A congressional oversight committee has launched an investigation into the V-22 Osprey program following a deadly crash in Japan which killed eight Air Force special operations service members.
The entire Osprey fleet remains grounded following the Nov. 29 crash with the exception of limited Marine Corps flights in emergencies. More than 50 U.S. service members have died in Osprey crashes over the lifespan of the program, and 20 of those died in four crashes over the last 20 months.
The Osprey is a fast-moving airframe that can fly like both a helicopter and an airplane — but its many crashes have led critics to warn it has fatal design flaws.
The government of Japan, the only international partner flying the Osprey, has also grounded its aircraft after the Nov. 29 crash.
Ah, the good ole marine killer: Well There’s Your Problem episode on them
It’s been a shitshow of a craft since its inception but fuck me if they aren’t cool as heck. Sometimes they’ll fly some from a nearby airport and they’ll shake the entire building if they are in hover mode and it’s always awesome