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Rare Osprey bird to make European debut at Ostrava
The Ostrava airport will once again become venue of a premiere international presentation by a major aircraft type. The US is sending for a static display its unique half-helicopter half-plane CV-22B Osprey.
The Osprey is the only such an aircraft in the world combining advantages of a helo and a transport plane. Thanks to its tilting engines, Osprey can take-off and land like a classic helicopter but its cruise speed is much higher and comparable to turboprop aircraft. These unique characteristics make the plane ideal for rapid deployment in adverse geographical conditions and for use use by special forces.
“Even the original V-22 Osprey variant had been a rare visitor to public events in Europe in the past. It was first displayed at European soil at the Le Bourget Salon in Paris in 1995. Later on, standard production type MV-22B was visitor to the prestigious RIAT Fairford and Farnborough shows in England in 2006 and 2012, respectively,” comments Jan Čadil, chief editor of the Aviation & Cosmonautics magazine. Ostrava is thus becoming only fourth place in Europe where the public will have a chance to see this machine up close.
The Osprey variant to be displayed at NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2014 is the CV-22B, a modified version for use by the US Air Force special forces. “Ther is only one unit operating this varinet in Europe – the 7th Squadron of the 352nd Special operations Group based at RAF Mildehall, England. First three Ospreys arrive at the base only in June last year, with the final operating number to reach 10 aircraft by the end of this year. Due to the heavy operational needs for the aircraft and the unit, it is quite a a minimal chance to see their assets at air shows,” adds Čadil.
"I am delighted that the US forces will present the Opsrey at Ostrava. One of the reason is that our helicopter crews train special operation with them,” comments Gen. Libor Štefánik, Czech Air Force Commander. They will train special operations for example at a September held exercise in Germany called Jackal Stone 2014.
"The premiere participation of this unique aircraft came about after much hard hard. Finally we secured support of the U.S. SOCEUR which uses the aircraft in its operations and therefore visitors of the show will be able to see the Osprey at a static display on Saturday 20 September. We know in advance that due to operational needs it will have to depart on Saturday, but still we believe it will be cherry on top of the already packed programme of this year of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days," says Zbyněk Pavlačík, the chairman of the Jagello 2000 Association, which is the main organizer of the event.
The unique Bell Boeing CV-22B aircraft serves with the 7th Special Operations Squadron, which operates the MC-130H and CV-22, executing night, adverse weather, long-range troop transport and resupply operations into potentially hazardous areas.
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