Japan urges U.S. to ground Ospreys

Japan has asked the U.S. military to suspend all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over
its territory, after one of the jets operated by the U.S. Air Force was involved in a fatal crash

Nov 29: U.S. Osprey crashes off Yakushima Island, killing at least one of eight crew members

JAPAN
Okinawa
  
V-22 OSPREY: Tiltrotor aircraft combines vertical lift of helicopter with speed and range of fixed-wing airplane
   
Engines Wingtip- mounted nacelles turn through 90 ̊.
Cross-connected transmissions allow either engine to power both rotors if one engine fails

In-flight refuelling probe

Crew
Three, in high-visibility cockpit with night vision displays

Wings: Fold for compact storage aboard ship

Capacity: 24 troops or 9,000kg of internal cargo, three times payload of helicopter

Loading ramp
Troops exit from rear of cargo bay, away from 80 knot rotor downdraft

Rotors
11.6m diameter, rotate in opposite directions so tail rotor not required for stability as on helicopter

First flight 1989 
Length 17.5m
Width (with rotors) 25.8m
Maximum speed
Forward flight  565km/h
Vertical flight 185km/h
Range (24 troops) 1,100km
Altitude   7,925m

Osprey has suffered string of fatal crashes over years

Vertical flight
Can take off, land and hover like a helicopter
    
Forward flight
Twice the speed, four times the range of helicopter. Conversion takes just 12 seconds
 


Sources: U.S. Department of Defense, Boeing
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