What is the V-22 Osprey Flying Machine?

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V-22 Osprey
The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands vertically, but flies like a turbo-prop airplane. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

The V-22 Osprey has been a dream of aircraft designers for decades. The machine is a tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off and land similar to a helicopter yet fly like an airplane.

The program to build this aircraft began after a failed mission to rescue hostages in Iran during the 1980s. Military planners realized they needed something more agile in the air than conventional helicopters for such rescue missions. Aeronautical engineers created the V-22, an aircraft that could combine the speed and range of a turboprop airplane with the vertical agility of a helicopter. However, building this "dream machine" took about 25 years and much of it was marked by failures and controversy.

In 2005, the Pentagon noted the aircraft was suitable for operational use. Since then, the V-22 has successfully completed several rescue missions in war zones. Today, 130 Ospreys are operational with the Marine Corps and the Air Force Special Operations Command.

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Nina Sen
Nina Sen
Nina Sen is a frequent contributor to Live Science’s Life’s Little Mysteries series: an exploration and explanation of our world’s phenomena, both natural and man-made. She also writes astronomy photo stories for Live Science's sister site Space.com.