The aircraft made by Bell Helicopter will be deployed in Iraq for the first time in September.
AMARILLO -- It is not just a helicopter, or just a plane. The V-22 Osprey is an innovative aircraft and now appears ready to fulfill its purpose.
On Thursday, the Marine Corps announced the fleet built in Amarillo atBell Helicopterhas met the final requirements for use in combat.
The V-22 brings something special to the American troops. It is the first aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and switch to fly like an airplane. It is technology that Bell employees have been proud to work on.
"Cool is just an understatement right there. this is a great place to be working and to be a part of this team building this. all of amarillo's pulled together and has brought this all to fruition right here to what we've built," said Don Cersovsky, Production Control Manager.
Many agree they have an even greater reason to be proud.
"I was in the service for 11 years and knowing what this innovative osprey--the vertical lift, transitioning from helicopter to airplane mode--can bring the forces to bear and what it's going to do, the advantage that it's going to bring to them," said Cersovsky.
"It hits real close to home because you know here we see it on a day to day basis. we see it here, we see it develop and see it flying around downtown and you think of the marines and soldiers it may be picking up or dropping off," said Gilbert Gutierrez, Managing & Production Engineer.
The technology to build the V-22s has been developing for over 50 years.
Those who have been working on the fleet for a while say it is like seeing a child off into the real world.
"It has done very well they put it pretty much to its limits and it has been acceptable to the marines," said Gutierrez.
Bell is now preparing to rev up production of the V-22 to meet the needs of its contracts.
The V-22s will first be deployed to Iraq in September. The military will use them to assist troops in re-supply and casualty evacuation.
