V-22 Osprey: Both a Plane AND a Helicopter

[@megaprojects9649]

Get 20% off everything on the site - both subscriptions and everything in store - by going to kiwico.com/MegaProjects or use the promo code, MEGAPROJECTS.

[@pyeitme508]

Cool

[@MatthewKendallairTeem]

@@pyeitme508 L

[@drewdurant3835]

You get me through my work days

[@FilthyAnimal_]

Please do one of these on the big musky its a American mining machine

[@davidweikle9538]

Thanks for covering the Osprey. I’m a Marine and I’m glad that I got to see them in action. Videos like this warm my heart with nostalgia.

[@LeglessWonder]

I’m a Marine and I’ve ridden in a lot of military aircraft. But lemme tell ya, nothing compares to combat take offs and landings in an Osprey, in a war zone. Rear hatch stays open for the gunner, and the angle of the Osprey means you feel like riding a roller coaster sideways, while going from seeing the sky out the rear hatch... to seeing the ground.... to seeing the sky again. The way they fly is so wild. It’s my second favorite aircraft, after the A-10 Warthog A-10 go BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[@tarheelcountry1868]

These things fly over my home all the time and I am always excited to see them

[@dobrzpe]

while i don't share your enthusiasm for the aircraft, your description is correct! LOL. i. hate. the Osprey. (it just doesn't move right...)

[@randez626]

Yo i can vouch this is by FAR the smoothest fastest aircraft I've ever flown. I flew in some other helicopter in Afghan but i don't remember it's name, but it was ALWAYS dripping hydraulic fluid (which is a good thing) but gawd damn my cammies always came out SOAKED. GOD i loved the ospreys

[@ezekielv4226]

Yessir they call those zoom climbs! It’s to get as high up as possible in short period of time to evade enemy fire, one of my fav things riding in them besides LAT haha

[@Jarmezrocks]

Seeming I've just found the group of people that use these things..... What happens if there is a bird strike in "aeroplane mode"?

[@antoniovillanueva308]

"The cause of the crash was determined to be the rate of descent" -- I bet this is the most common cause of aircraft crashes? Like "it freaking fell waay more quickly than it was designed to fall".

[@exsappermadman25055]

"It was flying fine until it hit the ground".......

[@MrBrunoUSA]

It's not the fall that hurts, its that sudden stop at the end.

[@matchesburn]

Worse yet, helicopters have a phenomena all on their own: "Vortex Ring States." Or "Settling With Power." Basically, despite putting out enough power to stay in the air or even climb, you can't do anything because the tips of the helicopter blades are making vortexes and rings that are creating "dirty air" that the blades can't effectively use. In fact, there's only one helicopter on earth that has enough power to just brute force itself out of a VRS - the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane (and that's with no load on it). For inexperienced pilots, it's dangerous, but realizing VRS or the onset of it is easily identified and solved by just getting out of that area of air you're in and stopping the vortex rings from interrupting it. But, yes, pilots often do get a bit carried away by coming in too fast too quickly thinking that they can bleed enough energy off fast enough to land. Often it leads to one of two things: Hitting the ground very hard or waving off and attempting to try again only to not have the energy to do so because while you didn't bleed off enough to land safely, you still don't have enough to gain altitude. This is why flying, especially in high performance aircraft and especially so in combat, is one of the most difficult things humans can do. You have to keep track of and think of some many different things and be aware of multiple different fields and areas and know about an aircraft with miles of wiring and hundreds or thousands of systems and how to utilize them all.

[@exsappermadman25055]

@@MrBrunoUSA "And then, gravity took over"......

[@exsappermadman25055]

@@matchesburn Auto-rotation?......I have watched enough shitty Vietnam war films to ken about that!.....

[@Docsporseen1]

I was in Iraq with the US Marines when they deployed the first V-22's. Contrary to popular belief, the beasts worked outstandingly in not only troop and equipment transport, but turned out to be an excellent MEDEVAC / CASEVAC aircraft.

[@TheBattleRabbit860]

What unit were you with? I was in MAG-26, we were the first in the Corps to adopt the V-22.

[@Docsporseen1]

@@TheBattleRabbit860 MWSS-274 at Al Asad. For some reason they had us running base security. I was the LPO for medical.

[@TheBattleRabbit860]

@@Docsporseen1 No shit! You were the support squadron for MAG-29? Small world haha. I spent all of 2009 at Al Asad, as far as bases go, in terms of what was offered it wasn't all that bad. I take it you were there in '07/'08?

[@Docsporseen1]

@@TheBattleRabbit860 yep, Feb-Sep of '08. Aside from the sand and heat it could've been a small town. Much better than Taqaddum in 04!

[@TheBattleRabbit860]

​@@Docsporseen1 Al Asad really was its own little, small town. I never went to TQ myself, but I did have to send a few of my Marines there every other month so we could inventory their CBRN gear or run through any SOP's for a chemical attack.

[@mikemiller278]

I served in the US Marines as a MV-22 avionicsman and crew chief for 10 years. The “plopter” is such an amazing vehicle with a never give up fight to it. Thank you for making this video!

[@NorseGraphic]

And I think the *Brotherhood of Steel* will appreciate the costs to develop the *Vertibird...*

[@fbksfrank4]

So what is the protocol if a engine goes out?

[@sketchywolf9387]

Mega projects, Union Pacific Big Boy! World's largest steam locomotive

[@darkpepsi]

Yes! Especially since Union Pacific restored one Big Boy UP 4014 and is fully operational!

[@moose2577]

Largest production loco. The Soviets built one bigger. Although it didn't really work very well. I don't think it was even in service for a year.

[@jordanwhitecar1982]

worlds largest surviving steam locomotive. theres an important distinction.

[@marcinzielen7393]

I‘d love to see an episode about this😃😃😃😃😃

[@tangydiesel1886]

Yes!

[@dschimp]

Surprised he didn’t mention this, but in terms of performance (I did some quick research) the V-22 has a top speed of around 350mph at 15,000ft whereas the CH-47 Chinook (large dual rotor transport helicopter) has a max speed of around 180-200mph, so it’s a considerable speed advantage. V-22 range is about 1,000 miles vs 400 for the CH-47. I’d imagine it’s a similar story with other larger traditional helicopters, FWIW.

[@ronaldschoolcraft8654]

They were Allison engines in the 80s. Rolls-Royce didn't buy Allison until the mid 90s. I was there then, working as an engineer on the Model 250 program.

[@jephtheduck8770]

Woah thats cool that you were actually there

[@caseytaylor1487]

While in the Marine Corps, I served in VMX-22 which was the squadron tasked with the test and evaluation of the V-22 for acceptance into inventory. I'm proud of my contributions in getting this magnificent bird to combat! We, of course, were working with the LRIP block and the B-block was being developed as I was leaving the Corps. While later work certified the aircraft for faster, higher, and heavier flight, the aircraft was always designed to meet those parameters but IOC in 2005 was not intended to test/certify those operations. The aircraft was developed to replace the CH-46, which meant that one of the development requirements was that the V-22 must not exceed the stowed footprint of the CH-46 for shipboard operations. As such, blade-fold/wing-stow (BFWS) allows the V-22 to fold up into that tight little package and is successful at not exceeding the CH-46 footprint. An integral part of the BFWS process is a lock pin that is driven through the shaft to ensure that the proprotor does not turn while all three blades are hanging off one side of the nacelle. Interestingly, the aircrew can run a complete pre-flight check and even start both engines while in the BFWS configuration. This allows for rapid deployment of the aircraft in critical circumstances so that once the aircraft is unfolded/unstowed, the engines can be immediately run up to full power for rapid takeoff. A minor critique that I have is that I'm not sure where you got your information on the Navy needing to have special deflection plates on the deck for the Osprey, but I doubt that this is anything that is used on a routine basis. You are correct that the aircraft has a powerful and hot exhaust that can absolutely damage ships and runways if the exhaust is left pointed at the same spot for an extended period of time. However, to combat this issue, Bell-Boeing designed a coanda valve that directs the exhaust stream outboard of the aircraft while weight-on-wheels is sensed. Once airborne (or otherwise manually selected by the pilot), the coanda valve disengages and the exhaust stream returns to normal. My guess is that your source was indicating that such plates are on hand for if there is a malfunction with the coanda valve.

[@alejandropena8339]

I worked on this thing for 10 years, 6 as an active duty marine and 4 as a contractor for Boeing. Pretty awesome to see you do a video on something so near and dear to me

[@TheJMBon]

Congrats on being a father. My daughter is coming any day now.

[@calvinteh3297]

Goodbye social life. Hello sleepless nights. Congrats though. LOL.

[@manganvbg90]

Keeping fingers its yours!

[@jessesingfield7963]

Congrats mate!

[@dannyboyy31]

Congrats. Enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts! My boys are 9 and 6, and I was still up 3 times last night :)

[@cormacbcb]

DHL fed ex or dpd? Who's it coming with

[@tgdm]

My father was actually a programmer for the Osprey's avionics and flight software in the mid to late 90s. And then new management came in and fired a bunch of employees to replace them with their own people. They let go all the people developing software for one of the most complex machines to ever fly. And they wonder why it had so many problems and delays...

[@razor1uk610]

Typical 'Mergers & Aquisitions' corporate 'superiority/taking-over' mindsets at work, corporate-egotistical ignorance & antipathy of the works, efforts and individuals involved in regards to the 'merged' company's staff and projects/works, always cost more in $, time and human turnover & burn-out; while those of the taking over company claim immunity for their power plays on costs and responsibilities, passing the blamed-buck to the former company staff. Scott-free...

[@navinsingh1730]

That's very unfair!

[@countzero1136]

Management is Nature's way of ensuring that the human race never makes any really rapid progress :)

[@Jarmezrocks]

Wow that should be an insert to Simon's story! Just wow! Explains lots!

[@stonehaven2289]

@@razor1uk610 basically a bunch of GREEDY BASTARDS 😂😂😂

[@kikufutaba1194]

I went on one of these while touring a warship in Yokosuka. It was very cool, the cockpit looked like something from a sci-fi movie

[@andreizav7040]

“Cool” - perhaps.. but an absolutely useless machine - a great example how the US military complex is SCAMMING the US taxpayers out of TRILLIONS of dollars!! Any US military project since the 80s: “It’s shit and totally useless” “But it looks cool and modern” “Ok, lets pump billions into it and just scrap it after” 🤷‍♂️🙈

[@keraatkins7833]

Andrei Zav um those things are useful for logistics and can be armed to send our enemies straight to hell. It’s more reliable than whatever copy Russia/China is using.

[@colinf1370]

Sam Bacon not andrei but I legit work on these right now and they are a necessity because it is used as a rapid troop transport and the cockpit is complicated because it has five screens it can use to look at everything you need

[@andreizav7040]

Kera Atkins judging by your idiotic and butt hurt (by the truth) comment you obviously haven’t watched the video on MIL 26🙈 and you butt hurt clearly prevents you from hearing the facts presented in the video - which state that osprey is an absolutely useless machine 🙈😂

[@andreizav7040]

colin F rapid troops transport to kill Afghani and Iraqi women and children.. or to transport US and Israel’s operatives to train and fight for isis..? 😏

[@moatplay]

People have been trying to combine the speed of an airplane with the hovering capability of a helicopter for decades. You could do an entire mega projects on this subject or any one of the aircraft that tried to make this practical. But, history has shown combining airplanes with helicopters is a monumental engineering feet. The mere fact that the V-22 exists let alone operational is astounding!

[@phalanx3803]

the AW609 will be coming out soon i hope people take the time to under stand it and not try an shun it like the V22. the AW609 could change the world Search & rescue and MedeVac.

[@Nyx_2142]

Many of the aircraft that attempted to do this didn't get axed because of practicality but political fuckery. Many hybrid aircraft proved this could be done practically. The US Army funded quite a few but the Air Force got pissy and forced them to cancel many aircraft that combined airplane and helicopter features in varying ways.

[@atomicskull6405]

You really can't though, the proprotors have be a compromise between disk loading in hover and prop drag in forward flight which means it's less efficient in hover than a helicopter and slower and less efficient than an airplane. They have their niche but they aren't going to replace traditional helicopters.

[@phalanx3803]

@@atomicskull6405 well that's a compromise you make when you want an aircraft that can both hover and fly like a plane. A lot of newer aircraft are sacrificing a tiny bit of cruise speed for more fuel efficiency.

[@unfriendlyjack4223]

Nex Gamez I can't remember the name of it but I remember the US army developed a hybrid helicopter but the airforce got pissy because this hybrid aircrafts role was to similar to the role of the A-10.

[@Altecfenix]

It makes me so happy that he was sent a crate for his kid as well as the demo kit. That's just so cool.

[@Terri_MacKay]

They really are great kits. I've been buying yearly subscriptions for my grandsons and nephew as Christmas presents for the last few years. They love them, and they love getting their own package once a month. And I don't feel like I'm wasting my money on a toy that they're going to break or quickly get bored with. I recommend Kiwi to everyone looking for a present for a child.

[@Jarmezrocks]

It was a nice gesture. And from the comment under this it sounds like it's pretty awesome!

[@zacksstuff]

A couple years back, I was on the highway in LA and 2 of these flew right overhead in helicopter mode. My first clue was when my car started vibrating like I had blown a tire. Pretty wild.

[@patrickconway3387]

Interesting. Last year I was going to nyc and two of them flew right over the Hudson. The rotors were tilted at a weird angle too, not vertical or horizontal. It was really cool

[@marko247]

@@patrickconway3387 It could have been carrying a heavy load or flying too slowly to put the rotors fully forward. I live in the UK and haven't managed to see one flying in real life, you Americans get to see some fantastic aircraft flying about tbh. :)

[@dimesonhiseyes9134]

I see them in Oklahoma from time to time. They really are pretty cool to watch fly. The props are almost comically big compared to a normal prop aircraft.

[@wmarkwitherspoon]

@@patrickconway3387 They rotate anywhere between horizontal and vertical. If they need to kind of hover, go slow they are at weird angles. And to rotate the aircraft around, pitch one engine out of vertical slightly and it rotates.

[@Zankaroo]

If they are in transition mode (anywhere between 0 degrees and 90 degrees) they are flying to slow for the fixed wings to generate enough lift. But tilting the engine nacelles forward is more efficient than tilting the entire craft forward to move forward like a helicopter does.

[@sdonthefly]

Was hauled around Iraq in this bad boy. Going from rotory to fixed wing felt like what I imagine going to light speed is like. Everyone who rode in them loved them, a damn site better than CH 46s which it is replacing in the Marines

[@aidensamarron4486]

I live in Amarillo TX, where we revolve around the main Bell Helicopter plant and all we ever see overhead are Ospreys. Cheers Simon 🍻

[@stephenj4937]

In southeastern NC they fly over all the time.

[@danielgraf1658]

My father was crew systems engineer on this project. The V-22 was basically part of my childhood. Easy like!

[@ignitionfrn2223]

3:40 - Chapter 1 - Development 6:45 - Chapter 2 - Testing & changes 9:25 - Chapter 3 - The design 11:35 - Chapter 4 - Armament 12:15 - Chapter 5 - Refueling capability 12:55 - Chapter 6 - Operational history 14:25 - Chapter 7 - The troubled revolutionary

[@caseydamiano269]

Echoing a comment or two already posted below: Helicopters ARE aircraft. So too are fixed-wing aircraft. The delineation is that one is a rotary-wing aircraft and the other a fixed-wing aircraft. Combining these modes is what makes the V-22 and other tilt-rotor designs so remarkable!

[@OverKillionaire]

I used to work on the avionics for the V-22 at Boeing! Crazy to see my work being shown on Mega Projects!!

[@Tiltrotortech]

Avi Tech VMM266 2005-2013. Semper Fi.

[@stevenolson1443]

In the beginning of the video Simon mention putting together furniture but the furniture not coming with the spanner tool required for assembly. I'm American. I was like what's a Spanner? So I Google it. We called them wrenches but I found out the term "spanner" comes from guns that were invented in the 1500s called wheel locks. Instead of having to carry a lit fuse to ignite the gunpowder the wheel lock gun has a mechanical gear wheel and spring that spins against a type of rock that gives off spark from the friction. There's a protruding nub on the wheel that has a tool the rifle man carries. They use the tool to spin the wheel and wind it up creating tension. That tool is called a spanner and its basically a wrench. That's why Brits call wrenches spanners. Because of the invention of the wheel lock gun cavalry men could carry and operate firearms are horse back. That's when knights on horseback started carrying short rifles(carbines) and cavalry started carrying two holstered pistols. The old British wheel lock rifles and pistols are beautiful Side note- An added benefit of the wheel lock was rifleman didn't have to carry a lit fuse on them while also carrying a powder horn(cow, bison, ox horn full of gunpowder) which is dangerous and also its not like they just had lighters back then. Carrying a lit fuse on you is not always easy

[@jelehan88]

As my wife and I travel to Yuma AZ for work we were able to witness the Osprey take off and land numerous times. To say this thing is just loud and thunderous is such an amazing understatement. The first time I felt and heard it coming over our car I thought a large herd of Buffalo 🐃 was charging down the street. I could feel it in my fillings as it flew over. Stealthy it is not.

[@Stubbies2003]

It wasn't designed to be stealthy. Very few helicopters are. Even the Vietnam era Huey you could hear it coming in your direction multiple miles before it actually got there.

[@tybotti]

I worked in assembly of the ground test and FSD aircraft and into EMD, and I helped build the first 250 aircraft before retiring. I also worked in flight test in Wilmington, De. I watched DA005 crash and I lost four associates on DA004. It was quite a ride. The Osprey is stone quiet in fwd flight. They assault positions at very low altitude under the radar and at high speed, land behind the Anti aircraft and deploy Marine Expeditionary Units from within the enemy camp. Using three aircraft w/24 troops per aircraft. …as it was explained by Marine brass.

[@Clanc54R]

It definitely wasn't my favorite aircraft to work on, but I still loved it. Nice to fly cross country in too. Much faster than the old CH46

[@deathsicon]

For anyone in or visiting the Philly area the second prototype is on display at the National helicopter museum outside the city. First time I saw one flying was in 04, my dad was an engineer on the project for Boeing, he found out they were flying one over the plant he worked at that afternoon so my mom pulled us out of school to go see it, 3 laps around the facility,1 each in heli, plane, and hybrid modes. He died in 07 and a family friend was deployed at the time, the first week they were in service over seas and he got his unit together for a prayer service under the wings, was an awesome story to hear.

[@jeradmorgan5156]

When I was in the marines I would lift equipment with them. They are awesome machines

[@jeffsmith6760]

I worked at Pax RIver NAS in the early years of the Program. The first time we tried to lift a HMMWV was almost a disaster. We had a HMMWV with its engine out and weights put in to simulate engine weight. I towed the HMMWV down to the test area with a tug. We had a Marine HST Team to do the hook ups for the first time ever. Osprey in a hover approaching from the HMMWvs rear. The downwash literally PUSHED the HMMWV, even with the emergency brake set. It rolled about 300', all the way off the edge of the paved area and ended up in a ditch. The one Marine that was one top tried to do the hook up threw his static pole down and laid down on top of the HMMWV so he wouldn't fall off. He had an interesting little ride...

[@jamesm568]

Better software has made this aircraft more flyable.

[@danielhughes5932]

Watch computers will allow helis past their theoretical top speed too

[@Jarmezrocks]

The guy 2 comments above you his father was the original avionics software technician. Have look at what he had to say😉

[@anthonygonzalez6095]

"I'm excited to take it home today" Me: I thought that was ur house....

[@DeanGulberry]

It's KZbin's house

[@anthonygonzalez6095]

I'm confusion

[@leholen381]

He has an office that he rents for filming all his videos

[@petersavage7904]

@@leholen381 then where is Danny kept?

[@leholen381]

We know it’s the basement but not if it’s his office basement or home basement

[@ronaldschoolcraft8654]

The T406 (AE1107) is technically classified as a turboshaft engine, not a turboprop engine, since final reduction to rotor speed is done by an airframe mounted transmission. There is no reduction gearbox as part of the engine.

[@wikingandersson2561]

I have another historical megaproject: "Vasa, the swedish man-of-war, that foundered on her maiden voyage 10th August 1628."

[@BIGJATPSU]

Yes, and even more of a megaproject was the restoration efforts on it.

[@Rollermonkey1]

There are several documentaries on the Vasa on YT, in multiple languages, and ranging from 4 minutes to two hours. I'm just saying...

[@marcos340loko]

I'm glad to see a video on the V-22, I remember back in 2014 when I was in NYC on the Intrepid Aircraft carrier/museum watching all the famous aircrafts (SR71, MIGs, Concorde), and as I was on the top deck I look up and spot a V-22 flying above us, around 1000ft up, best day ever

[@jdapaetz]

"Acting as an aircraft rather than a helicopter"? Helicopters are aircraft good sir. They are, however, not aeroplanes.

[@joshmagnum7312]

Thank you, some one had to tell him. I was just coming down here to do it but it would seem you beat me to the punch. Was driving me nuts the whole video.

[@ECH0dj]

Mad cuz bad

[@augsdoggs]

While this glaring error had me thinking the same, blame should lie in its proper order. 15:30 1. Writer 2. Editor 3. Host

[@valrabellkeys9867]

I came looking for this comment.

[@thebookofduderonomy]

Oh don't be so pedantic

[@oldretireddude]

Just a note, the engines were Allison Gas Turbine/Allison Engine Company Engines during development and contract award. They became Rolls-Royce after AGT/AEC was sold to Rolls-Royce.

[@banginpeakhour]

Hey Simon, how about doing one on the James Webb Space Telescope? It's a current mega project.

[@stonehaven2289]

Old news now tho.. it's in space already 😁

[@davidblanchard66]

That would be cool to hear bout for sure

[@larrysorenson4789]

The Osprey was one of my dads projects during its early development . He advocated STOL and VSTOL aircraft starting in the early 1960’s. He was a test pilot (56-D) and became Chief of Bomber Operations and Chief of Flight Test at Wright Pat from 1957 to 1964. A model was on his desk during that period. The drive shaft design was a constant difficulty.

[@Domazsakalauskas]

Personally I always found V-22 Osprey to be an awesome looking aircraft.

[@MySerpentine]

Sure, but are they *useful* ones?

[@markbrisec3972]

Osprey is a true game changer... Given the amount of new technology and the completely out of the box thinking about vertical/horizontal flight in a single aircraft, the number of accidents and problems that the V-22 suffered is understandable. After it all the US Marines got one heck of a machine that completely redesigns their tactics regarding storming beaches across the world.. US Army should get some before we see the results of the Future vertical lift program..

[@operator0]

A lot of people underestimate just how revolutionary this aircraft is. This thing has changed the way tactical warfare is conducted in much the same way the F-117 stealth fighter changed strategic bombing. It's truly revolutionary and it's worth every penny spent and all the lives it took to get it right. But, most people don't understand why it's so revolutionary, including Simon, who just glossed over it's most revolutionary quality. Range. The V-22's range and ability to land and take off vertically combined with it's ability to carry large payloads sets this thing apart and going into the future, any serious military force wont be considered serious unless it has something similar. To give everybody an idea of just how crucial it's range advantage is over conventional rotary wing aircraft, take a look at this diagram: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Boeing_V-22_Osprey#/media/File:MV-22B_combat_radius_in_Iraq_compared_with_CH-46E_combat_radius.svg

[@liammenchaca8860]

that is one spicy graph my dude

[@kirknay]

The problem is maintinence. The Osprey is so mechanically complex that the marines don't want to fly it, out of concern of breaking down.

[@operator0]

@@kirknay This aircraft has among the best safety record of any military aircraft in our inventory. It might be difficult to maintain, but the facts and stats prove that it is safe and it is ready to fly. The V-22 has had only two fatal crashes since it went operational more than a decade ago, a far lower rate than any other USMC rotary wing aircraft. While I will admit that it is expensive and time consuming to maintain, this aircraft is worth it at five times the cost. This thing has changed the way tactical warfare is conducted forever and puts the US in a position to dominate land warfare. IMO, this aircraft is worth ten times the accident rate and half the availability rate it currently has. If Marines are afraid to fly in it, that's because people like you and those in the press who speak ill of it based off its development record. Those problems have been solved and the aircraft is very safe today.

[@zeitgeistx5239]

Not really, the XB-70 was truly revolutionary. A Mach 3 bomber that flew several years before the Concorde. The internet is 99% filled with circle jerking kids who know nothing of aviation history.

[@Bob-nc5hz]

Indeed. Many compare it to fixed-wings without understanding that its entire purpose is to replace helos, which it beats *handily* on pretty much everything but cost.

[@patrickn2858]

My Grandpa, Paul Thomas, worked on the first v22 project throughout the late 80s and early 90s . He’s very proud of the work he did and has pictures he shows to me about the development team and the prototype v22.

[@pahtar7189]

The Osprey would have been significantly more affordable if the Army hadn't bailed on it, sticking the Marines and Air Force with the entire development costs for 1/5 of the units initially intended.

[@tybotti]

The Army needed thousands of them. They were 100 million apiece at the time.

[@pahtar7189]

@@tybotti: They were $100 million a piece BECAUSE the Army abandoned the project, cutting the purchase by at least 80%. If they'd stayed in, the production line could have operated at optimal level for years, dropping the per-unit cost dramatically.

[@levikelley1842]

When I worked as an ironworker on the space shuttle launch pads in Florida, we got to watch those things get tested daily. They are just as awesome today as the first one I ever saw on '08/09. They actually used one of those to get photos of the new siding and the new American flag painted on the outside of the v.a.b building on Cape Canaveral air force base. Was pretty cool when I was over 650' on a swing stage on the side of the v.a.b and turned around to see the pilot and co pilot waving at us and giving us the thumbs up! I kinda felt weird cuz they were the ones deserving the thumbs up

[@elijahshields3844]

I’d love to see a Megaprojects on the AC-130!

[@MaskHysteria]

I had the privilege of meeting a U.S. Marine major assigned to the Osprey project on the way back from Paris in 2000. We ended up in the same row. The airshow had just wrapped up and he was returning home with his lovely wife. Had a lot of opportunity to talk with him about the aircraft and enjoy the first class treatment the flight attendants provided him despite being in coach. Great guy.

[@robertbrazier5097]

Simon's that one school teacher we all wish we had

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Living near Ft Bragg ( Army base in North Carolina USA) the Marines come from Camp Lejune to play and usually bring some V-22’s. Very odd but awesome aircraft. You definitely know when they are flying, as they sound much different than the average military helicopter. Awesome piece of engineering.

[@bythebeardofmatt]

The thought of Simon having a nine-month old is honestly so wholesome

[@cloud101787]

I live between multiple military bases here in NW Florida, and see these things every so often. So much fun to watch then fly.

[@ThomasCallahanJr]

The Huey had a lot of problems in the beginning too... the Osprey has really grown into its own though and has become an amazing aircraft. Even though short-sighted congressmen tried to kill it multiple times.

[@michaeldunne338]

The Black Hawk had a rough patch in the early 1980s. Led to its grounding. Found this from an AP news item back then: "First introduced to the Army in April 1981, the Blackhawk was designed as the successor to the UH-1 Huey. It is described by the Army as the most capable, most easily maintained troop-carrying helicopter in the world. .... In just the past four months, however, six Blackhawks have crashed, resulting in 15 deaths. Between 1981 and 1984, 22 soldiers died in 16 Blackhawk crashes. The most serious accident this year occurred March 13 at Fort Bragg, N.C., when eight soldiers and four crewmen died in a crash during a routine training flight. "

[@fresatx]

It really hasnt... Its combat readiness sucks if they need 10 in Iraq they have to send 20. Its an amazing machine. Doesnt mean it its reliable.

[@ThomasCallahanJr]

fresatx that’s pretty standard across all complex machines though. Most aircraft are like that. At least in fixed wing units.

[@fresatx]

@@ThomasCallahanJr Yes I realize this but the Osprey abuses the privilege. I was wrong.. Operational readiness is actually 40 percent... Not 50 percent like I thought. And bear in mind that these are stateside numbers where parts are just fedexed immediately. You guys are fanboys I get it but this aircraft, while amazing doesnt seem ready for primetime where we need it. Its been out and "operational" for over ten years (20 plus in development) so these arent teething issues, sorry.

[@fresatx]

@@ThomasCallahanJr seapowermagazine.org/ospreys-readiness-struggles-4-out-of-10-mv-22s-arent-available-for-combat-but-initiatives-are-underway-to-improve-the-unique-aircrafts-dependability/

[@Overworkedandunderpaid]

I love how giddy he is during the sponsorship. Dude sounds like a good dad.

[@JerBuster77]

I've had the pleasure of riding in an Osprey. It was a very smooth ride.

[@alirehan4021]

✌️✌️

[@patton357]

I worked on the V22 from 1998 to 2012 in some capacity. I am so proud of the men and women maintaining and operating this aircraft. We know why it's needed. Go fast. Go low. Go deep.

[@darkseraphim42]

The Osprey is such a beastly machine. Cheers Simon they are absolutely MegaProjects ;)

[@BlueBirdsProductions]

Gay

[@dpreston8831]

it's still a pos in my eyes because that’s the helicopter that ruined my marine career.

[@UrMomsChauffer]

Chris Noble you might want to look into the number of deaths attributed to this piece of shit. Definitely not worth it.

[@phalanx3803]

@@UrMomsChauffer maybe you should look at how many deaths the 747 has. how about aviation as a whole there have bean many deaths over the history of aviation. look at the 737-MAX it was meant to be one of the safest planes in the air and yet it still crashed and the whole fleet is grounded. death will always happen especially when making new technologies.

[@UrMomsChauffer]

Phalanx380 the 737-MAX is another prime example of an aircraft that should never have been produced. Which was exactly my point. Why force production of something that hasn't developed safely, or as envisioned? If you want to compare apples to oranges, you can. Start with air miles, flight hours, and number of passengers carried in the different types of aircraft you referenced.

[@briocheoleary5043]

Hey, it’s lovely to see the love and pride u have for ur kid. Nuff respect

[@victorbart]

In 1999 after the Black Mesa Accident the Osprey's where send in with Hecu troops. They tried to cover up the accident. Luckily Gordon Freeman with the help of scientists and some guards managed to fight them off so the world could hear the truth. But it was to late the world wasn't saved from City 17.... ( I want Half-life III ! 😭 )

[@TylertheCC1010fan]

You were so close but the incident happened in the year 200X, but other than that everything is accurate.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Your post is complete BS, Vic.

[@victorbart]

@@AA-xo9uw NO!

[@paulborne6457]

Growing up in the 50s-60s I remember the idea being written about & cover illustrations showing it on issues of Popular Mechanics. Been a LONG road, very glad to see its success.

[@superhydrocarbon]

Anyone remember having an Osprey toy manufactured by Matchbox, the one that transformed into a sort of a mini base?

[@alimtimm7355]

I’ve been inside an osprey before. It’s really massive, but the interior is smaller then my bedroom. It’s literally filled with wires and pipes. Another thing, the rotors, when at a 90* angle are as tall as my house, and the rotor caps are bigger then my kitchen table. It’s way bigger then u think.

[@GrumpyGoliath]

Megaprojects, Bismarck-class battleships. The Bismarck has a great story, and the Tirpitz ended up being the biggest European battleship of the war.

[@Zeithri]

I second this - It's sister ship was also sunk outside of Norway.

[@jugganaut33]

Only because they broke the Washington treaty, and they still weren’t that impressive when compared to Yamato.

[@GrumpyGoliath]

The Lombax very true, but I’d still love to hear Simon’s take on these ships. Plus the Bismarck withstood an hour of constant shelling before sinking; and to sink the Tirpitz they literally had to go get bigger bombs. I kinda want to learn about the production process that made ships that strong.

[@jugganaut33]

Samuel Burton: true she/he was a strong ship. But she/he also got mission killed by Prince of Wales’s ridiculously pathetic 14” shells, the very shells she was designed to be immune against. Having crippled one of her boiler rooms, Flooded the majority of her fuel oil and drinking water. And then Main guns fell silent within 15minutes of combat against the revenge hood flotilla

[@steeljawX]

@@jugganaut33 Well, by the end of the war, just about everyone with naval manufacturing capability broke the Washington Treaty. It's just that the Axis Powers broke it first, or rather ignored it first.

[@michaeljohnston6856]

Nice glimpse of your personal life, we love you Simon. Thanks for all you do

[@SRW_]

Simon: i was building furniture this morning... Me: from ikea?!?!

[@steeljawX]

I can't tell. Some times Ikea shafts you a spanner, but the real tell tale sign of Ikea furniture would be if he said, "They gave me like 5 allen wrenches all the same size, but no spanner."

[@SRW_]

Steeljaw XXI Clearly you dont watch business blaze

[@steeljawX]

@@SRW_ Unfortunately for your assumptions, I do.

[@SRW_]

Steeljaw XXI Oh, sorry

[@steeljawX]

@@SRW_ You're fine. There's too many in jokes and memes, allegedly. I just watch to the end and smash the dislike button like Simon tells me to. 😆 [and listen about 5G.]

[@skizzik121]

This was the last aircraft on my "walk up and touch it list" laid hands on F-35, 18, 14, 16, hell have a chunk of some composite from Raptor touched the A-10 B-52 SR-71 and Oxcart but the Osprey proved to be the most difficult to get arranged of all of them...god its so cool though!!!!!!

[@Desrtfox71]

The V-22 cost is less than half that of the CH-53K King Stallion. So, not really "eye watering" by top of the line helicopter standards.

[@mhamma6560]

True, but the King can carry a V22 (16ton) and it can also hold a humvee internally. The King is a badass bird, though yes, very damn expensive. Hopefully before long we'll get to see the quad rotor V22 variant with a C130-like fuselage / capability.

[@Stubbies2003]

Well I worked on the F-16 prior to working on the CV-22 and perhaps in helicopter costs it isn't "eye watering" but the F-16 is cheap in comparison. So "eye watering" is definitely a subjective term but having worked on the USAF variant I wouldn't disagree with the term being used.

[@notscullytv]

One of the things that got me fascinated about engineering is call of duty surprisingly, from the guns to the vehicles and all their theoretical stuff too in some campaigns, like the satellite laser beam in ghosts or the sr-71 in bo1, the stealth bomber in OG MW2, the osprey in MW3, I always see these things and eventually I’m like how does that work I wanna know

[@GUNSLINGER471]

My first time in a osprey was in 2012 and the first words out of my mouth were "dear God please don't crash"

[@sim.frischh9781]

The Osprey is certainly one fascinating piece of technology. In another video i heard that while the Osprey, while still being one of the most crash-riddled vehicles, is actually really BELOVED by it´s crews.

[@brocluno01]

I was a friend of one of the development engineers on the Bell side. That central "common" transmission was always the achilles heel of reliable operations. Getting it right was his last project. He died of cancer some years ago. I'm not saying the Osprey did him in, but I have never met a more concerned and frustrated person who worked on one project for decades. I think that frustration and concern, and seeing people dying while development went on, took its toll on him. Eventually it succeeded. It is a unique bit of kit. But you notice that no other country has tried this ... This was/is not an easy one by any means.

[@TimothyOakes]

I used to be an assembler. It is beyond words an awesome aircraft

[@ohdangitsjej5522]

you talking about the mwgb?

[@brocluno01]

@@ohdangitsjej5522 Yup. He never discussed it in those terms (the development was secret, so he had to be vague), but that gearbox drove him a bit nuts at times. It was his responsibility during development, initial flight testing and eval. He saw plenty of fails as the design evolved ... As it iterated, it proved successful, and he was a happy guy in the end : -)

[@ohdangitsjej5522]

@@brocluno01 well your friend appears to have done a fine job. very little issues with it ever

[@brocluno01]

@@ohdangitsjej5522 In development they had at least one really hard emergency landing (airframe damage) and one fatal crash in testing that I know of. It was a hard piece to get right ...

[@waelhedekaila]

I would like to see a video about the A-10 Warthog. A plane that made it home with one and half a wing and a one missing engine. That and the iconic "Brrrrrttttt".

[@river1403]

“Buried at sea” is just a fancy way to say “unceremoniously tossed over board”

[@Deaddriftbum]

If you’re Bin Laden, yep

[@brentbeacham9691]

Sharks thinking, “Meat not fit to eat.”

[@dadillen5902]

Or flushed down the head (navy toilet) one piece a a time.

[@ryarbrough1195]

No. Actually, the military burials at sea almost always have ceremony.

[@dadillen5902]

@@ryarbrough1195 I am betting in this case celebration, as in beer party, more than ceremony. Can not imagine anyone there mourning. Or am I being vindictive.

[@wrightmf]

I was somewhat puzzled by the XV15 reference, it first flew in 1970s (but maybe I missed something, too lazy to go back and listen again). I remember seeing this at Ames Research Center. Also in 1970s various Bell Helicopter ads in Aviation Week along with artwork of future military tiltrotors. And yes reading about ongoing development through the 80s and 90s. It was just a few years ago I finally had opportunity to see one of these in person, and go inside and have a seat in pilots position. It seemed rather cramped inside (can't imagine it with full with fully equipped combat troops). What stood out was the ceiling was packed with cables and wires going everywhere, each was meticulously labeled (the documention configuration control gots to be a time killer). I asked a V22 pilot how easy/difficult to fly, he said it transitions very smoothly so it is easy to fly (though he is a Marine pilot so something hard for everyone else would be easy for him). I also had opportunity to chat with a NASA research pilot that flew the XV15, he said the controls engineers did a nice job on the transitioning from helicopter to airplane mode, transition was smooth. The question about is it an airplane or a helicopter. A tiltrotor pilot said it is considered a helicopter that flys really fast.

[@ilovecoffeev]

To anyone still interested in the Osprey, I'd suggest the "Well There's Your Problem" podcast episode on the aircraft.

[@tylerl.m.g.2074]

They did a great episode on it!

[@ilovecoffeev]

@@tylerl.m.g.2074 i only recently found their podcast, and I've binged nearly all their content. They have a great way of informing while giving a healthy dose of incredibly dark humor.

[@tylerl.m.g.2074]

@@ilovecoffeev Yea, the last three or four episodes have been really good. Before then it was just a lot of giggling and interrupting. You might like the USCSB channel since they also have a long, but dry, history of engineering disasters as well. Albeit short, but still informative and gradually better animation.

[@tylerl.m.g.2074]

@@ilovecoffeev I'd also highly recommend The Dollop, an American history podcast. Start with Episode 23, or 15. It must be one of those.

[@devinfaux6987]

@@ilovecoffeev Check out DoNotEat's own content. Just as informing without all the giggling and interrupting Tyler mentions.

[@mkllove]

Amazing to see these flying around DC area, particularly along the Potomac, they're unique sounding, the beat of rotor's over the wings and fuselage is something totally different, and hard to pick out... you can't tell where the sound is coming from direction wise until it's relatively close overhead while in hover modes, and it makes no significant noise in fwd flight modes compared to other helicopters or even jets around the airport.

[@karllewis735]

We *still* need a Megaprojects episode on the vast enterprise that is Simon Whistler's KZbin Empire!

[@edwardsummey8843]

Simon may have to create a channel just to cover all of his other channels.

[@hughgordon6435]

How about an episode on his beard?

[@Disco2004]

Hugh Gordon it’s a mega project for him to get it ready b4 recording

[@chadwick2629]

I see these pretty often but im never fast enough with my phone to get a good video. I usually end up staring in awe

[@Direblade11]

Can we get a non-vehicular mega project next?

[@robslade2571]

I have seen one of these over East London. It is an amazing aircraft.

[@LeviathanBreed1]

- "This video is brought to you by..." - Me: skip, skip, skip - "...and you'll get ..." - Me: skiiiiiiip, skiiiiiiiip, skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip for one eternity - "...link down below..."

[@NorseGraphic]

The Brotherhood of Steel???

[@MrIlikerockmusic]

Since you've done the Osprey, I hope you do a video on the Harrier jet

[@steveskouson9620]

"...part aircraft, part helicopter." You're going with that? Helicopters are also aircraft! Helicopters, gliders, hot air and gas balloons, dirigibles, airplanes,(any that I have missed?) are ALL aircraft. steve

[@39satcom]

Even human bodies in Dubai have been aircraft.

[@dannyboyy31]

Yes that description jarred with me too. Part fixed-wing, part rotary-wing would've been a better way to describe it.

[@kevincinnamontoast3669]

Gliders

[@lithobreak3812]

This is one of the few pieces of military technology that I'm rooting for. If mastered tilt rotor aircraft would be extremely useful for various civilian applications. The speed and range of an airplane and the versatility of helicopters in one vehicle, we have been searching for this holy grail for decades.

[@caseysingletary9260]

"Part aircraft and part helicopter" I let it go the first time thinking he just meant to say "airplane"...but then he said it again...soo...you do realize that a helicopter is a type of aircraft, right? XD

[@kokadosh8763]

I live in Tacloban where typhoon Haiyan hit back at 2013. I occasionally see these V22 Ospreys flying in pairs and I once saw the sea stallion too. Also, the picture for the typhoon Haiyan in the vid, that was taken infront of Sto. Nino church with the camera looking straight into downtown Tacloban

[@turtletown456]

The Osprey: Both Dangerous AND Expensive

[@ohdangitsjej5522]

cringe. not that dangerous

[@turtletown456]

OhDang It'sJej there have been 42 deaths directly from issues in the hull of the plane, and during its testing there were four crashes resulting in 30 deaths

[@ohdangitsjej5522]

Jaxtherabbit still safer than many other airframes during initial development stages. especially considering that its the first mass produced tilt rotor aircraft. nearly a third of the deaths come from a single crash. many of the crashes are attributed to pilot error, maintenance error, and avionics error. nearly all of it was because of some sort of human interaction, not really the design. i assure you, its a lot safer than you think.

[@turtletown456]

OhDang It'sJej I agree, but still, it needs tad bit of work, not the *safest* thing innit. But then again neither is flight all together

[@ohdangitsjej5522]

Jaxtherabbit of course. theyre always trying to make it safer. but nearly all of the vital systems are redundant, so they all have backups: hydraulics, flight computers, electronics, and generators. it can safely run on one engine, has emergency lubrication in case the propbox fails, all sorts of warning and cautions to indicate failures, both non-critical and critical and even automatic fire extinguishers in the wings.

[@serveaux]

5:00 A fishing eating what now? Oooh, HAWK, I heard something else that rhymes with "door" and starts with a "wh" 🤣

[@gfrog8888]

Ospreys are cool, but when you’re in the back it always feels like that thing is gonna fall right outta the sky

[@TiltedSpaz]

That means they're working ;) its when it feels like its running smoothly that you should worry lol

[@colbywood8113]

TheSpazz when it’s running smoothly it’s cause you’re falling out the fucking sky 😂😂

[@Stubbies2003]

Never felt that in any of the CV-22 flights I've been on.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

2:07 I remember an old issue of _Popular Science_ , I think it was, from the early 1950s or something, which had a feature on various concepts of VTOL aircraft that we might hope to see in the next 10 years. None of that came to pass. Then, decades later, this thing comes along, and at a great cost in money and lives, they actually manage to get it flying. So to me, it’s not something I’ve never seen before. It’s just a long time coming.

[@sibire8284]

Ah yes. Literally the safest vehicle in the DoD arsenal.

[@mikes-qk1sh]

I actually was involved with the V22 program and another unique aspect of the program was how the simulators were acquired. Instead of a detailed military requirement specification we used the FAA level D specification to define the fidelity of the simulation

[@trapical]

That sponsor spot though. "They support STEAM, which is STEM, but also an A to include Art." So... including literally the opposite of STEM in with STEM. Why even bother using the acronym when it covers virtually every field? Like, I'm not hating on the arts and the importance of creativity as an aspect of education, it's just so bizzare to include it in with a term that traditionally meant a focus on the very opposite.

[@alexroge6495]

Ya its BS nonsense

[@W2wxftcxxtcrw]

Because that’s what it’s called in American schools. You might notice that STEAM not include things like trades, automotive, entrepreneurship, etc. So clearly not “every field”.

[@francisboyle1739]

I don't think it includes accountancy. Or showjumping. Seriously they call it STEAM because that describes what's in the box.

[@EtherFox]

@@francisboyle1739 showjumping is art

[@jonnunn4196]

The old STEM wasn't much better with covering 80% of all fields. In both cases, when everything is high priority, nothing is.

[@tyrantsmisery]

I know this is old but a minor correction in regards to Operation Eagle Claw, only three Marines died the remaining 5 casualties were from the Air Force.

[@jrcooper83]

"....father of an 8 month old..." BAHAHAHA! Your pain has just begun, brother! You think the diapers are bad? Wait till the little twerp can start talking back. It. Gets. So. Much. Worse!

[@scottsarchitecturehildebra1761]

Super thorough and excellent!

[@Mrgunsngear]

they're terrible to fly in; feels like it's about to come apart the whole time

[@Stubbies2003]

Have flown multiple times on the CV-22. It isn't that bad. Also never felt like it was falling from the sky on transition at all. Indeed the opposite. More like I felt like the aircraft could leave me behind if I didn't hold onto something during take off and climb out. It has a lot of power.

[@tehhunter2003]

Woah when KZbin worlds collide

[@titan5525]

It didn't get nicknamed the widow maker for no reason. The thing is a flying death trap.

[@edgardox.feliciano3127]

@@titan5525 i think youre talking about the wrong plane. The widowmaker was the f-104 starfighter.

[@owenshebbeare2999]

@@edgardox.feliciano3127 Plenty of aircraft have had that name for all or part of their service, and the F-104 certainly wasn't the first, with the Martin B-26 being one of many earlier types to carry that name, and many non-American planes did too. The 104 was just one of the most notorious, for good reason.

[@jasonwilde197]

We had around a dozen of those V-22s on our base. I would go out to the flight line on my lunch break and watch them do their sorties. This video doesn't do it's size any justice. These are some big mothers. They have a very distinct sound when taking off and landing. Glad to see them featured on your channel Simon! I have been here with you since you started this channel, and I'm glad to see it has grown well. Not that I had any doubts in you. What is this, like the fifth channel you are featured in? :-) Cheers mate.

[@FormerGovernmentHuman]

I hate it. When I had these as a air package we also had 47’s. The brown out is ridiculous, the landing takes forever, and the .50 cal in the back can only swing out to the right, compared to the 47 with its twin mini guns and twin 240B’s. 160th pilots can also land a 47 almost anywhere and can do it softly, the brownout isn’t nearly as bad. HOWEVER when you hit an area way on the outskirts of your AO it is nice to get there quicker.

[@kazsmaz]

What is a 47 What is a Brownout Not everyone was in the military

[@FormerGovernmentHuman]

The Virtual Scotsman Ch47 chinook Brown out is all the sand and dirt that comes up when landing especially in a desert environment.

[@kazsmaz]

@@FormerGovernmentHuman thank you

[@0311Mushroom]

Sorry, the are Marine craft, not Army. Why would you have these and CH-47s?

[@FormerGovernmentHuman]

0311Mushroom i was on bastion/leatherneck for that trip, those are the air packages we had. For day ops we would take 53’s but it was rare.

[@mikehandteDG]

I have flown on these machines multiple times and every time it's a mix of a heart attack and pure exhilaration when the engine nacelles tilt forward. It's also burned the grass field it had landed on and sat on just to load and unload gear and personnel

[@lionelguilbert6493]

Actually Simon, the V-22 got named after the osprey for all the reasons you mentioned, but one more important one: it hovers in place flapping its wings looking for fish before diving.

[@MarshFlyFightWin]

Do you think you could do a video on the Nevada-Class Battleships as both ships had interesting careers. One of which USS Nevada tried to escape Pearl Harbor, fought at D-Day , Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and survived 2 atomic bombs. I would say that's a mega ship. Love the videos, they're well researched

[@mrupperland1303]

The Osprey is my favourite aircraft, I got to work on some in the British Army, we got loaned a couple on expedition. Clarification: I worked in rescue for a bit

[@LazarusLong10]

I’ve always wondered, what is the practical application of this aircraft? Basically, what situations necessitate using the v-22 over a regular helicopter or plane.

[@mrupperland1303]

@@LazarusLong10 from what I've learned, they were used for search and rescue, especially because I was stationed in more mountainous regions, and they were also used as light gunships, but obviously not in actual combat yet

[@LazarusLong10]

So the theory is you would want something that covers more ground than a helicopter but could still do a vertical landing for recovery? Always felt it was a cool piece of tech but always wondered what situations you would want to replace a plane or helicopter with it since both of those would do their independent jobs (speed and load capacity) better than the V-22

[@mrupperland1303]

@@LazarusLong10 I did wonder that too, but in the very limited time I worked on it, there are two main advantages: - the first was the maneuverability, it's a lot easier to get around in multiple ways, and that thing is fast. Real fast. - the size of it allows a lot of equipment, and can hold a RRC (rapid relief clinic) inside it. It's main role was to launch a snowmobile scout, and so that we could do a lot more advanced work in it. I dont really know the ins and outs of it, I was only a paramedic/mechanic

[@LazarusLong10]

Thanks for expanding my knowledge. Like I said always thought it was cool just never saw the point. I do love the image of this thing dropping a snowmobile scout on a search and rescue mission. That feel like Bond level tech