quote:

Originally posted by Naphtali:
Am I correct that the V-22 aircraft is the first [generation] of its kind? If this is accurate, I anticipate it's fair to believe that future aircraft of its type will be more reliable and less costly to operate and maintain. I also anticipate this aircraft has some set of demonstrable advantages; otherwise why bother developing it.

They design isn't new. Bell built several prototypes starting in the 1950's. Just prior to the start of development of the V-22 they built the XV-15, a small two crew version. It was made from from the standard aluminum. To scale up the V-22 to the size needed it had to made from from carbon fiber or it would be too heavy to leave the ground. So extensive tests had to be made to develop both the materials and manufacturing techniques to make it. This had never been done before on any other aircraft of any type. So far more went into the design than just throwing some drawings in an existing factory and slapping something together. New materials, new manufacturing methods and new design - it costs money buts that's what was required.

The previous paragraph prefaces request for information.
1. How does a V-22 compare in cost per unit of flying time with helicopters having similar purpose?

I don't know without looking it up the unit cost but in general the V-22 has better fuel mileage than a conventional helicopter. I doubt the maintenance cost is much higher than a similar sized convention helicopter.

2. Comparing V-22 with that class of helicopter, how much of an advantage or superiority - if any - has the V-22? Is that superiority worth its premium cost per aircraft? Factoring in differences in cost per unit of flying time, does V-22 maintain that superiority?

its more survivable than any conventional helicopter. The V-22 has much faster egress, i.e. It gets away much faster and climbs out quicker than any helicopter. It also has faster ingress since it comes in higher than dives down quicker to land. Quieter to less chance to detect it coming in. It's also much faster and therefore safer in a combat zone where people are shooting at you.


3. As best you can judge, is V-22's basis design too expensive to continue to evolve - that is, is it analogous to an F-22 or B-2 in terms of too expensive to truly manufacture in quantities necessary?