Original subtitles

Narrator: PART PLANE.

PART HELICOPTER.

THE V-22 OSPREY IS ONE OF A KIND.

Man: IT'S IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEAGUE.

Narrator: HER JOURNEY FROM SKETCH TO SKY

HAS BEEN FOUGHT WITH RED TAPE AND TRAGEDY.

TENS OF BILLIONS SPENT.

Man: WE KNEW WHAT THE AIRCRAFT COULD DO,

AND THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS WAS.

Narrator: DOZENS OF LIVES LOST.

Man on radio: OH, MY GOD! THEY WENT DOWN! THEY CRASHED!

Narrator: NOW WE BRING YOU THE INSIDE STORY...

HOW THE OSPREY TRANSFORMED ITSELF

FROM ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL AIRCRAFT

EVER BUILT...

Man: ITS POLITICAL VIABILITY WAS QUESTIONED.

Narrator: ...INTO A COMBAT-HARDENED LIFESAVER.

NOVEMBER 8, 2013.

TYPHOON HAIYAN RIPS THROUGH THE PHILIPPINES.

IT'S THE STRONGEST STORM EVER TO MAKE LANDFALL.

DEVASTATING WINDS WHIP OVER THE LAND AT 170 MILES PER HOUR.

THE SURGING SEA LEAVES MUD AND DEATH IN ITS WAKE.

Man: THERE WAS A 15 TO 25-FOOT WAVE,

CAME ACROSS ENTIRE VILLAGES, AND SO EVERYTHING'S WIPED OUT.

Narrator: RELIEF SUPPLIES POUR IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD,

BUT GETTING IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST IS A CHALLENGE.

Casey Nelson: DAY AFTER DAY,

THEY KEPT BRINGING MORE AND MORE CARGO,

AND THEY JUST KEPT STACKING IT UP ON THE TARMAC

RIGHT BESIDE THE OTHER AID AND SUPPLIES.

Narrator: THE PHILIPPINE ARMY TRIES TO DISTRIBUTE THE AID,

BUT THEY QUICKLY FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF SUPPORT.

Nelson: THE PHILIPPINE ARMY WERE UTILIZING OLDER MODEL HUEYS,

AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RANGE

TO GET OUT TO SOME OF THE MORE ISOLATED AREAS.

Narrator: PEOPLE DYING.

SUPPLIES LAID TO WASTE.

RELIEF ORGANIZERS NEED AN ANSWER FAST.

THE SOLUTION COMES FROM THE MARINE CORPS'

ONE-OF-A-KIND AIRCRAFT,

THE V-22 OSPREY.

THE OSPREY IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN.

IT'S NOT A PLANE,

AND IT'S NOT A HELICOPTER.

THE OSPREY IS A TILT-ROTOR,

MEANING IT'S AN AIRCRAFT THAT CAN DO THE JOBS OF BOTH.

Nelson: A TILT-ROTOR AIRCRAFT GIVES US TREMENDOUS CAPABILITIES

THAT AN AIRPLANE HAS AS FAR AS SPEED AND RANGE.

UNIQUELY WE CAN LAND IN A HOVER JUST LIKE A HELICOPTER COULD,

SO WE CAN LAND IN A LOT OF PLACES

THAT AN AIRPLANE CAN'T LAND.

Narrator: ITS TILT-ROTOR CAPABILITIES

GIVE THE OSPREY ANOTHER ADVANTAGE

WHEN IT'S NEEDED QUICKLY...

THEY ALLOW IT TO SELF-DEPLOY.

Man: THE IDEA OF SELF-DEPLOYMENT

IS THAT YOU JUST GAS IT UP AND FLY THERE.

ALL AIRPLANES SELF-DEPLOY BECAUSE THEY CAN CARRY THE FUEL,

AND THEY CAN FLY LONG RANGES.

HELICOPTERS FUNDAMENTALLY DON'T HAVE THE RANGE

OF A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: BUT THE TILT-ROTOR OSPREY

IS A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT COLOR.

Al Winn: THE V-22, BECAUSE IT, IN FORWARD FLIGHT,

IT FLIES LIKE A FIXED-WING,

IT HAS A MUCH LONGER DEPLOYABLE RANGE

THAN A CONVENTIONAL HELICOPTER,

SO A V-22 CAN NOW PRETTY MUCH SELF-DEPLOY

ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 10, 2013.

OKINAWA, JAPAN.

900 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEVASTATION

IN THE PHILIPPINES,

OSPREY PILOTS AT MARINE CORPS STATION FUTENMA

RECEIVE ORDERS TO PREP THEIR BIRDS FOR DEPLOYMENT.

COMMANDERS DUB THE MISSION OPERATION DAMAYAN,

A FILIPINO WORD MEANING "HELP IN THE TIME OF NEED."

Nelson: AS SOON AS WE GOT THE APPROVAL TO GO HELP AND ASSIST,

WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH THE SAME DAY.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IS WELL KNOWN

AS THE FIRST TO THE FIGHT.

THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST BOOTS ON THE GROUND

IN HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS, TOO.

Paul Rock: THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE OUT THERE

WAS CERTAINLY TRACKING THE IMPENDING ARRIVAL OF THE STORM,

SO WITHIN ONLY A DAY,

THE FIRST MARINE RELIEF EFFORTS STARTED TO DEPLOY.

Narrator: FULLY LOADED,

THE OSPREY HAS A RANGE OF 450 MILES,

BUT THE 900-MILE FLIGHT FROM OKINAWA TO THE PHILIPPINES

WON'T STOP THE OSPREY FROM GETTING THERE FAST.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT CAN DO SOMETHING

MOST HELICOPTERS CAN'T... REFUEL IN MID-AIR.

EACH OSPREY SQUADRON IS SUPPORTED

BY A C-130 REFUELING AIRCRAFT.

Nelson: WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A REFUEL AREA COMMANDER,

AND THAT WOULD BE A C-130 PILOT,

AND HE HAS A SPECIAL QUALIFICATION

AND A SPECIAL SKILL.

Narrator: HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR FLIGHT,

THE OSPREYS MUST REFUEL.

EVEN WITH HOURS OF PRACTICE, IT'S A RISKY AERIAL BALLET.

THE OSPREY CAREFULLY ALIGNS WITH THE C-130.

THEY FLY A MERE 15 FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

AT 230 MILES PER HOUR.

TWO HAZARDS COMPLICATE THE REFUELING PROCESS...

THE OSPREY'S POWERFUL TWIN ROTORS,

38-FOOT BLADES SPINNING AT 333 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE.

HALFWAY THROUGH ITS JOURNEY,

THE C-130 CREW EXTENDS A FUEL HOSE.

THE OSPREY MOVES CLOSE TO LOCK ON.

Nelson: YOU'RE DEFINITELY CONCERNED

ABOUT POTENTIAL HAZARDS.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO...

A PROP ROTOR BLADE CONTACTING THE C-130.

Narrator: THE C-130 AND THE OSPREY

EXECUTE THE REFUELING MANEUVER FLAWLESSLY,

BUT MUCH GREATER CHALLENGES AWAIT.

JUST FOUR HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF,

THE OSPREYS ARRIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT...

PROVIDE AID TO A REMOTE VILLAGE 360 MILES SOUTH OF MANILA.

MARINE PILOTS DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'LL TOUCH DOWN

ONCE THEY REACH THEIR DESTINATION.

Nelson: YOU'RE REALLY FLYING AN AIRCRAFT INTO AN AREA

THAT BASICALLY IS COMPLETELY FLATTENED.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE WERE

ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THERE.

Narrator: IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS,

THE OSPREY RELIES ON ITS PRECISION LANDING CAPABILITY,

WHICH COMES FROM TWO IDENTICAL ENGINE PODS CALLED NACELLES.

THE NACELLES ARE THE OSPREY'S MOST IDENTIFIABLE FEATURES.

THEY CONTAIN THE ROTORS

AND PERFORM A KEY FUNCTION... VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING.

Justin Sing: HOW THE NACELLES HELP US TO TAKE OFF VERTICALLY

IS THEY PLACE THE ROTOR HEAD IN AN UPWARD FASHION

TO DIRECT THE THRUST DOWN INTO THE GROUND.

Narrator: POSITION THE NACELLES TO 90 DEGREES,

AND THE ROTORS SHIFT TO HELICOPTER MODE

FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING.

POSITION THEM TO ZERO DEGREES,

AND THE OSPREY TRANSITIONS TO PLANE MODE.

IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE ENGINEERING FEAT.

Sing: WHAT ALLOWS THE NACELLES TO MOVE

IS THE HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE UNIT

AND THE BALL AND JACK ASSEMBLY,

WHICH YOU CAN SEE UP HERE

JUST TO THE INSIDE OF THE NACELLE

WHERE IT JOINS THE WING ROOT.

Narrator: A HYDRAULIC DRIVE CONNECTS THE NACELLES' ENGINES

THROUGH A SHAFT IN THE OSPREY'S WINGS.

IT PUSHES THE NACELLES FORWARD OR BACK AS NEEDED,

TRANSFORMING THE OSPREY IN AS LITTLE AS 15 SECONDS.

IF ONE ENGINE FAILS,

THE SECOND ENGINE CAN STILL OPERATE BOTH ROTORS.

IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE

THAT MAY SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE ON BOARD.

EVEN MORE AMAZING...

THE ENTIRE COMPLEX OPERATION IS CONTROLLED

BY JUST ONE SMALL LEVER IN THE OSPREY'S COCKPIT.

Sing: ON THIS THRUST CONTROL LEVER,

THIS GRAY WHEEL THAT MY LEFT THUMB SITS ON,

IS WHAT MOVES THE NACELLES.

THIS, RIGHT HERE, IS OUR HOTTEST COMMODITY TO A PILOT

IN THE V-22 COMMUNITY...

IN THE OSPREY COMMUNITY... YOUR LEFT THUMB,

BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, YOU CANNOT FLY THIS AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IN THE PHILIPPINES,

CAPTAIN NELSON CAREFULLY ADJUSTS THE NACELLES.

THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT DEFINES THE OSPREY...

THE MOMENT WHEN IT TURNS FROM A PLANE INTO A HELICOPTER.

Nelson: THERE WAS A SMALL, LITTLE CLEARING

OF PALM TREES BASICALLY.

THEY ALL HAD BEEN KIND OF LEVELED AWAY,

AND THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM FOR US TO JUST KIND OF LAND

DIRECTLY STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE TREES.

Narrator: AS THEY EASE THE AIRCRAFT ONTO THE GROUND,

THE OSPREY'S CREW SURVEYS THE NEARBY AREA.

IT'S EERILY QUIET.

Rock: WHEN YOU'RE EMPLOYING THE AIRCRAFT

IN A HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE SCENARIO,

I MEAN, YOU JUST GOT TO BE READY FOR PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING.

YOU CAN HAVE DESPERATE FOLKS

WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO YOUR AIRPLANE RAPIDLY.

Narrator: AS SOON AS THE OSPREY TOUCHES DOWN,

FRANTIC SURVIVORS POUR OUT OF THE DESTROYED VILLAGE.

Nelson: YOU GET TO A CERTAIN POINT IN THE DAYS

WHERE PEOPLE STOP BEING HUNGRY AND THIRSTY

AND THEY START GETTING DESPERATE.

Narrator: SHARP ROTORS, HOT, POWERFUL ENGINES...

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE MISTAKE

TO TURN THE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF MISSION INTO A DISASTER.

MARINES TRY TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.

SUDDENLY, THE CROWD STARTS TO TURN.

AS THE OSPREY CREW TRIES TO DELIVER FOOD AND WATER

TO TYPHOON SURVIVORS IN THE PHILIPPINES,

DESPERATE MOBS THREATEN TO OVERRUN THEM.

Nelson: WE'RE CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE

GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRCRAFT

BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT TO BE AROUND.

Narrator: FRANTIC VILLAGERS GRAB FOR WHATEVER THEY CAN.

THE SUPPLIES GO QUICKLY.

ANOTHER PLANE MIGHT BE OVERWHELMED

BY THE SWARMING CROWD,

BUT THE TILT-ROTOR OSPREY HAS A BUILT-IN ESCAPE FEATURE.

Rock: ADD IN A LITTLE LEFT-HAND POWER THERE,

AND THE AIRPLANE POPPED RIGHT UP.

IT'S PART OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING.

Narrator: IN THEIR FIRST 24 HOURS,

THE OSPREYS DELIVER OVER 66,000 POUNDS OF AID

TO THE STRICKEN PHILIPPINES.

AND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

PILOTS AND MAINTAINERS WORK TIRELESSLY AROUND THE CLOCK.

Rock: THE SQUADRONS THAT DEPLOYED THERE

FLEW OVER 350 HOURS IN RELIEF.

FOR A NORMAL FULL SQUADRON,

THAT'S TYPICALLY A MONTH'S WORTH OF FLYING.

THEY DID IT IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

Narrator: LARGE PAYLOADS, LONG DISTANCES, FAST.

THAT'S THE OSPREY'S SPECIALTY... ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE.

BEFORE THE OSPREY, MARINE AIRCRAFT STRUGGLED TO DELIVER.

THEIR EXISTING FLEET OF HELICOPTERS

LACKED THE RANGE TO DO THEIR JOB,

LEADING TO ONE OF THE MARINES' MOST INFAMOUS

AND UNFORGETTABLE FAILURES.

NOVEMBER 1979.

TEHRAN, IRAN.

THE U.S. EMBASSY IS UNDER SIEGE.

ANGRY IRANIAN STUDENTS

ACCUSE THE UNITED STATES OF UNDERMINING THEIR REVOLUTION.

THE STUDENTS TAKE 66 U.S. DIPLOMATS HOSTAGE.

THEY DEMAND THE RETURN OF THE RECENTLY OVERTHROWN SHAH,

HIDING IN THE U.S.

THE U.S. BALKS AT THE REQUEST.

Jimmy Carter: WE REFUSE TO PERMIT THE USE OF TERRORISM

AND THE SEIZURE AND THE HOLDING OF HOSTAGES

TO IMPOSE POLITICAL DEMANDS.

Narrator: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PERSIAN GULF,

UNITED STATES SUPERCARRIER USS NIMITZ

STARTS BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY.

AFTER TWO MONTHS OF PRACTICE,

THE CLOCK IS ABOUT TO START ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION...

OPERATION EAGLE CLAW.

Roger Connor: OPERATION EAGLE CLAW

WAS A RESCUE ATTEMPT

FOR THE HOSTAGES THAT WERE BEING HELD

IN THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TEHRAN.

THIS PARTICULAR MISSION WAS PERHAPS THE MOST COMPLICATED

THAT WAS EVER ATTEMPTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES.

Narrator: ONE THING THAT MAKES THE RESCUE SO COMPLICATED...

THE EMBASSY'S LOCATION.

TEHRAN AND ITS SUBURBS

ARE SURROUNDED BY MORE THAN 700 MILES OF SAND.

Connor: THE DISTANCES WERE SO GREAT,

THERE WAS NO HELICOPTER AVAILABLE

THAT COULD COVER THE DISTANCE IN ONE HOP.

Narrator: GETTING THE CHOPPERS DIRECTLY INTO THE CITY

SEEMS LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK,

SO COMMANDERS COME UP WITH A DARING STRATEGY...

MARINE PILOTS WILL USE THE EMPTY DESERT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

Connor: THE SOLUTION WAS TO CREATE A REFUELING POINT

OUT IN THE DESERT,

MANY HUNDREDS OF MILES OUT IN THE DESERT FROM TEHRAN.

Narrator: THE REFUELING LOCATION IS TOP SECRET,

ITS CODE NAME... DESERT ONE.

Connor: AT DESERT ONE, AIR FORCE C-130s WOULD BRING IN FUEL

FOR THE MARINE HELICOPTER CREWS,

WHICH WOULD THEN STAGE TO ANOTHER SITE

IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THE HOSTAGES.

Narrator: THE MISSION INVOLVES

OVER 100 U.S. TROOPS AND A DOZEN AIRCRAFT.

Connor: IT WAS ESSENTIALLY TURNING

MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN IRAN

INTO A COMPLEX CHESSBOARD,

MOVING THESE PIECES AROUND OVER ABOUT A 48-HOUR PERIOD.

Narrator: IT'S A RISKY PLAN, BUT THE MISSION NEEDS TO WORK.

AMERICAN LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

APRIL 24, 1980.

AT TWILIGHT, EIGHT HELICOPTERS TAKE OFF FROM THE USS NIMITZ,

HEADED FOR DESERT ONE.

NOT LONG INTO THEIR FLIGHT, TWO OF THEM NOTICE SOMETHING WRONG.

Connor: OF THE EIGHT AIRCRAFT THAT WERE SENT IN,

TWO HAD TO ABORT ON THE WAY.

THEY RAN INTO, ESSENTIALLY,

A SANDSTORM THAT CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS.

Narrator: ONLY SIX CHOPPERS ARE LEFT.

FOUR HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, THEY FINALLY ARRIVE,

BUT THEIR TROUBLE IS FAR FROM OVER.

Connor: ANOTHER AIRCRAFT UPON ARRIVAL

AT DESERT ONE WAS DAMAGED.

AT THAT POINT,

ONLY FIVE OF THE EIGHT AIRCRAFT WERE AVAILABLE.

THAT WAS BELOW THE MINIMUM

CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE MISSION.

AND SO AT THAT POINT,

A DECISION WAS MADE TO ABORT THE MISSION.

Narrator: AS THE MILITARY SCRAMBLES TO GET EVERYONE OUT,

THE UNTHINKABLE OCCURS.

Connor: AS ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS WAS REPOSITIONING,

IT DRIFTED IN THE DARKNESS INTO THE WING OF A C-130.

Narrator: MILITARY PERSONNEL FRANTICALLY EVACUATE

USING THE SURVIVING C-130s.

THEY LEAVE FIVE DAMAGED CHOPPERS BEHIND...

AND SOMETHING MUCH WORSE.

Carter: TO MY DEEP REGRET, EIGHT OF THE CREWMEN

OF THE TWO AIRCRAFT WHICH COLLIDED WERE KILLED,

AND SEVERAL OTHER AMERICANS WERE HURT IN THE ACCIDENT.

Narrator: THE FAILED OPERATION HUMILIATES AMERICA,

AND ESPECIALLY THE MARINES.

IF THEY'D BEEN FLYING A BETTER AIRCRAFT,

THINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.

Jack Dailey: DESERT ONE ACTUALLY CONFIRMED

WHAT THE MARINE CORPS HAD BELIEVED ALL ALONG

AND FOR MANY YEARS.

WE NEEDED A HIGH-SPEED, LONG-RANGE AIRCRAFT

WITH A VERTICAL TAKEOFF CAPABILITY.

IF WE'D HAD ONE AT THAT TIME,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO EXECUTE THAT MISSION

IN ONE NIGHT AND BE OUT OF THERE.

Narrator: THE PENTAGON AGREES.

IN DECEMBER 1981,

THEY START THE JOINT SERVICE VERTICAL TAKEOFF

AND LANDING EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM...

JVX FOR SHORT.

Connor: THE JVX PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED TO CREATE

A NEW TYPE OF JOINT VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT

THAT COULD BE USED ACROSS DIFFERENT MILITARY SERVICES.

Narrator: EACH BRANCH OF THE ARMED FORCES

CONTRIBUTES $4.5 MILLION.

Connor: THE ARMY WANTED A NEW ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT.

THE NAVY WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW FLEET SUPPORT AIRCRAFT,

AND THE AIR FORCE WANTED A NEW AIRCRAFT

FOR THEIR SPECIAL MISSIONS CAPABILITY.

Narrator: THE MARINES WANT THE JVX EVEN MORE THAN THE OTHERS.

THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A LONG-RANGE CHOPPER

FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

Connor: ONE OF THE KEY DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 1960s

WAS THE INCREASED USE

OF WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ANTI-SHIPPING MISSILES.

THESE ARE LAND-BASED MISSILES

THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ATTACK SHIPS SOME DISTANCE OFFSHORE.

THIS REALLY COMPLICATED THE MARINE CORPS DOCTRINE

OF AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT.

Narrator: THE NEW MISSILES FORCE THE MARINES

TO ANCHOR FARTHER OUT TO SEA...

TOO FAR FOR THEIR CH-46 CHOPPERS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

Connor: THE CH-46 SEA KNIGHT

WAS A VERY CAPABLE HELICOPTER FOR THE TIME,

BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF ANTI-SHIPPING MISSILES,

THIS AIRCRAFT REALLY STRUGGLED TO DELIVER MARINES

TO THE DESTINATIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE.

Narrator: THE MARINES PRIDE THEMSELVES

ON BEING AMERICA'S FIRST RESPONDERS,

BUT WITHOUT A BETTER AIRCRAFT TO GET THEM TO THE BATTLEFIELD,

THEY HAVE NO WAY TO MEET THEIR MISSION.

Connor: THE MARINES WERE HIGHLY DEPENDENT

UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE JVX PROGRAM.

THEIR EXISTING FLEET OF AIRCRAFT WAS BEGINNING TO AGE.

IT DID NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY THAT THEY REALLY NEEDED

TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS.

Narrator: CONGRESS ISSUES A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

ONLY ONE COMES IN...

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BELL HELICOPTER AND BOEING AIRCRAFT.

Connor: BELL HELICOPTERS WAS VERY EXPERIENCED

IN BUILDING SMALLER HELICOPTERS,

BUT THEY WERE NOT PARTICULARLY EXPERIENCED

IN BUILDING LARGE TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS.

BOEING WAS VERY EXPERIENCED IN THIS FIELD,

AND SO BELL PARTNERED WITH BOEING.

Narrator: MAY 23, 1988.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS.

BELL BOEING SPARES NO EXPENSE

FOR THE DEBUT OF THEIR PIONEERING DESIGN.

WHEN THE V-22 OSPREY ROLLS OUT,

TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND A CROWD OF 1,600 PEOPLE

WITNESS THE HISTORIC MOMENT.

FEW IN THE WORLD HAVE EVER SEEN SUCH A STRANGE-LOOKING AIRCRAFT.

THE FIRST THING THAT PILOTS NOTICE

IS THE OSPREY'S UNIQUE ROTOR AND WING SYSTEM,

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MARINE TRANSPORT.

Sing: IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE AIRCRAFT

TO SOMETHING THAT WILL FIT ON THE SHIPS,

WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS GET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN

TO JUST AS WIDE AS YOU CAN SEE HERE

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING HEAD-ON.

Narrator: THE WIDTH OF THE OSPREY EXTENDS 84 FEET,

BUT IN AN INSTANT, THE OSPREY CHANGES SHAPE.

WITH THE NACELLES IN A 90-DEGREE POSITION,

THE ROTOR BLADES FOLD INWARD.

ROTATE THE NACELLES AGAIN,

AND THE ENTIRE WING TURNS 90 DEGREES

IN LINE WITH THE BODY OF THE OSPREY.

THE TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE IN 90 SECONDS OR LESS.

THE STOWED WIDTH IS A MERE 18 1/2 FEET.

Sing: IT'S EXTREMELY FUNCTIONAL FOR US ON THE BOAT.

BY THE TIME WE LAND, SHUT DOWN, AND FOLD THE AIRCRAFT,

USUALLY YOUR TOW CREWS ARE ALREADY HOOKED UP

AND STARTING TO DRAG YOU OFF THE SPOT.

Narrator: THE OSPREY FLIES AT TWICE THE SPEED

OF ANY OTHER MILITARY HELICOPTER...

UP TO 316 MILES PER HOUR.

THAT'S THANKS TO TWO 6,150-HORSEPOWER

ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES.

Sing: AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF POWER

THAT THE AIRCRAFT PROVIDES,

IF YOU'RE STANDING BELOW THE AIRCRAFT WHEN WE TAKE OFF,

IT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT

OF STANDING IN ABOUT AN 80 TO 100-MILE-AN-HOUR WIND,

SO THERE'S A LOT OF FORCE THAT'S CREATED BY THESE ENGINES.

THEY'RE EXTREMELY POWERFUL.

Narrator: POWERFUL ENGINES GET THE OSPREY TO THE FIGHT FAST,

AND POWERFUL WEAPONS PROTECT IT ONCE IT'S THERE.

SHOULD IT COME UNDER FIRE, THE OSPREY'S MAIN DEFENSE

IS EITHER A .50-CALIBER OR 7.62-MM MACHINE GUN.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE JVX PROGRAM HAS DELIVERED THE GOODS,

BUT ALL THIS FANCY TECHNOLOGY COMES AT A PRICE.

WHEN IT DEBUTS, THE OSPREY IS ALREADY A $2 BILLION PROGRAM.

MANUFACTURERS CALCULATE FUTURE COSTS

WILL SKYROCKET TO 15 TIMES MORE.

THE MARINES ARE DESPERATE FOR THE OSPREY

AND CONFIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WILL BE WORTH THE PRICE.

BUT THE ARMY REVIEWS THE PROGRAM AND DROPS OUT.

Dailey: THEY WERE DOING A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING MODERNIZATION

OF THEIR ENTIRE HELICOPTER FLEET.

IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A BUDGET DECISION FOR THEM.

Narrator: WITH THE LARGEST BRANCH OF THE SERVICE

OUT OF THE PICTURE,

THE BURDEN TO FUND THE PROGRAM

NOW FALLS ON THE BACK OF THE SMALLEST... THE MARINES.

Connor: WHEN THE ARMY DROPPED OUT,

IT GREATLY INCREASED THE UNIT COST OF THE OSPREY

FOR THE MARINE CORPS.

Narrator: THE OSPREY'S RISING COSTS ALSO SCORE SOME ENEMIES,

INCLUDING THE NEW SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, DICK CHENEY.

Dailey: THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WAS LOOKING FOR A PROGRAM TO KILL AT THAT TIME,

A MAJOR PROGRAM,

AND MR. CHENEY WAS ADVISED

THAT THE OSPREY WOULD BE A GOOD ONE TO KILL.

Narrator: THE MARINES FIND THEMSELVES BATTLING

TO DEFEND THEIR PROGRAM,

BUT NO SOONER HAS THE FIGHT STARTED

THAN THE WORLD SEES THIS.

THIS IS THE MAIDEN TEST FLIGHT OF OSPREY PROTOTYPE NUMBER FIVE.

MIRACULOUSLY THE TWO MEN INSIDE ESCAPE,

BUT THE AIRCRAFT IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

QUESTIONS QUICKLY ARISE.

WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUCH A DEVASTATING CRASH

JUST MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF?

A POSTMORTEM REVEALS THAT THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

HAD BEEN MIS-WIRED.

EXAMINATION OF OSPREY PROTOTYPES ONE AND THREE

REVEAL A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

BELL BOEING RUSHES TO CORRECT IT AND PROMISES TO DO BETTER.

ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES.

COST OVERRUNS.

THE OSPREY LOOKS LIKE A BIRD

WITH ITS HEAD ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

Dailey: ANYTIME YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN A PROGRAM,

EVERYBODY STARTS LOOKING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY

AND MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Narrator: BUT THE MARINES HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME

FOR THIS AIRCRAFT.

THEY WON'T GIVE IT UP EASILY.

THEIR VERY REASON FOR EXISTENCE DEPENDS ON THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

WITHOUT A NEW CHOPPER, THEY CAN'T BE FIRST TO THE FIGHT.

Dailey: WE EVENTUALLY GOT TO THE POINT

WHERE WE HAD ALL OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET,

AND IT WAS THE OSPREY.

WE HAD TO HAVE IT.

Narrator: THE WHITE HOUSE AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DICK CHENEY

DON'T SEE THINGS THE SAME WAY.

Cheney: WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD THE V-22.

WE WANT TO GO BACK TO A MORE CONVENTIONAL APPROACH.

Narrator: THE MARINES PRESS CONGRESS FOR SUPPORT.

CONGRESS DELIVERS,

THREATENING TO SLAP CHENEY WITH A LAWSUIT

FOR SHUTTING THE OSPREY DOWN.

Dailey: CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR FRIEND,

BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THE MARINE CORPS

GIVES THEM THE MAXIMUM BANG FOR THEIR BUCK.

AND WHEN YOU INVEST MONEY IN THE MARINES, THEY PRODUCE.

Narrator: THE THREAT WORKS. CHENEY BACKS DOWN.

AFTER THREE YEARS IN LIMBO,

THE OSPREY PROGRAM IS BACK IN DEVELOPMENT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE MARINES ARE FINALLY ON THEIR WAY

TO GETTING THE LONG-AWAITED AIRCRAFT,

BUT THE CELEBRATIONS ARE SHORT-LIVED.

JULY 20, 1992.

THE MARINE AIR FACILITY IN QUANTICO, VIRGINIA.

ONE OF FIVE OSPREY PROTOTYPES UNDERGOES FLIGHT TESTING.

ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY,

THE OSPREY SUDDENLY DROPS...

RIGHT INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER.

Dailey: IT WAS CLEAR THAT NOBODY WAS GOING TO GET OUT

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE WAY IT WENT IN.

Narrator: THREE MARINE PILOTS AND FOUR BOEING CONTRACTORS DIE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GROUNDS THE FOUR REMAINING OSPREYS

WHILE THEY LOOK FOR THE CAUSE.

Dailey: OIL HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE NACELLE,

AND WHEN THEY ROTATED THE NACELLE

TO THE VERTICAL POSITION,

THE ENGINE INGESTED THE OIL,

HAD A FLASH FIRE, AND IT CRASHED.

Narrator: THE OSPREY PROGRAM REELS FROM THE TRAGEDY.

CONGRESS THREATENS TO WITHDRAW SUPPORT.

Man: IF IT'S A SYSTEM PROBLEM IN THE TECHNOLOGY,

THEN IT COULD MEAN MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE PROGRAM.

Narrator: A MONTH LATER,

THE OSPREY BECOMES A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

PRESIDENT BUSH'S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DICK CHENEY

IS STILL LUKEWARM ON THE AIRCRAFT.

BUSH'S CHALLENGER, ARKANSAS GOVERNOR BILL CLINTON,

SUPPORTS IT.

Bill Clinton: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY

IN THE FUTURE ON MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

AND ON GREATER MOBILITY,

GREATER AIRLIFT, GREATER SEALIFT...

THE V-22 AIRPLANE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS THAT ARE QUITE COSTLY.

Narrator: CLINTON WINS THE ELECTION,

AND OSPREY SUPPORTERS BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF.

THE PROGRAM'S CONSIDERED A LOCK.

Connor: THE OSPREY HAD A ROLLER COASTER RIDE

OF POLITICAL TURMOIL AND MEDIA SCRUTINY.

DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,

THINGS BEGAN TO TURN AROUND.

Narrator: THE OSPREY PROGRAM BEGINS EIGHT YEARS

OF OPERATIONAL AND EVALUATION TESTING,

BUT JUST A MONTH BEFORE THEY COMPLETE THOSE TESTS,

AN IMPENDING DISASTER MIGHT END

THE MARINES' QUEST FOR THE TILT-ROTOR

ONCE AND FOR ALL.

APRIL.

YUMA, ARIZONA.

THE OSPREY TAKES OFF ON AN EVALUATION MISSION

TO SHOW HOW IT PERFORMS IN COMBAT.

IT DOESN'T GET FAR.

Man on radio: OH, MY GOD! THEY WENT DOWN! THEY CRASHED!

Rock: THE YEAR 2000 WAS A PRETTY TERRIBLE YEAR

FOR ANYBODY WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE V-22 OSPREY.

WE HAD TWO MISHAPS, TRAGIC MISHAPS.

News reporter: STILL VERY FEW DETAILS

COMING OUT OF THE PENTAGON THIS MORNING

ABOUT THAT CRASH THAT KILLED 19 MARINES...

15 COMBAT TROOPS AND 4 CREWMEMBERS.

Narrator: THE OSPREY IS CLEARED FROM MECHANICAL FAULT.

INVESTIGATORS FIND THAT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TOO QUICKLY

AT TOO LOW AN AIRSPEED.

PILOTS ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE POWER

AND THREW THE OSPREY INTO A DEADLY STALL.

THE MARINE CORPS IS SHAKEN.

THE PRIZE THEY FOUGHT SO HARD FOR

NOW HAS 26 FATALITIES TO ITS NAME.

Rock: IT WAS A VERY DARK TIME.

A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING, I THINK, FOR ANYONE

WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROGRAM.

Narrator: IN DECEMBER, IT GETS WORSE.

A ROUTINE TRAINING MISSION IN NORTH CAROLINA

GOES TERRIBLY WRONG.

FOUR MORE MARINES LOSE THEIR LIVES.

THIS TIME, A LEAK IN A HYDRAULIC LINE

SET OFF A CHAIN OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS,

CAUSING THE PILOT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

SPECULATIONS SWIRL ON THE OSPREY'S RELIABILITY.

THE MARINES WHO DIED WERE AMONG THEIR MOST EXPERIENCED PILOTS.

Dailey: ONCE THOSE MARINES WERE KILLED,

THE WHOLE GAME CHANGED IN TERMS OF...

EVERYBODY WAS SAYING, "WAIT A MINUTE.

IS THIS THE AIRPLANE WE NEED TO DEVELOP?"

Narrator: THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IMMEDIATELY CALLS

FOR A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO INVESTIGATE

WHAT SOME NOW CALL "THE WIDOW-MAKER."

Dailey: I MET WITH THE COMMANDANT, AND I SAID,

"WE'RE GOING TO GET THE TRUTH.

NO MATTER HOW IT COMES OUT, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT IT."

HE SAID, "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO."

Narrator: THE PANEL IS DETERMINED

TO PREVENT ANY MORE DEATHS,

EVEN IF IT MEANS KILLING THE OSPREY ITSELF.

APRIL 19, 2001.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE RELEASES ITS FINDINGS.

Dailey: WE FOUND NO EVIDENCE

OF AN INHERENT SAFETY FLAW IN THE V-22 TILT-ROTOR CONCEPT.

THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND TO BE GUILTLESS

IN TERMS OF WHAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING WITH IT.

IT WAS NOT THE PERFORMANCE OR THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

OF THE AIRPLANE THAT WERE AT FAULT.

Narrator: THE FAULT DOESN'T LIE WITH THE MACHINE,

BUT RATHER, WITH POOR PILOT TRAINING.

Dailey: WE HAD UNDERESTIMATED SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR PREPARING CREWS TO OPERATE THIS AIRCRAFT.

IT IMMEDIATELY GAVE US A WAKE-UP CALL

THAT WE HAD TO THINK MORE ABOUT THE PREPARATION OF THESE CREWS.

Narrator: THE PANEL RECOMMENDS A SERIES OF REDESIGNS.

THE AIM... TO MAKE THE OSPREY EASIER

FOR PILOTS AND MAINTAINERS TO OPERATE.

Dailey: THEY COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE NACELLE

TO MAKE IT BIGGER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE,

MORE INSPECTION PANELS IN PLACES WHERE YOU COULD SEE,

WHERE YOU COULDN'T SEE BEFORE.

Narrator: THE PANEL ALSO RECOMMENDS

MORE RIGOROUS PREPARATION FOR PILOTS AND MAINTAINERS.

NOW THE MARINES SEND THEIR OSPREY CREWS

TO THE PRESTIGIOUS TRAINING SQUADRON, MAWTS-1.

Eric Robinson: MAWTS STANDS FOR

MARINE AVIATION WEAPONS AND TACTICS SQUADRON 1.

IT IS THE MARINE CORPS WEAPONS SCHOOL,

VERY SIMILAR TO THINGS LIKE NAVY'S TOP GUN

OR THE AIR FORCE WEAPONS SCHOOL.

Narrator: MAWTS-1 MOTTO IS

"TODAY'S STUDENT. TOMORROW'S LEADER."

IN BETWEEN, THEY MAKE IT TOUGH.

Robinson: IT IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE HAD TO DO

IN MY MARINE CORPS CAREER, GOING THROUGH WTI AS A STUDENT.

Narrator: IN THE GRUELING EIGHT-WEEK COURSE,

CREWS LEARN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW

ABOUT THE OSPREY AND ITS CAPABILITIES.

BUT TRAINING AND COMBAT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE OSPREY HAS YET TO BE TESTED IN BATTLE.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2007.

IRAQ.

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM RAGES INTO ITS FOURTH YEAR.

FROM INSIDE FALLUJAH,

4,000 MARINES TRY TO WIN BACK THE REST OF AL ANBAR PROVINCE.

TO DO THAT, THEY NEED TO GAIN CONTROL

OF AN AREA COVERING 53,000 SQUARE MILES.

Rock: THERE WAS JUST A HIGH DEMAND

FOR GETTING MARINES ALL OVER THE BATTLEFIELD,

A LOT OF DEMAND

FOR EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING THAT THE V-22 OFFERED.

Narrator: IT'S THE MOMENT THE MARINES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...

TIME TO SHOW THE WORLD

THE TRUE NATURE OF THEIR $69 MILLION BIRD.

Rock: WE HAD BEEN TRAINING WITH THE AIRCRAFT

FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

WE FELT LIKE WE WERE READY, AND WE KNEW IT WAS COMING.

THAT'S WHAT WE PREPARED FOR. WE WERE READY TO GO.

Narrator: TEN OSPREYS SET SAIL FOR IRAQ

ABOARD THE USS WASP.

EXCITEMENT IS HIGH AMONG PILOTS AND CREWS,

BUT HALFWAY THERE, THE CREW GETS SOME DEVASTATING NEWS.

AFTER 18 YEARS OF TESTING,

THE V-22 IS FINALLY ON ITS WAY TO MAKE ITS COMBAT DEBUT,

BUT THE CELEBRATION IS SHORT-LIVED.

MARINES ON THEIR WAY TO IRAQ SEE THIS...

TIME MAGAZINE FEATURES

THE OSPREY'S MISHAPS AND COST OVERRUNS

ON ITS COVER.

IT SEEMS AS IF THE OSPREY'S FAILURE IN IRAQ

IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION,

DISMISSED BEFORE IT'S EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO GET IN THE FIGHT.

Rock: THE TIME MAGAZINE COVER THAT CAME OUT

WHILE WE HAD ALREADY EMBARKED ABOARD SHIP

AND WERE SAILING OVER TO IRAQ

WAS NOT PARTICULARLY WELL-RECEIVED.

WE SAW IT AS, YOU KNOW,

IT WAS SOMEWHAT INSULTING AND ANNOYING.

Narrator: THE OSPREYS OF MARINE MEDIUM TILT-ROTOR SQUADRON 263

ARRIVE IN IRAQ DETERMINED TO PROVE THEIR WORTH.

COMMANDERS IMMEDIATELY PUT THEM TO WORK.

DURING 19 MONTHS IN IRAQ,

THE OSPREYS SHUTTLE OVER 45,000 TROOPS

AND HAUL 2.2 MILLION POUNDS OF CARGO.

THEY'RE A LIFESAVER... LITERALLY.

Rock: THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE RIGHT

ABOUT THE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THREAT IN IRAQ.

EVERY TIME YOU WERE CARRYING SOMEBODY

FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER,

YOU WERE KEEPING THEM OFF THE ROADS AND NOT EXPOSING THEM

TO THAT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THREAT.

SO THAT WAS OUR MISSION,

AND THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF A DEMAND FOR IT.

Narrator: BUT SOME ARGUE THE OSPREY HAS BEEN BABIED

ON ITS FIRST DEPLOYMENT,

THAT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A GLORIFIED FLYING SCHOOL BUS.

EVEN THE MARINES WONDER

HOW THE OSPREY SIZES UP IN RISKIER COMBAT MISSIONS.

24 MONTHS LATER, THEY FIND OUT.

2009.

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN.

THE UNITED STATES IS EIGHT YEARS INTO OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

PRESIDENT OBAMA ORDERS A SURGE OF 17,000 TROOPS

TO TURN THE TIDE AGAINST THE TALIBAN.

THE FIGHT WEARS ON.

EVEN WITH THE ADDED BOOTS ON THE GROUND,

THE U.S. MARINES WAGE AN UPHILL BATTLE,

BUT ON ITS WAY IS ANOTHER WEAPON TO HELP THEM IN THEIR FIGHT.-

THE V-22 OSPREY.

Anthony Bianca: THERE WERE STILL SOME, I GUESS, SOME PEOPLE

THAT WEREN'T REALLY CONVINCED ON OSPREY.

WE DEFINITELY GOT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION

WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE IN.

THE MAG COMMANDER CAME IN,

HE LOCKED EYEBALLS WITH ME, AND HE SAYS,

"EXPLOIT THE AIRPLANE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT."

Narrator: CREWS ARE DESPERATE TO PROVE

THE OSPREY CAN TAKE ON DICIER CHALLENGES,

SO DESPERATE THAT THE MARINES ARE WILLING TO USE IT

ON ONE OF THEIR BOLDEST MISSIONS YET.

100 MILES FROM THE MARINE AIRFIELD IN CAMP BASTION,

A SMALL VILLAGE IS TAKEN OVER BY A LOCAL WARLORD,

A SAFE HAVEN FOR HIS DRUG OPERATION.

MONEY FROM POPPY SALES FLOWS TO THE TALIBAN

TO BUY EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS...

WEAPONS USED TO KILL AMERICAN TROOPS.

THE MARINES AIM TO STOP THE DRUG NETWORK

BY TAKING OUT ITS LEADERSHIP.

Bianca: WE HAD TO TAKE OFF THE TOP OF THE NETWORK

SO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T NORMALLY COMMUNICATE

WITH ANYONE BUT THE TOP OF THE NETWORK

LOSE THAT MODE OF COMMUNICATION,

SO YOU'VE DISRUPTED THAT NETWORK CELL.

Narrator: THE PLAN...

TO FLY TO THE CENTER OF THE REMOTE VILLAGE

AND INSERT 100 MARINES TO CAPTURE THE WARLORD

IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

Bianca: OPERATION FAS LANDRY WAS A DAYLIGHT SNATCH

FROM A LITTLE BAZAAR RESTAURANT AREA

THAT THIS PARTICULAR TARGET HAD BEEN KNOWN TO FREQUENT,

AND WE WANTED TO GO IN THERE AND DO IT IN HIS OWN BACKYARD.

HERE WE ARE, AND YOU'RE COMING WITH US.

Narrator: THE OPERATION IS RISKY.

THE TALIBAN HAS BEEN TIMING U.S. AIRCRAFT.

Bianca: ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE DOING

WHEN WE FIRST GOT THERE WAS PEOPLE AROUND THE AIRFIELDS

WOULD TELL OTHER PEOPLE WHEN WE HAD LAUNCHED.

AND SO MR. TALIBAN CALLS HIS BUDDY SAYING,

"HEY, THEY HEADED THIS DIRECTION."

Narrator: UP UNTIL NOW,

IT SEEMS LIKE THE TALIBAN HAVE HAD THE UPPER HAND.

Bianca: THIS PARTICULAR TARGET

BRAGGED ABOUT HOW THE AMERICANS CAN'T GET US DOWN HERE.

"WE'RE SAFE. THIS IS MY TURF."

VERY GANGLAND-LIKE. YOU KNOW, "I RUN THIS PLACE."

Narrator: THE INSURGENTS KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR AND HOW FAST

THE AMERICANS CAN TRAVEL.

THEY'LL HAVE WEAPONS AT THE READY,

AND MARINES KNOW IT.

Bianca: ANYWHERE YOU GO IN AFGHANISTAN,

YOU'RE EXPECTING SOMEONE TO SHOOT BACK AT YOU.

Narrator: THE MARINES ARE BANKING ON THE OSPREY'S SPEED

ALLOWING THEM TO SLIP BY THE TALIBAN'S LOOKOUTS.

Bianca: MOTIVATION WAS VERY HIGH.

THERE'S ALWAYS A LEVEL OF FEAR,

AND WE WERE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH IT.

Narrator: FOUR V-22s TAKE OFF,

HEADED STRAIGHT INTO THE LION'S DEN.

IF THEY'RE SPOTTED BY THE TALIBAN,

IT COULD BE GAME OVER.

THE MARINES ARRIVE AT THE VILLAGE UNDETECTED,

THANKS TO ONE OF THE OSPREY'S MOST SURPRISING QUALITIES.

Bianca: THE THING ABOUT A V-22 PEOPLE FORGET

IS THAT IN AIRPLANE MODE, IT'S VERY QUIET.

YOU CAN'T HEAR IT COME OVER, EVEN IN LOW ALTITUDE.

Narrator: BUT THE MISSION IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

THE OSPREYS STILL HAVE TO LAND,

AND EVEN IF THE TALIBAN DOESN'T FIGHT BACK,

THE ENVIRONMENT WILL.

THE OSPREY'S MASSIVE ENGINES TRANSPORT THE SHIP QUICKLY,

BUT THERE ARE DRAWBACKS TO ITS POWER.

Bianca: IN THE MOON DUST IN AFGHANISTAN,

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, IT'S TALCUM POWDER.

AND IF YOU BLOW JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WIND ON THAT

BELOW 75 FEET WITH OUR HIGH-INDUCED FLOW,

WHICH MEANS WE BLOW A LOT OF AIR VERY FAST,

RELATIVE TO OTHER ROTORCRAFT, WE KICKED UP A LOT OF DUST.

Narrator: THE OSPREY'S DESCENT

WHIPS UP A THICK WALL OF DUST AND SAND.

IT'S A COMPLETE BROWNOUT LANDING,

AND THE PILOTS CAN'T SEE A THING.

MARINE COLONEL ANTHONY BIANCA FLIES BLIND

IN THE TORNADO OF DUST

WHIPPED UP BY THE OSPREY'S ROTORS.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

THE MARINES RISK LOSING THEIR TALIBAN TARGET,

OR WORSE, THEIR LIVES.

THEY CAN'T SEE A THING.

FOR MOST AIRCRAFT, IT WOULD BE THE END OF THE MISSION,

BUT NOT FOR THE OSPREY.

IT CAN PRACTICALLY LAND ITSELF.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE OSPREY IS BASICALLY A FLYING COMPUTER.

ITS ADVANCED AVIONICS HELP IT LAND EVEN WHEN PILOTS CAN'T SEE.

THE OSPREY'S MOVEMENTS ARE CONTROLLED

BY WHAT IS CALLED A FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM.

USING SENSORS ON THE OSPREY'S BODY,

THE SYSTEM CONSTANTLY COLLECTS DATA

SUCH AS LOCATION, AIRSPEED, AND ALTITUDE.

IT TRANSMITS THE DATA TO THE OSPREY'S CENTRAL COMPUTER.

THEN THE FLY-BY-WIRE

ADJUSTS THE OSPREY'S MOVEMENTS AUTOMATICALLY.

THE SYSTEM IS SO EXACT THAT THE OSPREY CAN LAND

WITHIN ONE SQUARE METER OF THE DESIRED LANDING ZONE.

Bianca: WHERE OTHER AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE TO WAIVE OFF

IN VERY DUSTY OR DIFFICULT CONDITIONS,

BOOM, V-22 IS SAFE ON DECK.

Narrator: AS HE APPROACHES THE AFGHAN VILLAGE,

COLONEL BIANCA RELIES ON THE FLY-BY-WIRE

TO BRING HIS OSPREY IN.

HIS TARGET STILL HAS NO IDEA HE'S BEING WATCHED.

Bianca: ALL WE HAVE TO DO AT THAT POINT

IS CONCENTRATE ON LANDING.

Narrator: THE PILOT CHOOSES THE MOMENT CAREFULLY.

ONCE THE OSPREY TOUCHES DOWN, THINGS WILL MOVE QUICKLY.

Bianca: ONCE WE CHANGED THE RPMs ON THE PROP ROTORS

TO GO TO HELICOPTER MODE,

IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE,

AND THAT'S THE FIRST THEY EVER HEARD OF US.

Narrator: IN JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS,

THE OSPREYS DROP TO THE GROUND

AND UNLOAD THE 100 WELL-ARMED MARINES.

Bianca: THE V-22 LANDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

PUT IT RIGHT IN THE GATE.

GRUNTS GOT OUT, OPENED UP THE GATE, WALKED RIGHT THROUGH.

YOU KNOW, PAY YOUR CHECK, YOU'RE COMING WITH US,

AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT THEM.

Narrator: THE WARLORD NEVER STANDS A CHANCE.

IN UNDER FIVE MINUTES,

HE'S IN CUSTODY AND SITTING IN THE OSPREY.

Bianca: WE PUT 100 MARINES ON THE GROUND

INSIDE OF A HANDFUL OF MINUTES

AND SURPRISED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF EVERYONE

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

Narrator: THE CAPTURE IS A TRIUMPH

FOR MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN.

A DEADLY THREAT TO THEIR MISSION IS LOCKED AWAY,

ALL THANKS TO THE OSPREY.

THE OSPREY GOES ON TO FLY OVER 14,000 FLIGHT HOURS

DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

Bianca: THE OSPREY WORKS,

AND NOT ONLY DOES IT WORK,

BUT WHEN OTHER PEOPLE GAIN THE EFFECT,

THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OF AN OSPREY,

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

Narrator: AFGHANISTAN IS A GAME-CHANGER.

NO LONGER IS THE OSPREY KNOWN AS A DEATH TRAP.

NOW IT'S KNOWN FOR CAPTURE AND STEALTH BEHIND ENEMY LINES...

SKILLS THAT WILL SOON GET PUT TO AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TEST...

SAVING AN AMERICAN LIFE.

MARCH 2011.

THE USS KEARSARGE,

JUST OFF THE COAST OF LIBYA.

THE 26th MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT

TAKES PART IN AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY OPERATION

AGAINST LIBYAN DICTATOR MUAMMAR QADDAFI.

LATE AT NIGHT, TWO OSPREY CREWS GET AN URGENT CALL.

AN F-15 PILOT HAS CRASHED BEHIND ENEMY LINES.

HE'S ALIVE.

THE MARINES' MISSION... RESCUE HIM.

Joseph Andrejack: THE MARINE CORPS DOES WHAT'S CALLED

TRAP OR TACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL.

THE TWO MAIN PREREQUISITES THAT WE NEED

ARE THE LOCATION KNOWN OF THE POTENTIAL SURVIVOR

AND REASONABLE CERTAINTY THAT THE SURVIVOR'S ALIVE.

Narrator: INTELLIGENCE PLACES THE PILOT

AT A LOCATION 150 MILES FROM THE SHIP.

THE OSPREY WILL HAVE TO RELY ON ITS SPEED

TO GET IN AND OUT QUICKLY.

QADDAFI'S AIR-DEFENSE GUNS AND MISSILES ARE A VERY REAL THREAT.

Andrejack: OUR FLIGHT FROM THE BOAT TO LIBYA ITSELF

LASTED ABOUT 30 MINUTES,

AND THEN ONCE WE WERE FEET DRY OVER LIBYA,

IT WAS ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TO WHERE THE PILOT WAS LOCATED.

Narrator: COORDINATES LEAD THE OSPREY

RIGHT INTO ENEMY TERRITORY.

BUT IF THE MARINES KNOW THE PILOT'S LOCATION,

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ENEMY DOES, TOO.

Andrejack: OBVIOUSLY IN AN UNCERTAIN SITUATION LIKE THIS,

THERE'S SOME AMOUNT OF WORRY HAPPENING,

FLYING INTO A VERY UNCERTAIN SCENARIO.

Narrator: THE OSPREY DROPS DOWN

JUST 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE PILOT.

15 RECON MARINES IMMEDIATELY RUSH INTO POSITION.

FOR THE DOWNED PILOT,

THEIR ARRIVAL IS A WELCOME SIGHT.

Pilot: AS THAT BACK DOOR OPENED,

I SEE A GROUP OF YOUNG MARINE RECON UNITS JUMP OUT,

AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST FEELING

I'VE EVER FELT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Narrator: THE OSPREY RESCUES THE PILOT

BEFORE QADDAFI'S FORCES EVEN KNOW IT WAS THERE.

Andrejack: HE WAS ON THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT

WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS,

AND WE WERE AIRBORNE AGAIN WITHIN A MINUTE AND A HALF.

Narrator: IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE MARINE CORPS USES THE OSPREY

FOR WHAT'S CALLED A LIVE TRAP RESCUE,

AND AFTER ITS PERFORMANCE, IT SURELY WON'T BE THE LAST.

Andrejack: THE OSPREY IS NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED

FOR PERSONNEL RECOVERY OR TRAP,

BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THE OSPREY DOES IT FASTER.

WE DID IT SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER OF TWICE AS FAST

AS THE NEXT CAPABLE ROTARY-WING PLATFORM COULD HAVE DONE.

Narrator: MARINES NOW TREAT THE OSPREY LIKE PROVEN STAR.

AFTER 14 OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS AND 100,000 FLIGHT HOURS,

IT HAS THE LOWEST MISHAP RATE OF ANY MARINE AIRCRAFT.

THE AIRCRAFT IS SO SAFE THAT IN 2013,

IT'S CHOSEN FOR ITS MOST PRESTIGIOUS MISSION YET...

HMX-1,

THE PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER SQUADRON

RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTING

WHITE HOUSE STAFF AND OTHER VIPs.

Bianca: THE OSPREY'S PLACEMENT IN HMX-1

IS ABSOLUTELY A DEMONSTRATION

OF THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE PLATFORM.

THAT'S NOT A MISSION YOU TAKE LIGHTLY.

Narrator: OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES,

THE V-22 OSPREY HAS SEEN IT ALL.

IT ESCAPED THE POLITICAL CHOPPING BLOCK,

OUTLIVED ITS REPUTATION AS A WIDOW-MAKER,

AND TRANSFORMED ITSELF INTO A BATTLE-WORTHY VETERAN.

BOTH FRIENDS AND ENEMIES ALIKE KNOW THE OSPREY CAN REACH THEM

ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AT ANY TIME.

Bianca: I HAVE MARINES THAT CAN MAINTAIN THEM.

I'VE GOT PILOTS THAT CAN FLY THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THEM.

I CAN GO ANYWHERE YOU WANT, ANYTIME YOU WANT,

WITH ANYTHING YOU WANT,

AND I'M GOING TO BRING WITH IT A MARINE CORPS ATTITUDE

AND THAT TYPE OF CAPABILITY.

Narrator: IT'S ALTERED THE LANDSCAPE

OF MILITARY AVIATION.

WITH UNRIVALED CAPABILITIES

AND UNMATCHED VERSATILITY,

THE V-22 OSPREY CONTINUES TO COMMAND THE BATTLEFIELD.