Civil tiltrotor (CTR) applications: a dependence on Defense development and procurement of the MV-22 Osprey

摘要

Tiltrotor technology has been proven mature and technically feasible through well over 40 years of Government research and development, and three generations of tiltrotor aircraft. The Defense Department is moving forward with development of the MV-22 Osprey and should reach a full rate production decision in the near future. Despite a lucrative market for civil applications of tiltrotor technology, as of 1996, there has been no firm commitment to develop a civil tiltrotor (CTR). The purpose of this thesis was to examine whether Defense development and procurement of the MV-22 Osprey is a prerequisite to commercial development of a tiltrotor. This thesis focused on the barriers to introducing the CTR, and how Government efforts and the MV-22 have been influential in overcoming those barriers. There are two principal findings, first, tiltrotor technology has progressed to the point where CTR applications are dependent on the MV-22, only to the extent that without the benefit of MV-22 production, demonstration, and operational experience, the CTR's arrival will be significantly delayed. Second, technology is not the most critical consideration. The most critical barrier to successful fielding of a CTR, is a systems integration problem, primarily centered around the lack of a supporting infrastructure.