V-22 Osprey
The V-22 Osprey is a VTOL (or VSTOL) aircraft designed to carry troops into combat. The aircraft was a long time in the making
(partly due to delays in budget and approval in congress.) The V-22 Osprey takes off like a helicopter then transitions it's rotors
to a forward position to fly like an airplane (watch it here and here.) This makes it much faster than a conventional helicopter (the Osprey's top speed
is about 350 mph compared to a CH-53's top speed of about 175 mph.)
LEGO® Model vs. Real
This is actually a complete redesign of my first LEGO® V-22 as the first one wasn't what I wanted. The second version is 8
studs wide instead of 6 giving it room inside for marines and a better cockpit. This makes it a bit out of my regular scale
(it actually should be just less than 7 studs wide across the fuselage) but made it a much more functional toy!
Features are (of course) retractable landing gear, tilting rotors, marine loading door on the back, marine access on the top
(something the real V-22 DOESN'T have... not that it needs it...) sliding side doors and the wing turns 90 degrees for
transportation just like the real osprey.
This was a very fun set to build... I hope other people enjoy it as much as I have.