Unwanted by the Okinawans, but settling in as the core aircraft supporting U.S. Marines in Okinawa, three MV-22 Osprey aircraft are about to make their first adventure training trip off island.

Three of the 12 tilt-rotor hybrid aircraft in a squadron assigned to Futenma Marine Corps Air Station earlier this fall are going to Guam to participate in the Forager Fury exercise.  The Ospreys are replacing the aging CH-46 Sea Knight heavy lift helicopters that have served the Marines here for many years.  The Osprey is more versatile; in fact, officials say the Guam trip is something the CH-46 helicopters couldn’t even accomplish.

The Ospreys will be transporting U.S. Marines on the 1,500 mile trip across the Pacific to Guam within the week.  The exercise ends December 18^th.  The Marines’ Major General serving as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan has been prepping the flight crews for the journey.  Maj. Gen. Andrew O’Donnell is a qualified Osprey pilot.

Both U.S. officials and Japanese have certified the Osprey as safe, defending the deployment of this first squadron, with a second still to come, to Okinawa. They call the state-of-the-art aircraft the key to the joint defense treaty.  Okinawans don’t agree, having staged protests against the aircraft being assigned to Okinawa.

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