Hybrid Aircraft Gets Navy Go-Ahead

The Navy on Friday certified as “operationally suitable” a hybrid helicopter-airplane known as the MV-22 Osprey.

The action clears the way for a Navy decision to begin full production of the controversial aircraft to be flown mainly by the Marine Corps.

Eventually the Marines hope to field 360 Ospreys with a price tag of $36 billion.

The Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like an airplane, had a setback in April when one crashed during an Arizona evaluation flight and killed all 19 Marines aboard. An investigation determined the aircraft had no mechanical flaw and blamed the accident mainly on human error.

The few Ospreys produced for the testing and evaluation period that began last November were grounded for two months after the crash. Flights resumed in June but were halted again briefly in late August and early September to resolve minor mechanical problems.

The Osprey is built by Boeing Co. and Bell Helicopter Textron.

The Marines hope to have their first squadron of Ospreys ready for use next year.