Photograph by Paul Cremin on 16 July 2022 at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, taken with a Canon E40D and a Tamron 100–400mm zoom lens at 300mm, f/16, 1/250 sec, ISO 400.
The tilt-rotor Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey combines the versatility of a helicopter with the performance of a fixed-wing turboprop aircraft. After making a vertical or short take-off, the wingtip-mounted nacelles containing the two Rolls-Royce Allison AE1107C turboshaft engines tilt forwards to allow the transition into conventional flight. The maiden flight of the V-22 prototype took place in March 1989. It is now in service in MV-22B form with the US Marine Corps as a cargo and troop transport, and with the US Air Force Special Operations Command as the CV-22B for long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply tasks.
This example is based at RAF Mildenhall with the 7th Special Operations Squadron of the 352nd Special Operations Wing seen performing its display. These aircraft are a familiar sight during late afternoons and dusk transiting from Mildenhall to their exercise locations around the UK.
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