Here’s the First Photo of First US Navy CMV-22B Osprey COD Aircraft

Here’s the First Photo of First US Navy CMV-22B Osprey COD Aircraft

By Dario Leone
Dec 11 2019
Share this article

Clearly visible in the photo is the structural modification to the CMV-22B, the enlarged fuel tank extensions to the forward portion of the sponson.

Taken by aviation photographer Brady Kendrick at Bell’s Amarillo facility (TX) and published on his site Yellowshoephotos.com, the interesting photo in this post is the first image of a CMV-22B Osprey for the US Navy.

This CMV-22B (BuNo 169435) is the first of 39 on ordered by the US Navy to replace the ageing fleet of C-2A Greyhounds in the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) mission. It is expected that first deliveries will take place in 2020, with a first deployment in 2021. Instead the complete transition from the venerable Greyhound to the newer and more modern CMV-22B Osprey is expected by 2028.

The COD mission has played a pivotal role for carriers since the first TBM Avenger in World War II, and the C-2 Greyhound has filled that role admirably since 1965.

The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter but transit as a turboprop aircraft, and the airframe recently surpassed the threshold of 500,000 flight hours.

Osprey, with its increased range, speed and payload capabilities will provide the Navy with significant increases in capability and operational flexibility over the C-2A, which has served the fleet since 1965. CMV-22B operations can be either shore-based, expeditionary or sea-based.

Here’s the First Photo of First US Navy CMV-22B Osprey COD Aircraft

Clearly visible in the photo is the structural modification to the CMV-22B, the enlarged fuel tank extensions to the forward portion of the sponson. This modification, which is obviously on both sides of the Osprey, is done to enlarge the range of the tiltrotor.

According to Scramble Magazine, the Osprey will eventually be delivered to the Fleet Logistics Multi Mission Wing (COMVRMWING) and its first squadron, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, at NAS North Island (CA). The wing will get two additional CMV-22B squadrons under its command: VRM-40 and VRM-50.

On Oct. 10, 2019, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing (COMVRMWING) 1 was established at NAS North Island (CA).

The CMV-22B “is a game-changer to combat logistics in our carrier strike groups,” said Capt. Dewon Chaney, a career helicopter pilot with extensive experience piloting four different Navy aircraft: SH-60B, CH-46D, MH-60S, and MV-22, during COMVRMWING 1 establishing ceremony last October. “We will uphold the high standards of Naval Aviation as premier warfighter enablers.”

“The CMV-22 Osprey is not only part of our future,” emphasized Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller, commander, Naval Air Forces. “It’s part of our ‘now’ that’s going to be provided in every subsequent squadron that transitions.”

Photo credit: Brady Kendrick


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Error: Contact form not found.


Share this article
Back to top
My Agile Privacy
This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

List of some possible advertising permissions:

You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices