Thunder Chickens Are Go

Bell Boeing has developed an aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like a fixed-wing turboprop. Called the V-22 Osprey, the aircraft features a tilt-rotor design that is achieved by gradually rotating the two engines mounted at the ends of the wings. The Osprey offers twice the speed, three times the payload and five times the range of helicopters. It can also fly more than twice as high as most helicopters, which means that, coupled with its greater speed, it is less susceptible to threats from the ground. With its combination of range and vertical take-off and landing capabilities, the Osprey is naturally an attractive investment for the US Navy