I got on "Osprey" and accompanied Marine Corps on ground troops support training

The Marines have used it so farTransport helicopter CH-46EDeployment is being promoted as an alternative toVisit MV-22 Osprey at Futenma Air StationAfter that, I was supposed to actually get on the osprey and accompany the training with the ground troops.

A four-point belt is attached to secure the shoulder and waist like this when getting in.


Ready


After moving to the runway, I jumped vertically instead of flying like a passenger aircraft, so it felt like I was in the air in the blink of an eye as soon as I thought that the airplane started shaking.


The flight speed of Osprey is the highest, 519 km / h. It seems that it was flying at about 220 knots (400 km / h) on this day. By the way, Osprey has the feature that "Speed ​​is fast" as compared with transport helicopters, "The amount of transportation is large", "The cruising distance is long", which makes it possible to expand troops more quickly. Regarding the cruising range, if you use one tanker, you can go even to the Philippines and the Korean Peninsula, you can also refuel in the air, so you will not get much restrictions.


Arrived in the heliport in the northern training ground in about 15 minutes


The northern training area is a training ground which exists across Kunigami Village and Higashi Village. From Futenma it is about 70 km in straight line distance, but the flight route is basically at sea and it is detouring considerably.

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Here, Marine troops of ground troops came in.


A total of 12 people got on board. With the training including the meaning of accustoming to Osprey, assuming that it will "move from point A to point B", once taking off and flying, we will land again in the same place.



After about 20 minutes of flight ......


After the members who got on earlier developed, another crew member deployed to the site will get on the osprey.



Running fast


Deployed members will try to secure surroundings


Meanwhile, when members are ready in the Osprey, takeoff


At the moment of takeoff the wind will become stronger and the pieces of grass that are being harvested are flying towards the camera and face. It is a little dangerous if you do not wear a helmet visor.


Osprey flying away



I slowly faced the tilt rotor from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction and flew away.



As before, I will return to the same place after flying around in Osprey.


So about 15 minutes passed, we heard the flying sound first, and eventually I saw the appearance of Osprey. The tilt rotor is already facing up and is in the landing posture.



Although it is close to a fixed wing aircraft, the behavior feels like a helicopter.



I will do it and descend.



The rear lamp opens ......


Members are running down



Then join the troops that arrived earlier. By the way, they are engineer units and have missions such as landmine removal.


The next unit rushes into the osprey so that it will change.


I will accompany this unit this time.



This time it is a seat closer to the rear ramp.


The inside looks like this.


This person was in charge of opening and closing the lamp.



The upper part of the rear lamp can be closed, but this time it was in the open state.


I do not notice so much when sitting on a seat, but when I am looking at the scenery, I'm pretty leaning when turning the aircraft.



When I return to the landing site I open the lamp a little, I am checking the outside


It seems that this area is flying above the US military facilities. Basically, when landing etc. accompanying it is said that they are flying by choosing a place with few people.



Let's land at the heliport in the northern training area.


Members deployed and this time it took off as is.


There is a part that looks like a little square in the forest on the left hand side, but the heliport where it was landing. With the naked eye, I saw the Marines moving.


The next flight returns to Futenma Air Station.


Because there is a runway in the airfield, landing like a passenger plane rather than landing vertically.



The plane that I boarded this time is kore. "Dragon 8224 EP 05" is written.


Looking from the front like this.


Maintenance work was underway in the hangar.


What are the items around here used for?



"START FOAM SYSTEM" and "ABORT FOAM SYSTEM" switches that were attached to the wall.


"THERE IS NO EASY WAY IN. THAT'S WHY THEY SEND IN THE MARINES."


That's why the Osprey experience boarding is over now.


On the way back, when I passed near the other gate of the Futenma airport, letters such as "return", "RAGE" and "NO BASE" were written on the fence with red vinyl tape.


This seems to be affixed by citizen groups who complain about Osprey deployment opposition, but on the other hand, another way that such a way is not goodI do cleaning activities to remove the tapeIt was that it was.

The movie taken at the time of interview is posted in the following article.

US military new type transport machine "Osprey" Movie taken off from inside the aircraft, etc. Movie Various summary