Why was it, again, that the Marines couldn't have the Osprey???

[Volpone]

...something about them crashing too much while they were in development?

Well, shit. If that's the case, why are we flying Harriers? That's a plane that's been in production for decades; is even nearing the end of its life as the STOVL version of the F35 is being developed. Yet the grim nickname for them is the "North Carolina Lawn Dart", because they are largely based out of MCAS Cherry Point and have a disturbing tendency to fall out of the sky.

Well, it happened to another one yesterday. And this time it killed the pilot.

Pilot confirmed dead in Cherry Point Harrier crash
December 29, 2008 - 1:02 PM
DREW C. WILSON
FREEDOM ENC

HAVELOCK - A Cherry Point Marine was killed Monday afternoon when the AV-8B Harrier he was flying crashed in a wooded area off N.C. 101 east of Havelock.

The single-seat aircraft was from Marine Attack Squadron 203 based at Cherry Point, according to base officials.

The crash happened at 12:30 p.m. about one mile east of the air station as the pilot was on a routine training mission and returning to the base, officials said.

The name of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of family.

Hunters in the area at the time of the crash described an odd sound as the jet flew overhead.

"We heard some whining noises and then saw some smoke up in the air," said Mark Seiler, who was hunting on Weyerhaeuser property just west of N.C. 101 and Ferry Road and heard the jet overhead.

He said he did not see the plane hit the ground.

"We just saw the smoke going up in the air and called 911," said Seiler.

The hunters never saw the pilot.

"We didn't see any chute," Seiler said. "We saw smoke and fire."
...

 

[Ancalagon]

The Army has ended up grabbing a couple of them.... only for SOCOM so far, but who knows. Seems they've gotten that thrust shit figured out.... and the Chinook isn't getting any younger. Also I think the new M777 are light enough to be carried by an Osprey.