After a long and troubled (and a might bit expensive) development period the MV-22 Osprey is finally entering active service with the United States Marine Corps. Back in 1977 when the Bell XV-15 first flew, the tilt rotor concept began to gain popular appeal. As the Department of Defense went looking for proposals for the initial V-22 in its 1981 Joint Services Vertical (JVX), who would have imagined that it would take over 20 years to get this technology into production service.
It is a modern engineering marvel with upwards of 70% of its structural components made from composite materials. In forward flight it can achieve over 300 mph, yet when the need arises it can hover like a helicopter.
