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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2006) -- 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing participated in its first aerial refueling of the MV-22 Osprey during training in Southern California Aug. 29.

The Osprey was refueled by a KC-130J from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd MAW.

The MV-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a plane. The Osprey has a 38-foot prop rotor and an engine/transmission nacelle mounted on each wing tip, allowing it to operate like a helicopter for take-off and landing purposes. Once in the air, the Osprey’s engine nacelles rotate forward 90 degrees and convert the aircraft into a high-speed, high-altitude, fuel-efficient turbo-prop aircraft.

The Osprey, from Marine Tilt-rotor Test and Evaluation Squadron 22, MCAS New River, N.C., trained in the Kane West Miliary Operational Area to test their new retractable refueling probe in conjunction with the ramp-mounted weapon system, according to Capt. Adam N. Barboka, pilot, VMGR-352.

It was a big day for VMGR-352. Being the first aerial refueling of the Osprey with the KC-130J tanker from the 3rd MAW meant there was no room for error.

“Everything went very smoothly considering it was the first time in the squadron this had been done,” said 1st Lt. Mike Proctor, a pilot with VMGR-352. “The whole crew functioned as a unit and it was a great experience.”

Aboard the first flight was also the commanding officer and sergeant major of the squadron.
“The mission went great,” explained Lt. Col. Robert P. Cote, commanding officer, VMGR-352. “It was a standard aerial refueling mission.”

“It was virtually identical to a fixed wing aerial refuel mission only this time it was an Osprey,” Cote said. “The crew performed flawlessly.”

Safety is always the primary goal of any flight mission, and whenever the crew is practicing something for the first time, it is absolutely vitalaccording to Cpl. Adam Palmer, loadmaster, VMGR-352.

Palmer is responsible for both aircraft involved in the refueling, ensuring they are doing proper procedures and maintaining safety. It is the loadmaster’s job to make sure nothing goes wrong. They watch out the windows to ensure the aircraft are refueling safely and relay information to the pilots.

“As long as everyone feels comfortable, I am willing to try anything,” explained Cote during the pre-flight brief. “This was all learning for us.”

In the eyes of Proctor, VMGR-352 made history Aug. 29 with this mission.

“It was a great experience and opportunity,” Proctor said. “I’m sure (Osprey refueling) will be done a lot in the future, but it was great to be one of the first.”