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Further Qualification Trials for USMC V-22 Osprey and French Navy Mistral-class LHD

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Naval Forces News - France, USA
 
 
 
Further Qualification Trials for USMC V-22 Osprey and French Navy Mistral-class LHD
 
By Xavier Vavasseur
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that it took another step in the interoperability between the V-22 Osprey and the Mistral-class LHD Dixmude on May 2nd 2016. While V-22s have been tested with the Mistral-class several times to date (they were even officially qualified with the Mistral-class last year) it is the first time that the Bell-Boeing tilt-rotor aircraft was qualified for "blades and wings folding and long time parking" aboard the French Navy LHD.
     
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that it took another step in the interoperability between the V-22 Osprey and the Mistral-class LHD Dixmude on May 2nd 2016. While V-22s have been tested with the Mistral class several times to date (they were even officially qualified with the Mistral-class last year) it is the first time that the Bell-Boeing tilt-rotor aircraft was qualified for "blades and wings folding and long time parking" aboard the French Navy LHD.
USMC MV-22B Osprey foalding its rotors and wings aboard Mistral-class LHD Dixmude
French Navy picture
     
This new testing campaign involved the French Navy's Naval Aviation Practical Experimentation Center (centre d’expérimentations pratiques de l’aéronautique navale - CEPA) and an MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263).

The test which took place of the coast of Spain involved:
- The loading & unloading of cargo with V-22's engines running
- The refuelling of the tilt-rotor aircraft
- The foalding of rotors and wings
- The towing of the Osprey with the LHD's flight deck tractors
- The tying down of the V-22 on the flight deck
     
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that it took another step in the interoperability between the V-22 Osprey and the Mistral-class LHD Dixmude on May 2nd 2016. While V-22s have been tested with the Mistral class several times to date (they were even officially qualified with the Mistral-class last year) it is the first time that the Bell-Boeing tilt-rotor aircraft was qualified for "blades and wings folding and long time parking" aboard the French Navy LHD.
The Dixmude's flight deck tractor about to tow the USMC MV-22B Osprey
French Navy picture
     
According to the French Navy: "all these capabilities will enable to achieve operational interoperability to transport troops or logistical supply, similar to the C2 Greyhound on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle".

In March this year, two USMC V-22s were refuelled back-to-back aboard Mistral-class LHD Tonnerre. In September last year, the French navy declared the V-22 Osprey "fully qualified for operational missions to and from the Mistral class". Similar qualifications are expected to take place on board aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Navy Recognition reported earlier this year that the French Navy may be interested in the V-22 Osprey for a carrier onboard delivery role. In addition, there could be a V-22 Osprey at Euronaval 2016 in October.
     
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced that it took another step in the interoperability between the V-22 Osprey and the Mistral-class LHD Dixmude on May 2nd 2016. While V-22s have been tested with the Mistral class several times to date (they were even officially qualified with the Mistral-class last year) it is the first time that the Bell-Boeing tilt-rotor aircraft was qualified for "blades and wings folding and long time parking" aboard the French Navy LHD.
USMC MV-22B Osprey crew from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263) posing with the Dixmude flight deck crew. French Navy picture