Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Time
November 5, 2007 The Marines Respond "Flying Shame"
Mark Thompson's cover story "Flying Shame" unfortunately served up a one-sided, sensationalistic view of the V-22 Osprey program, full of inaccuracies and misleading to TIME's readers [Oct. 8]. The Osprey has taken a long time to move from a concept to extensive developmental and operational testing and now to its first combat deployment. It is sad that TIME's story failed to include the fact that in the past six years, the V-22 program had the most extensive technical and programmatic review in the history of aircraft. The cover and the story, which included dated material, were neither balanced nor accurate. The first V-22 combat squadron deployed last month for operations in Iraq. The V-22 aircraft have been rigorously tested and found to be ready and relevant for combat operations. The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will provide our forces with unprecedented increases in speed and range as well as critically needed troop-lift, medevac and cargo capabilities. We have no doubts that the Marine Corps' V-22 Ospreys are ready for their most important mission: carrying our most precious assets--Marines and sailors--into combat.
General Robert Magnus, Assistant Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington
Editor's Note: The article referred to appeared in the Current News Early Bird , Sept. 29, 2007.
November 5, 2007 The Marines Respond "Flying Shame"
Mark Thompson's cover story "Flying Shame" unfortunately served up a one-sided, sensationalistic view of the V-22 Osprey program, full of inaccuracies and misleading to TIME's readers [Oct. 8]. The Osprey has taken a long time to move from a concept to extensive developmental and operational testing and now to its first combat deployment. It is sad that TIME's story failed to include the fact that in the past six years, the V-22 program had the most extensive technical and programmatic review in the history of aircraft. The cover and the story, which included dated material, were neither balanced nor accurate. The first V-22 combat squadron deployed last month for operations in Iraq. The V-22 aircraft have been rigorously tested and found to be ready and relevant for combat operations. The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will provide our forces with unprecedented increases in speed and range as well as critically needed troop-lift, medevac and cargo capabilities. We have no doubts that the Marine Corps' V-22 Ospreys are ready for their most important mission: carrying our most precious assets--Marines and sailors--into combat.
General Robert Magnus, Assistant Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington
Editor's Note: The article referred to appeared in the Current News Early Bird , Sept. 29, 2007.