Symbolism 101

In June, the Marine Corps successfully flew two non-stop, coast-to-coast flights with a pair of MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Marine Corps is conducting the long-distance flights to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for long-range, over-water movements of MV-22s, in preparation for the first combat deployment in 2007.

"Unlike conventional rotary wing aircraft, which must be transported into overseas theaters of operation aboard amphibious ships or heavy lift transport planes, the V-22 can self-deploy thousands of miles over water to get itself to the fight," said Col. Bill Taylor, V-22 Osprey joint program manager.

The CV-22, the Air Force’s version of the Osprey, will carry avionics equipment for missions by 2017 that will read like something from a thrilling spy novel.

Imagine the utility of this novel aircraft in the forbidding hills of Afghanistan. Tough on Taliban insurgents, although as with all new hardware, the intervening months will be used to overcome an issue or two.