U.S Navy Tests Flight Operations Of MV-22 Abroad Aircraft Carrier

The U.S Navy has successfully tested the MV-22 Osprey along with aircraft carrier USS Nimitz which received and refueled the aircraft for the first time. The Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165, was the first from (VMM) 165 to make a carrier-based landing and was part of an on-going initiative from the Joint Program Manager Air (PMA) 275 office to increase the number of available platforms. "This was a first for our squadron," said Capt. Patrick Johnson, of VMM 165. "We recently made the switch from helicopters to the Osprey so it was a new experience for most of us". "With the Osprey you have to be careful because the 'down-wash' [the air that comes from the aircraft's rotors] is a lot more than a helicopter," explained Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Andre Taylor, a flight deck director on board Nimitz. "This aircraft has a larger landing area so we have to make sure anything around the landing area is secure and make sure everything is out of the way". This training played a key part in allowing the Osprey to make its first carrier-based landing on Nimitz and turned out to be a unique experience for the crew.