AV22 Osprey

The AV-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor maritime attack aircraft based on the present-day V-22 airframe. Inspired by Dale Brown's Hammerheads novel, the AV-22 is armed with a belly mounted M230 chain gun, laser-guided Hellfire missiles and cargo ramp launched Viper Strike munitions derived from the USMC's Harvest Hawk project. Reinforced to withstand combat maneuvering, the AV-22 is capable of vectoring in forward flight and was evaluated in dissimilar air combat training against a DWG Flying Squirrel. This uncanny ability to dogfight is meant as a defensive measure; the AV-22 was designed primarily as a maritime patrol / attack platform operating against armed Cuban smugglers. It has a very long flight endurance, with main rotor RPM controlled by the T and G keys. Left on Combat AI, the player can effortlessly loiter at low speeds below 200m altitude - the AI automatically tilts the nacelles to a 70 degree angle and maintains aircraft stability. When encountering enemy aircraft at close range, the AV-22 will utilize asymmetric nacelle tilt for a Firefly-style "Crazy Ivan" maneuver while climbing in a vertical spiral.