#Jeff Heit

[skyfire85]

-USMC MV-22 Ospreys on the deck of USS Bataan. | Photo: Staff Sgt. Wayne Campbell, USMC

Flightline: 62 - Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey

After the disastrous failure at Desert One during the 1980 Iran hostage rescue mission, the US DOD recognized that there existed a requirement for a transport that could take off and land vertically, but also travel long distance at speed. The Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) program was begun in 1981 to obtain and combine requirements from the Army, Navy, Marines and USAF. In late 1982 a request for proposals was released, attracting interest from Aérospatiale, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Vertol, Grumman, Lockheed, and Westland. Bell later teamed with Boeing Vertol, submitting a design based on the former’s XV-15 tiltrotor.

-Early concept image of V-22 Osprey, probably from mid to late-1980s. | Photo: US Navy

Bell/Boeing submitted the only design, and were awarded a preliminary design contract was awarded on 26 April 1983. In 1985 the Bell/Boeing JVX design was named the Osprey, and given the designation V-22, with USMC Osprey known as MV-22 and USAF CV-22, in part to avoid confusion with USN carrier designation (CV). By March of that year, the first half-dozen prototypes were under construction, with work split between Bell and Boeing. The first V-22 was rolled out in 1988, but the program also suffered major issues that year. Costs ballooned, from $2.5 billion in 1986 to a projected $30 billion in 1988. Citing a need to focus on other programs, the US Army dropped out of the program. The following year, the US Senate voted twice to cancel the Osprey, though the program survived. The DOD then ordered the Navy to not spend more money on the V-22, and SecDef Cheney tried several times from 1989 to 1992 to defund the program, though each time he was overruled by Congress.

-Bell-Boeing’s first V-22 prototype transitions to forward flight. | Photo: Bell/Boeing

The first of six prototypes first flew on 19 March 1989 in the helicopter mode, and on 14 September 1989 in fixed-wing mode. Sea trials were completed on USS Wasp in December 1990, though the program was marred by crashes of the fourth and fifth prototypes in 1991 and 1992. The V-22 was grounded until June of 1993 to make needed changes. From October 1992 – April 1993, the V-22 was redesigned to reduce empty weight, simplify manufacture, and reduce build costs; resulting in the V-22B variant. The existing prototypes were upgraded to the new standard, and in 1997 flight testing of the first four full-scale development V-22s began at Pax River. Testing soon fell behind schedule, though a second round of sea trials on USS Saipan was accomplished in 1999.

On 8 April 2000, a night training exercise of four MV-22 in Arizona resulted in one aircraft crashing, killing the 19 Marines on board, and another suffered a hard landing, though no one aboard were killed. The V-22 was grounded again while the crash investigation was conducted, during which issues with the V-22's design, as well as with crew training, were determined to be the causes of the crash. As the V-22 descended to land it was dropping at 2,000 feet a minute, well above the prescribed 800 feet a minute. The speed caused the aircraft to enter an aerodynamic condition known as vortex ring state. In this condition, a vortex envelops the rotor, causing an aircraft to lose lift, in essence descending in its own downwash. Flight testing resumed after the board rendered its conclusions, but another MV-22 crashed in December 2000, killing four Marines. Despite the accidents, by June 2005 the V-22 had completed its final operational evaluation, including long-range deployments, high altitude, desert and shipboard operations. In September of 2005, the Pentagon approved full-rate production of the V-22, ordering 458 aircraft (360 for the USMC, 50 for the USAF, and 48 for the Navy). The USAF officially accepted the CV-22 in 2006, and the MV-22 reaching IOC the following year. Despite being in the 2005 contract, the Navy did not acquire any of the 48 HV-22 mentioned, for reasons unknown (though likely budgetary). Ospreys have since seen deployment to both Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other hotspots around the world.

-Marines push boxes out the back of a V-22 Osprey aircraft in Zaranj, Afghanistan, on Dec. 14, 2009. | Photo: USMC

-V-22s are fitted with LEDs in the rotors, which create a glowing ring when spinning, allowing the crew, ground personnel and passengers a clear indication of the rotor disc. | Photo: USMC

In 2015, the Navy signed an MOU to buy 44 redesigned CMV-22B Osprey for COD (carrier on-board delivery) beginning in 2018, with initial delivery expected in 2020. The CMV-22 has larger sponsons, which carry additional fuel, as well as a high-frequency radio. The type will also include a hoist on the ramp, allowing it to deliver cargo to other Navy ships, replacing some helicopters.

-A CMV-22B landing at Pax River after being ferried from the Bell Assembly Center in Texas. | Photo: USN

In 2014, the Japanese Self-Defence Force decided to acquire 17 MV-22Bs, with the first delivery occurring in August of 2017. The JSDF Osprey are based at Kisarazu Air Field, with plans to station some on the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers (*cough*aircraftcarriers*cough*).

India, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea and the UAE have expressed varying degrees of interest in acquiring V-22 of their own, though as of 2020 none have formally acted.

In addition to the transport versions currently in service, other variants were studied during development:

An AEW&C version known as the EV-22, which would replace the E-2 in US Navy service as well as the Sea King ASaC.7 in Royal Navy service

SV-22 Anti-submarine warfare variant, to replace the S-3 and SH-2.

Neither was pursued, though Bell/Boeing continue to pursue variants.

-Rendering of an EV-22 AEW variant, showing the new triangular radar pylon. | Image: Jeff Head

-Model of the SV-22. The ASW variant would have been armed with four torpedoes and carried a dipping sonar. | Photo: Justin Gibb

-Model of the SV-22. The proposal didn’t include a MAD boom, but I added one. | Photo: Justin Gibb

In 2017, HMX-1, the Marine helicopter squadron responsible for transporting the President, Vice President and other senior leadership, recieved 12 MV-22B, replacing its fleet of CH-46 helicopters for support operations.

-HMX-1's first MV-22B, in the squadron’s traditional gloss olive drab paint scheme. | Photo: Sgt. Rebekka S. Heite

[venture-heat-blog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF8xBGgxVY4

Scott Stevens ripping the Big Bear Mountains with his pro snowboard at the Big Bear Mountain Resort like only he can.   Venture Heat manufactures winter skiing heated gear that will help you stay warm with 3 levels of on-demand heat so that you are light and have the freedom to enjoy snowboarding or skiing during winter for up to 5 hours.

Film/Edit by Jeff Heit (@hidefjeff)Photo by Lee Stockwell (@LeeStock) Music: Are You Lost in the World Like Me? - Moby, The Void Pacific Choir

#heatedgear #wintergear #winterheatedgadgets #heatedclothing #skiinggear #snowboardinggear #snowboarding #skiing #WinterSports #heatedjackets #heatedvests #heatedhoodie #heatedgear #heatedapparel #heatedgloves #heatedshirts #heatedpants #winter #VentureHeat

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[ 32 Spot Check // Mammoth Mountain 2022 ]

The Eastern Sierra never disappoint as we return to Mammoth Mountain.

Featuring Scott Stevens, Toni Kerkela, Kaden Rusinko, Jordan Small, Pat Fava, Phil Hansen and Zeb Powell. 

Film/Edit by Jeff Heit 

Additional videography by Blake Kehoe

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[ Sunday In The Park 2017: Episode 3 ]

A fresh one from Bear Mountain is here for your Sunday enjoyment. Check out the latest Sunday in the Park featuring Anthony Slater, Jake Schaible, Keoni Kaimuloa, Mike Gray, and Buzz Holbrook.

Film/Edit: Kyle Schafer

Additional Film: Jeff Heit Photo: Lee Stockwell

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[ Sunday In The Park 2017 | Episode 11 ]

Riders: Kyle Kelley, Sam Buckmelter, Johnny Hancheck, Scotty Vine, Tommy Okubo, Melissa Evans, Mike Gray

Film/Edit: Kyle Schafer @jupiterpeople

Additional Film: Jeff Heit @hidefjeff

Photo: Kyle Schafer @jupiterpeople

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[ Scott Stevens X Bear Mountain ]

Scott Stevens ripping the Bear Mountain Park like only he can. Film/Edit by Jeff Heit (@hidefjeff) Photo by Lee Stockwell (@LeeStock)

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[ Sunday In The Park 2017 | Episode 1 ] It’s a spanking new year, and with it comes a fresh episode of Sunday in the Park from Bear Mountain. Conditions have been all time at Bear this season and this first episode gives us a taste of all that’s to come from this SoCal shred mecca. Scope the action and get hyped, Sunday in the Park is back. Riders: Lenny Mazzotti, Drayden Gardner, Brandon Davis,Brett Wilkinson, Richie Conklin, Robert Toste Film/Edit: Kyle Schafer @jupiterpeople Additional Film: Jeff Heit @hidefjeff

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[ Lenny Mazzotti 2K16 ]

Lenny Mazzotti 2K16 #wearekody

edited by skyler riley filmed by skyler riley, joel vachon, jordan macdonald, jeff heit, richie conklin, and leif draznin photo by lee stockwell cameo by anthony mazzotti

supported by academy snowboards - active ride shop - bear mountain - duh bolts - electric snow - flux bindings - laced premium - vesp - volcom

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[ Episode 6 | Sunday In The Park 2017 ] Riders: Lenny Mazzotti, Jordan Small, Richie Conklin Film/Edit: Kyle Schafer @jupiterpeople Additional Film: Jeff Heit @hidefjeff Photo: Lee Stockwell @leestock

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[ Sunday In The Park 2017: Episode 2 ]

Riders: Kael Hill, Jaromie Nolan, Kristoffer Lerand, Squid,Zoltan Strcul’a, Mike Gray, Jordan Small, Christian Hobush Film/Edit: Kyle Schafer @jupiterpeople Additional Film: Jeff Heit @hidefjeff Photo: Lee Stockwell @leestock