Three Ospreys just cruised past

[dsrtao]

Low and slow over Kendall Square. They sound like lawnmowers, until they get close and they sound like huge lawnmowers.

(These: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-22_Osprey )

Later: this is Marine Week. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/_by_shana_wicke_7.html )

Comments

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

They buzzed us too, in Lexington.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

And here I was reading his note and wondering "how can a bird make a sound like a lawnmower?" until I saw the link text.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

I presume they're based at Hanscom for the time being - they seemed to be heading along Route 62.

[iheronimus.livejournal.com]

Saw them a couple of times on Tuesday over Back Bay - it's Marine week or something in Boston. Very cool technology, impressive craft.

[ladymacgregor.livejournal.com]

Is THAT what those were??? I saw them out the window, and wondered whether the Medevacs going to MassGeneral had upgraded or something.

[dsrtao]

The problem with Ospreys as medevac is that they aren't nimble enough. They could land on the major road outside my house, but they would take out the poles on both sides of the road. A Bell JetRanger has about a 34 foot rotor diameter; an Osprey is 85 feet between the rotor-tips and 60 feet long.

On the other hand, they're about twice as fast as a JetRanger and three times the range. Oh, and they're large enough that you could fit an entire modified ambulance inside. If they didn't cost $60 million each I would certainly advocate them as medevac for remote areas.