Van's Air Force

The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!

What the...???

DanH

Legacy Member
Benefactor
Advertiser
Mentor
A few days ago I was heading north from the coast and noticed an ADSB traffic icon on the same track...visibly catching me on the screen.

IMG_20251203_121743287_HDR.jpg

So of course I called up the data. Huh??? A rotorcraft? 85 knots faster? What the....?

IMG_20251203_121748021_HDR.jpg

Thought about it a minute, and made a guess...

Yep, I was right. Can't mistake that outline. First time I've run across one in flight. I did not realize an Osprey cruised that fast, although for $90 million a copy (probably a CV-22 out of Hurlbert) it should be faster than an RV-8.

IMG_20251203_121951520[1].jpg
 
Last edited:
2500, trying to stay below a headwind. Higher, he was bucking better than 30, another reason I was surprised to be outrun by a rotorcraft. ADSB had him at 4300, so no worries. I just sat back and waited from him to show up in the bubble. He came by a little to starboard, so Center probably tipped him off. Or he was stalking me the whole time...
 
A few days ago I was heading north from the coast and noticed an ADSB traffic icon on the same track...visibly catching me on the screen.

View attachment 104105

So of course I called up the data. Huh??? A rotorcraft? 85 knots faster? What the....?

View attachment 104106

Thought about it a minute, and made a guess...

Yep, I was right. Can't mistake that outline. First time I've run across one in flight. I did not realize an Osprey cruised that fast, although for $90 million a copy (probably a CV-22 out of Hurlbert) it should be faster than an RV-8.

View attachment 104107
Good thing they didn't know about your made in america noise makers ;)
 
The original target for the V22 was 300 kts true. Those are some big props and lots of HP for hovering that when in airplane mode produce lots of horizontal thrust.
 
Yeah, I was passed once many years ago by a V-22. That is one weird sight in "forward flight" configuration.
I kept thinking, "Man, that thing must have one long landing gear."
 
The original target for the V22 was 300 kts true. Those are some big props and lots of HP for hovering that when in airplane mode produce lots of horizontal thrust.
There was one that used to shoot landings at W96. An impressive beast in person for sure. The rumor was that the pilot had family nearby. I once circled a while before landing after it, guessing that its wake turbulence might be… impressive. And it was also fun to just watch it from the air. 🤣
 
I once flew into Amarillo (KAMA), where they are built, and one hover taxied close enough to us that the downwash worried the heck out of us. Shook the RV around a bit. There are online videos of them tearing large branches off trees. I encountered one over Palo Duro canyon in flight and it definitely made me do a double take trying to figure out what it was from a distance.

" The rumor was that the pilot had family nearby. I once circled a while before landing after it, guessing that its wake turbulence might be… impressive. And it was also fun to just watch it from the air."

Duguru, I'll back you on this being a true statement. We had the same happen at KWWR. We are about 130nm east of KAMA. They were sometimes using our airport during their flight test of the new aircraft just off the assembly line. Sometimes they would even show up sans paint. The pilot's family was from a nearby town and would drive over and watch from the fence. Ospreys are truly fun to watch, especially when they do a 360 while hovering in place. My only gripe is we had to do a FOD check immediately after ever visit due to them kicking up rocks and debris and throwing it on the runway and taxiways.

Joe
 
Pre-ADSB we were headed to College Station for a ballgame and I came head to head with one that was practicing for the flyover. "Hey, what's that big thing at our altitude that appears to be doing a circle and is now headed right at us?"
 
Back
Top