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| Re: MTA Threatens to Hold Siemens in Default for Delays & Cost Overruns (536366) | |||
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Re: MTA Threatens to Hold Siemens in Default for Delays & Cost Overruns |
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Posted by RonInBayside on Wed Dec 19 01:41:48 2007, in response to Re: MTA Threatens to Hold Siemens in Default for Delays & Cost Overruns, posted by Jackson Park B Train on Wed Dec 19 01:11:45 2007. The Osprey is a lot older than even that!Bell started flying the XV-3 prototype in 1955. In 1963, Curtiss Wright came out with a successful prototype using 4 ducted fans; Canadair produced a model in 1964. The V-22 is basically an armored,upengined model of the XV-15, which had been flying since 1977 and was also intended for the civilian market. The Osprey's performance is not poor; it's actually very good. However, to get there the Osprey had to undergo numerous changes, especially to the hydraulic system. Every time the rotors pivoted, hydraulic lines would be rubbed together, bent and broken. Also, it took a long time to figure out where the performance envelope actually was. You can get an Osprey to crash just like a helicopter crashes (when it's in that mode) and pilots taking it through to horizontal-verical transition could not always tell when they were crossing the line. As to cost overruns, in the case of the Osprey, it's predecessors were all research airplanes. Research airplanes are there to gather data and expand knowledge; as long as they do that it's money well spent. The V-22 is the first "production" airplane, and yes, there were substantial overruns. But if you look at its operating record, you'llnotice that it's been a long while since the most recent crash. The airplane's performance is pretty much as advertised, though it does pay a weight penalty, compared to the XV-15, for armor plating. |
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