Monday, September 17, 2007 represents an historic day in the annals of vertical flight. Ten MV-22B Ospreys flew a short distance from the Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. and landed on the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship en-route to the Persian Gulf. The Osprey is only the third non-helicopter powered-lift aircraft (after the Harrier and the Russian Forger) to embark on an operational deployment. After 25 years of development, the Osprey will finally get a chance to prove itself in combat. The Ospreys heading to Iraq are part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263) and will be in theater for seven months. VMM-263 consists of 171 officers and Marines and will provide medium assault support from Al Asad, Iraq, primarily carrying up to 24 combat-loaded troops or 12 litters for medical evacuations.
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