Corps eyes 10 Osprey squadrons in Southwest

[unhappycamper]

Corps eyes 10 Osprey squadrons in Southwest
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 20, 2009 14:29:31 EST

The Marine Corps will solicit public comments next month about its plans to base 10 MV-22 Osprey squadrons — including as many as 120 tilt-rotor aircraft — in the Southwest.

As many as eight of those squadrons would be active-duty units supporting I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at nearby Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego. Two others would be Reserve squadrons with 4th MAW.

The Navy’s “preferred alternative” would be to put eight squadrons at Miramar and two squadrons at Camp Pendleton, according to a draft environmental impact statement recently completed by the Department of the Navy.

The Osprey is replacing the Corps’ fleet of aging CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, which provide most of its medium-lift capability. Seven active-duty Sea Knight squadrons are housed at Miramar and Camp Pendleton, and two Reserve squadrons have been housed at Edwards Air Force Base, north of Los Angeles.

East Coast Osprey squadrons located at MCAS New River, N.C., have already taken the helicopter-airplane hybrid to Iraq, and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is preparing to take it on a scheduled deployment this spring.


Rest of article about these $68 million wonders at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_osprey_022009w/%2e



uhc comment: Imagine that - $68 million helicopters.

Empire is expensive.