10 Military Ospreys Conduct Training Flight Over Maui
By Wendy Osher
Ten MV-22 Osprey aircraft were observed flying over parts of Maui on Thursday afternoon. Maui Now has confirmed that the aircraft were conducting a training mission with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24 out of US Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.
“Maximizing the integration and complexity of training through flights like these makes these Marines more capable to perform a wide-variety of missions. This particular flight was essential to meet specific training objectives across multiple squadron functions,” said Capt. Eric Abrams, III MEF COMMSTRAT, Hawaiʻi.
According to Capt. Abrams, Osprey training flights can vary depending on the assigned mission and regularly occur over land and water.
The Osprey is described as a highly capable aircraft, combining the vertical capability of a helicopter with the speed and the range of a fixed-wing aircraft. The US Military describes the aircraft as 58 feet long and 85 feet wide with rotors. The aircraft can be used for assault support, transport of combat troops, equipment and supplies.
Witnesses tell Maui Now that the aircraft appeared to be flying in partial formation towards the Kahului Airport. The propellers also were observed rotating forward during flight.
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, prepare an MV-22B Osprey for takeoff prior to conducting a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thomas Barnette, crew chief, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, observes the terrain during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of HMLA- 367 and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, fly MV-22B Ospreys over the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial during a training exercise over Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, prepare their MV-22B Ospreys for takeoff prior to conducting a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, fly an MV-22B Osprey during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, take off in their MV-22B Ospreys in order to conduct a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, conduct a tactical landing of MV-22B Ospreys during a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, operate MV-22B Ospreys during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, move their MV-22B Ospreys onto the flight line prior to conducting a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, take off in their MV-22B Ospreys in order to conduct a training exercise on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, operate MV-22B Ospreys during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, operate MV-22B Ospreys during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, Marine Aircraft Group 24, operate MV-22B Ospreys during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of VMM-268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Will Somerville, crew chief, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, observes the terrain during a training exercise over the island of Oahu, Hawaii, May 28, 2020. The flight allowed Marines of HMLA- 367 and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 the opportunity to train in mission essential tasks, increasing proficiency and ensuring overall readiness for the unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Wilson)
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