U.S. begins test flights of MV-22 Osprey in Japan

A total waste of money! Ospreys don't fly. Ospreys don't fly in bad weather. Ospreys are high maintenance. Missiles never have an excuse. Light the fuse and stand back. Let's hope the people can continue to put pressure on the USA military to send the Ospreys to another country.

Dude! Relax they are not flying over your house in Yokohama, right?? Anyway, time to let the Ospreys run flights from Japan to the Senkakus, heck make them Japan's newest tourist attraction and see what what those funny guys in China, go bashing American and Japanese stores, cars, people??

Dude! Relax they are not flying over your house in Yokohama, right??

Yeah but they very well could be flying over my house!

I am not going to bash either Japan or the US for their deployment down here in Okinawa but just say that I sincerely hope there are no problems, not that I am really concerned, no more or no less than for what already is flying over my head everyday already that is.

Why is everyone still complaining about these things crashing like they crash every day. It's already be said that the crash that happened before was pilot error and not a malfunction of the aircraft. These things are going to be used to help japan. specially if there is another quake.

If there is another big quake people are gonna be praying to see one of these ospreys flying over their house.

You know regular commercial plans crash more than these, but people aren't protesting to shut down the airports. I worked at an airport and seeing how some of the mechanics patch up some the planes to meet cost and time demands is scary. I mean just last month that pilot almost crashed a plane because he pushed the wrong button but none of those people are protesting.

Why is everyone still complaining about these things crashing like they crash every day.

Because Japan is a free country. They want to protest whatever they do not like. Maybe they still feel danger of Osprey. They would be quiet if no accident for months.

Again I say, Japan make a decision yes or no! You only have two choices ( much like your WWII decision U. S. or USSR) it's either the U. S. which bases in Okinawa and otherwise protects your sorry @sses or face China alone. Your little nationalists think they have it right - do they?

Folks, look, it's not just the Osprey, the "fear" is that if it is deployed in Okinawa it will mean that MCAS Futenma will one; not be closed (as it should be really) or moved to Henoko, (which is a realistic and viable option).

The Osprey is quieter, safer, and better equipped to handle the needs of the MC now. It's anyone's right to protest, particularly when it's your property that's being used pretty much against your will, to house the base and airplanes. It's up to the national government to decide, in conjunction with the US, on whether or not they should be deployed or not, and it's obvious what decision was made. Time to live with it.

Dude? How impolite. Has anyone heard of helicopters. In the USA there are helicopters that can carry a USA Army tank. They are used to move trees from the forest to the trucks. Each one could easily move a cargo container full of equipment. Why does Japan let the USA military control the distribution of its surplus equipment? Just say "No."

What's the deal with the Ospreys anyway? Why are the people of Okinawa so against it? Helicopters and Fighter Jets crash, too, yet there's no complaining about these. If it's a hidden complain about the Futenma base: the Okinawan's need to get the bigger picture and realize just how important that base is in this area, especially in these times.

*Japan’s central government gave the green light for operations to begin this week after a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who said Washington is confident in the safety of the aircraft.***

It is ironic (not) how quickly the Osprey got the green light as soon as the Senkaku Islets dispute flared up. Plus, there is next to nothing in the press these days about protests against the US military — Osprey, Okinawan bases or otherwise.

I was to be a first gen Osprey pilot for the Corps in 1990. They have been flying over my hometown in NC for years. They will fly safe n far within human proffessionalism and training. We used to say if they aren't bitching ther aren't happy....until they need us. It's funny to see how greatful someone is once their life is in danger.

It is ironic (not) how quickly the Osprey got the green light as soon as the Senkaku Islets dispute flared up. Plus, there is next to nothing in the press these days about protests against the US military — Osprey, Okinawan bases or otherwise.

It is no doubt that Japan is depending on the US forces. Japan only can't defend itself against China.That's why Japan has the security treaty with the US for many years since 1960s. I've heard that also American local people close to Air force base are opposing Osprey training at low altitude.

If you are so lazy, irresponsible or feckless that you have to ask a friend to guard your house and family rather than do it yourself, you have no right to complain about the tools or methods he selects to do the guarding.

TEST FLIGHT???????? What TF is it for. Those Osprey are already tested before deliveries. hehehehe Unless those planes are still unsafe to fly. What the heck.... Japan will buy anything USA convinced them to buy even not a priority. Plain business for the US Pentagon's contracted armaments builders and companies. Har..har..har.. Dinero amigos for USA .

The Ospreys are meant for U.S. Deployment program to serve the U.S. Strategy in Asia. Any objections from Japan will not be taken care of.. Agreed or not, these gadgets had been delivered to Japan before your debate !

Dude?? If you are from California dude is actually very polite, kind of like ano sumimasen in japanse?? Any way believe me I hate the loud ass helis from Yokota, Atsugi etc...they fly way too low over my part of Tokyo but let me see do I want American helis or Russian ?? Chinese?? North Korean?? Sorry but Japanese and or Yank helis are my cup of tea.

The only major problem has been obtaining spare parts to maintain the aircraft.The V-22 had flown 3,000 sorties totaling 5,200 hours in Iraq as of July 2008.General George J. Trautman, III praised the V-22's increased speed and range over the legacy helicopters in Iraq and said that "it turned his battle space from the size of Texas into the size of Rhode Island." I pray the V-22 has a perfect flight record. If the Osphrey are needed in Japan, the V-22 will certainly be an answer to prayer's.

Can't think of a faster more efficient way to deploy ground troops to some rinky dink island that's just been occupied.

TravelingSalesSep. 22, 2012 - 01:28PM JST If you are so lazy, irresponsible or feckless that you have to ask a friend to guard your house and family rather than >do it yourself, you have no right to complain about the tools or methods he selects to do the guarding.

Article 9 of the Japanese constitution is not the result of laziness on anyone's part.

First question is: "In which do you want to ride when sent to an insignificant island that the enemy occupies?" a. Osprey/Albatross or a helicopter. Second question is: "Why does the military keep try to prove it is right regardless of the cost to fly and maintain the Osprey?" Third question: "Will the Japanese attack an occupied island if the international community or UN decides the islands belong to a country other than Japan?" Send the planes back to NC for the general to supervise. Yanks come home, and the problem is solved.

Creating Article 9 was an American mistake. Failing to fix it is a Japanese mistake.

T-MackSep. 23, 2012 - 02:17AM JST

The only major problem has been obtaining spare parts to maintain the aircraft.The V-22 had flown 3,000 sorties totaling 5,200 hours in Iraq as of July 2008.General George J. Trautman, III praised the V-22's increased speed and range over the legacy helicopters in Iraq and said that "it turned his battle space from the size of Texas into the size of Rhode Island." I pray the V-22 has a perfect flight record. If the Osphrey are needed in Japan, the V-22 will certainly be an answer to prayer's.

I think the spare parts issue will solve itself as the build orders are completed and the factories can start on spares orders. They actually showed a nice little infographic on TV, showing how the combat area for the osprey makes the CH-4647 look like garbage. They can actually protect Senkaku from Okinawa rather than needing ships stationed off the coast. Safety wise, it's also three to four times safer than the ones it will replace, and as pilots become more comfortable with the planes, the number of accidents will decrease significantly, since almost all accidents recently were due to pilot error.