The U.S. military’s grounding of its entire V-22 Osprey fleet follows a history of safety concerns, not just the recent crash off Japan. The Osprey’s innovative design, combining helicopter and airplane capabilities, has led to operational challenges and questions about its mechanical reliability. Concerns particularly focus on the aircraft’s clutch system, with over a decade of issues, including instances of hard clutch engagement leading to dangerous power spikes and loss of control. Despite ongoing efforts to address these problems, including the recent grounding and a whistleblower lawsuit highlighting manufacturing deficiencies, a definitive solution remains elusive, underscoring the complexities and risks associated with this unique aircraft.
Future US Army Tiltrotor Replacing Black Hawk Officially Named ‘MV-75’
The U.S. Army has formally named its next-generation assault aircraft that will replace the Black Hawk. During an annual Army...
