Video: First CMV-22B aircraft for fleet operations arrives at Naval Air Station North Island

Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing delivered the first CMV-22B for fleet operations to the U.S. Navy on Monday. The V-22 is based at Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif.

This aircraft is the third overall delivery to the U.S. Navy. Bell Boeing delivered the first CMV-22B at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in February for developmental testing, followed by a second in May. The Navy variant V-22 will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission, replacing the C-2A Greyhound.

The CMV-22B and C-2A greyhound conducted a symbolic passing of the torch flight in April.

The CMV-22B carries up to 6,000 pounds of cargo and combines the vertical takeoff, hover and landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft.

Bell Boeing designed the Navy variant to have the expanded range needed for fleet operations. Two additional 60-gallon tanks and redesigned forward sponson tanks can cover more than 1,150 nautical miles.

Bell Boeing team delivers 400th V-22 aircraft

The Bell Boeing V-22 team recently delivered its 400^th aircraft, a CV-22 for U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.

The first production V-22 was delivered on May 24, 1999, and Wednesday's deliveries occur under the Multi-year Procurement III contract valued at $5 billion. That agreement, which runs through 2024, includes variants for the Marines, Air Force, and Navy, as well as the first international customer, Japan.

The V-22 takes off, hovers, and lands like a helicopter yet flies long distances like a turboprop aircraft. The CV-22 variant performs special operations missions, including infiltration, extraction, and resupply, that conventional aircraft can’t. The Marine Corps variant, the MV-22B, provides the safe and reliable transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment for combat assault, assault support, and fleet logistics. The Navy variant, the CMV-22B, is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the carrier onboard delivery mission.

The V-22 has accumulated more than 500,000 flight hours.