by Ward Carroll, NAVAIR (V-22) Public Affairs

Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa.) traveled to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, home of the V-22 Joint Program Office and Integrated Test Team, for an orientation flight in a V-22 Osprey on September 12. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee and the chief of Marine Corps Legislative Affairs, Brig. Gen. Tony Corwin, joined the congressman for the flight.

“I’m impressed,” Congressman Murtha said while taking his helmet off in the paraloft following the 20-minute sortie in Osprey No. 23. “Every phase of flight was amazing, from the press-up into the hover to the transition to 250-knot horizontal flight and back to vertical flight and landing, this airplane is smooth and versatile.”

Congressman Murtha’s party joined the pilots, Lt. Col. Kevin Gross, USMC, and Maj. Paul Hagar, USMC, as well as the crew chiefs, Gunnery Sgt. Mike Schneider, USMC, and Staff Sgt. Brett Heuvelman, USMC, for a walk around Osprey No. 34, the newest V-22 assigned to the ITT. Osprey No. 34 is the first Block A model of the aircraft, which incorporates improved maintainability and reliability features.

Just before boarding his helicopter for the return flight to Washington, D.C., Congressman Murtha summed up his feelings about his visit to Pax River: “Now more than ever I’m convinced the Osprey’s the future of rotary wing aviation.”

Caption for photo:

Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa.) discusses his Osprey flight with Gen. Mike Hagee, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps. The two are flanked by Col. Craig Olson, USAF, V-22 Joint Program Manager, and Mike Tkach, Bell-Boeing V-22 Joint Program Director. (Photo by Randy Teufel.)