeoff and landing procedures for the V-22 Osprey that will increase the aircraft's payload.

Stars and Stripes reports that results are expected next spring that will allow the Marine Corps and Air Force to expand the envelope for the MV-22 and CV-22 aircraft (respectively), as well as a future variant that will fly for the Navy.

Naval Air Systems Command spokesman Billy Ray Brown said the team flew 25.6 flight hours, performing 69 short take-offs and minimum run-on landings. The flights included rolling takeoffs and run-on landings that would allow the aircraft to operate at a higher gross weight. The techniques take advantage of "translational lift". Now, Brown says more testing is needed to determine the necessary control margins, as well as how movement on the flight deck and atmospheric conditions will affect performance.

When the final parameters and procedures have been developed and evaluated, they will be incorporated into the Osprey’s Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization program, or NATOPS.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.navy.mil