MV-22 supporting POTUS/Marine 1

[Cap-10]

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/10/osprey-aircraft-deployed-for-first-time-in-support-of-marine-one/?hpt=hp_c4

Osprey aircraft deployed for first time in support of Marine One

By CNN’s Greg Clary

(CNN) – Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, aircraft that take off vertically, provided a dramatic new look for President Barack Obama’s travel detail as he and the first lady began a Martha’s Vineyard vacation on Saturday.

The Ospreys – making their presidential debut - shuttled White House staff, media and Secret Service members from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod.

The sleek tilt-rotor aircraft can take off like a helicopter but fly like an airplane.

The Marines say the Ospreys are twice as fast, can travel six times farther and are capable of carrying three times the weight of the Vietnam-era CH-46E helicopters which have supported missions involving the president.

There are no plans yet to have the president fly in the MV-22s.

The Osprey has raised some safety concerns over the years. It earned the unceremonious nickname “the Widowmaker” after crashes during initial development and testing.

In late 2000, the Corps grounded the fleet after two crashes, one in Arizona killing four crew members and 15 passengers and another in North Carolina that killed the crew.

But engineers redesigned the craft for improved safety and the Marines have used them extensively in Afghanistan.

Plans to build a new fleet of helicopters to be used as Marine One have hit multiple budgetary snags over the years. Obama canceled plans for a new fleet back in 2009 after projected costs soared to $11 billion.

Cheers,

Cap-10

[Day Man]

There are no plans yet to have the president fly in the MV-22s.

you don't say...

[JarheadBoom]

HMX got rid of their -46s and replaced them with -22s, just like what the rest of the Air Wing is doing.

IIRC, the -22 won't safely fit on the South Lawn LZ, so you won't likely see POTUS riding in one.

[Butters]

HMX got rid of their -46s and replaced them with -22s, just like what the rest of the Air Wing is doing.

IIRC, the -22 won't safely fit on the South Lawn LZ, so you won't likely see POTUS riding in one.

It is not that is won't fit. It is the fact that it will blow the trees down and the exhaust will burn holes in the nice grass.

[ExBoneOSO]

POTUS might not fly on it, but one member of the family does...

[PSYCH]

POTUS might not fly on it, but one member of the family does...

Is that really a bag full of basketballs? They make the equipment list?

[Snooter]

Psych beat me to it...

Edited August 12, 2013 by Snooter

[SurelySerious]

6-9 basketballs nonetheless... I would say on average it takes me about one basketball to shoot around. And only one basketball to play a pickup game. F/W/A on a small scale.

[guineapigfury]

6-9 basketballs nonetheless... I would say on average it takes me about one basketball to shoot around. And only one basketball to play a pickup game. F/W/A on a small scale.

I suspect he uses multiples in a particular game and gives them away as mementos to who he played with. Sort of like how a president will use multiple pens to sign an important piece of legislation, then distribute them to people who were involved in passing that legislation. Or they might be dodgeballs to be used in a game between the POTUS Allstars vs Average Joes, televised on ESPN8 ... the Ocho.

[DFRESH]

... Or they might be dodgeballs to be used in a game between the POTUS Allstars vs Average Joes, televised on ESPN8 ... the Ocho.

Fuckin' a right cotton!

[Snooter]

ESPN 8, the Ocho, I just can't get enough...

[17D_guy]

I suspect he uses multiples in a particular game and gives them away as mementos to who he played with. Sort of like how a president will use multiple pens to sign an important piece of legislation, then distribute them to people who were involved in passing that legislation. Or they might be dodgeballs to be used in a game between the POTUS Allstars vs Average Joes, televised on ESPN8 ... the Ocho.

That's a bold strategy Cotten, lets see if it pays off for 'em.

[338skybolt]

What an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars. We need to cut back on the number of presidential basketballs.

Next year he'll want 10 - 12 basketballs. When he gets only 6 - 9 like this year, he'll call that a spending cut.

[Spur38]

I've heard that you can get basketballs with a SNAP card!

[Buddy Spike]

Sequestration only applies to the common people.