Quote:
Originally Posted by Flieger
Going along with the more efficient/faster cruise, I believe one of the big reasons for the V-22 was that choppers didn't have enough range. I saw one account that the V-22 genesis involved the problem of choppers not having enough range to get the hostages out of Iran (couldn't get tankers close enough?) and the C-130 jato experiment failed. The V-22 would have been able to get them out in theory.
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Not really. The range of the CH-53E I flew was over 600 miles (300 NM combat radius) at 150KT cruise.
The V-22 is a fine aircraft. It simply wasn't worth the cost. And remember, the V-22 out flies all the escort helos meant to protect it.
I had a ring side seat for a long time watching this unfold.
