At last years IPMS Telford event a customer came up to me and asked me if I had Osprey Aircraft books. At the time I was standing next to a spinner packed with our Aviation titles so I pointed at it, telling the gentleman to take his pick. Unfortunately I got the wrong end of the stick – and our customer had to explain (rather slowly and in words of one syllable) that he was referring to the V-22 Osprey.
Depending on where you look or who you believe the V-22 Osprey is either an utter disaster or technological triumph. Wikipedia, that fountain of balanced argument and reliable information is not overly complimentary. The companies responsible for designing the V-22, Bell and Boeing are understandably more enthusiastic.
But the Osprey is now heading to Iraq and for the first time is entering the firing line. Now, seeing this bird take off is impressive, but whether or not it will be effective in combat I wouldn’t like to say. But at least now I now know what it is, so if anyone else asks about the Osprey aircraft I can tell them that we have no plans in the pipeline for a book on the Osprey – but depending on how much action it sees in the next couple of years, it is always a possibility!