Flame me if you want, but the Osprey is a pretty cool plane

[absyntheNsugar]

Yeah I know they're dangerous....but damn they are cool! I saw a few taking off from Moffett here in the bay area once and damn - straight vertical rise like a helicopter, then fly with the speed of a plane!

If they ever work the bugs out of these things - I'd love it if they became the model for a flying car someday!

[ewagner]

1. I'm an avid Discovery Wings watcher

and if I remember correctly, there is a civilian version of the Osprey at least in the prototype, demonstrator stage of development.

But you are also correct that there is a lot that needs to be done to make them safer....

[TrogL]

2. Yeah, if they'd just stop killing people

The problem is with the complicated gears and stuff needed to tilt the rotor nacelles. They haven't yet found a material that will take the strain.

[ewagner]

3. Didn't know the exact problem

The concept is great but implementation is very, very difficult.

In the late '50s or early '60s Bell designed and flew a small jet posered VTOL that was very successful. Almost the same concept as the Harrier but extremely small and efficient.

btw: If I recall the prototype I mentioned above is by Bell also