Bell Boeing CV-22B Osprey

Bell Helicopter / Boeing · United States · first flew 1989 · transport aircraft

The CV-22B is the United States Air Force special operations variant of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Tiltrotor with a three-blade proprotor and engine nacelle on each wingtip, rotating 90 degrees between helicopter and aeroplane flight
• Two extra inboard wing fuel tanks that add 588 US gallons, a difference from the Marine MV-22B
• Terrain-following radar and directional infrared countermeasures fitted for special operations

It is visually close to the MV-22B, so the extra wing tanks and special operations sensors are the differences. The first flight year, dimensions and speed are the V-22 type figures.

Specifications

• The Bell Boeing CV-22B Osprey has a length of 17.48 m (57 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 509 km/h (316 mph).
• Typical crew: 3-4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The V-22 first flew in 1989. The Air Force received its first operational CV-22 at Kirtland Air Force Base in March 2006, and the 8th Special Operations Squadron reached initial operational capability in March 2009.

Variants

The CV-22B has extra wing fuel tanks, an AN/APQ-186 terrain-following radar and other equipment. It replaced the MH-53 Pave Low; the Marines fly the MV-22B and the Navy the CMV-22B.

Where you'll see it

It serves with Air Force Special Operations Command. Three CV-22s were hit 119 times during an evacuation attempt at Bor, South Sudan, in December 2013. A CV-22B crashed off Yakushima, Japan, on 29 November 2023, killing all eight aboard.

Related aircraft

• Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey
• Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
• P.166DP1
• An-225 Mriya

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