The concept behind the Osprey is a fairly old one, going back at least to the 1940's. Have engines that can be swiveled to direct their thrust down as well as back. There are several major problems with such an arrangement. One is efficiency; the aircraft uses up major amounts of its fuel in takeoff, a problem the Osprey solves by having fuel-efficient turboshaft engines instead of turbofans, and also with an in-flight refueling capability. Another, more serious problem is what to do if an engine dies. The solution in the Osprey is rather inelegant but functional; a heavy shaft runs from one gearbox to another through the wing at the pivot point, such that one engine can power both gearboxes if neccessary. This adds tons to the aircraft's weight, but it's a must for safety.
Note that doe to the prop/rotor diameter, the Osprey must take off with the engines tilted to some extent.
Specification | T406 |
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Application | V-22 |
T/O Power | 6150 shp |
T/O SFC | "10-20% better SFC than current engines in production" |
Cruise Power | 3584 shp |
Cruise SFC | |
Max pwr. pressure ratio | |
Length (in) | 77 |
Dia (in) | 35 |
Weight | 971 lb dry |