Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168638 (YS-16) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on FlickrISOs up to 10,000 and 25,600 for the next few! Genuinely was close to pitch black, we couldn't see what the cameras could.
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on Flickr
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on Flickr
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on Flickr
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on FlickrRoll on the next morning (Sunday). YS-16 is still sat on the pan. Fuel bowser went out to fuel it up, then turned back when the crew were nowhere to be found. I then quickly ran home for a food/drink/toilet break when almost just as I got to the front door I'd heard them mention on the radio that the crew had now arrived. Back up to CU. Initial departure time was 12pm, but that soon slipped after a fuelling issue. When finally topped up, the aircraft taxied out to the runway. Just before lifting off, one of the aircraft's engines packed up, so a taxi back to the pan it was. Two members of the crew came over to speak to us to see what images/footage we had of the aborted takeoff, in case there was any sign of a flameout (thankfully not to our eyes). They said they'd need to call in another bird, but had no idea on the ETA. We did ask if they could send one of the CH-53s!
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168638 (YS-16) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on FlickrBack home for a longer break. The gliding club had free reign over the airfield for a while, which was useful as the need for them to land before any inbound aircraft arrive allowed us to get a bit of a heads up. The call came in, Vortex 12, 30 miles out. Mad dash up to Culdrose once again, and just in the nick of time, got a lovely side on view on the other side of the airfield.
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on Flickr
Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168653 (YS-15) | VMM-162, United States Marine Corps by Kai Greet, on FlickrThis arrival, typically for any number spotters, the same airframe as the one that arrived and departed the night before, departed very soon after arriving and didn't shut down. Meanwhile, 168638 is still sat on Culdrose's bravo south pan. Airfield reopens on Monday at 0830. We'll see what happens! Regardless, not bad for my first Ospreys!
Cheers for looking
