| I know this will stir a few comments but here is the rational for the Topic statement
In 10 years the MV 22 has flown over 6000 hours and had 4 crashes.
Tilt rotor technology and the MV-22 have time after time been proven sound by such groups as the MIT school for aircraft engineering, But America thinks its a flying death trap. All they see are 4 accidents, widows and orphans.
Here are some statistics from other "cutting edge" aircraft: Note that they all cover only 5 years. The normal development time vice the start/stop/cancel/Tech demonstrator/production cycle of the Osprey.
F-8 Crusader 288 crashes (articulated wing)
F-111 had 15 crashes (swing wing)
CH-46 had 44 crashes (what the osprey is replacing)
F-117 admits to 7 crashes (stealth)
F-16 still crashing about 1 a month remember the HBO movie (fly by wire)
I think the problem is that we are such a risk aversion society that any accidents are unacceptable. For the people in their 20s they have always rode in child safety seats with their parents buckled up. Wore a helmet when bicycle riding and most have never gotten in a fist fight.Feels that the government should protect them and cannot understand why we can allow pilots to strap into such a deadly craft. Look at the Challenger explosion. Calls for the end of the Space shuttle because its too dangerous. Didn't hear that type of talk when Apollo 1 burned on the pad or 13 had its problems.
Lastly the AF has been quietly conducting test flights with the CV-22 without problem. Lets cut the crap ring it out and get it to the troops! |
