, AMARILLO, Texas: The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey team met its 2006 delivery commitment of 13 MV-22 Ospreys delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps and three CV-22s to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.
“We promised our customers we would deliver 16 V-22s in 2006, meeting our delivery commitments for the second consecutive year,” said Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Program Office Executive Director Bob Kenney. “This accomplishment tops a year in which the Bell Boeing V-22 team achieved several major milestones.”
During 2006, the V-22 fleet surpassed 23,000 total flight hours, including 16,000 squadron flight hours. The program will surpass 25,000 total flight hours in the coming months.
The Marines stood up two MV-22 squadrons: VMM-263 and VMM-162. The Air Force stood up the 8th Special Operations Squadron and completed their Operational Utility Evaluation of the CV-22 in order to begin training combat CV-22 crews.
Two MV-22 Ospreys participated in the 2006 Farnborough Airshow as well as the Royal International Air Tattoo, where they impressed onlookers and future customers with their maneuverability and speed.
“2007 will be a challenging year for the Bell-Boeing Program Office,” Gene Cunningham, deputy Bell Boeing Program Office director said, “but our challenges pale in comparison to the Marines of VMM-263 as they take their MV-22s into combat. We have a laser focus on supporting their deployment, and our prayers, as well as our best efforts, will follow them.”
Under the current program of record, the Marine Corps will purchase 360 MV-22s for missions including amphibious assault, ship-to-objective maneuvers and sustained operations ashore. The Navy is slated to get 48 MV-22s, for fleet logistic support and search and rescue. The Air Force Special Operations Command will acquire 50 CV-22s with enhanced capabilities tailored for their unique mission requirements.
Tiltrotor technology combines the high speed and range of fixed-wing airplane with the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter into one efficient and extremely capable aircraft, providing military customers with significant improvements in combat capabilities.
The Bell Boeing Program Office is a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, a division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $31 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment and launch services.
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