Flaw in the Osprey.

• Author: Kojro, Chester A.
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

Your December story "Ospreys Cargo Capacity Driving Weapon Designs" missed the single greatest flaw of the program. The original Osprey was a technology demonstrator of the tilt-rotor aircraft concept. Once satisfied with the technical feasibility, there should have been a formal requirement definition for a new, more functional aircraft (or family of aircraft) based on some sort of operational concept, e.g. deep airmobile insertion of motorized forces. Instead, the decision makers allowed the strictly limited personnel transport to advance into full production and fielding "as is"--and this oversight will cost dearly.

To embed the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFFS) with the current Osprey is lunacy. Taking an already available $12,000 "Growler"...