99-617: The Beechcraft C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900 . C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force , Army , Navy and Marine Corps . These aircraft are used for various duties, including embassy support, medical evacuation, as well as passenger and light cargo transport. Some aircraft are modified with surveillance systems for various missions, including
198-1014: A Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of its own). All Marine pilots and flight officers are trained and qualified as naval aviators or naval flight officers by the Navy. Prospective aviators receive their commissions and attend The Basic School just as all other Marine officers do, then report to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 to attend Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida. There they receive instruction in aerodynamics , aircraft engines and systems, meteorology , navigation , and flight rules and regulations. Following completion, they are assigned to Primary Flight Training at Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 , Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , Texas, or remain in Pensacola, Florida. Upon successful completion of Primary Flight Training, they select which type of aircraft they would like to fly, in accordance with
297-633: A coherent vision of Marine Corps Aviation that delivers relevant, reliable, survivable, and affordable combat power to the Fleet Marine Force commanders. It will do so through close integration with DC CD&I, Service and joint force partners, industry, universities, and research agencies. The output of the Cunningham Group supports future force design initiatives, the AVPLAN, and resourcing decisions. The Aviation Expeditionary Enablers (AXE) provides
396-406: A constant-speed propeller increase their pitch as aircraft speed increases. Another benefit of this type of propeller is that it can also be used to generate reverse thrust to reduce stopping distance on the runway. Additionally, in the event of an engine failure, the propeller can be feathered , thus minimizing the drag of the non-functioning propeller. While the power turbine may be integral with
495-416: A large amount of air by a small degree than a small amount of air by a large degree, a low disc loading (thrust per unit disc area) increases the aircraft's energy efficiency , and this reduces the fuel use. Propellers work well until the flight speed of the aircraft is high enough that the airflow past the blade tips reaches the speed of sound. Beyond that speed, the proportion of the power that drives
594-413: A single OSA squadron, Marine Transport Squadron One ( VMR-1 ), a reserve unit attached to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth , while other OSA assets are attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadrons at various air stations and air bases. The primary military occupational specialty (MOS) of an OSA aviator is to manage airfield operations at their base or station; flying OSA aircraft
693-575: A test-bed not intended for production. It first flew on 20 September 1945. From their experience with the Trent, Rolls-Royce developed the Rolls-Royce Clyde , the first turboprop engine to receive a type certificate for military and civil use, and the Dart , which became one of the most reliable turboprop engines ever built. Dart production continued for more than fifty years. The Dart-powered Vickers Viscount
792-620: A three-digit system. The first two numbers were meant to identify the squadron's parent group, but with the rapid expansion during the war and frequent transfer of squadrons, this system fell apart. The next higher level in Marine Aviation is the Group , the aviation equivalent of a regiment. Groups can be classified as: The largest level in Marine aviation is the Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW),
891-798: A variety of support and special-purpose roles. All Marine Corps aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation , whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation, especially acquisition of new assets, conversions of current aircraft, maintenance, operation, and command. Marine Corps aviation officially began on 22 May 1912, when First Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunningham reported to Naval Aviation Camp in Annapolis, Maryland , "for duty in connection with aviation." On 20 August 1912, he became
990-676: A version of the Super King Air A200C (modified with a 1.32 m by 1.32 m; 52 inch by 52 inch cargo door from the Super King Air 200C), designating it the UC-12B, for logistics support between Naval and Marine Corps air stations, air facilities, and other activities, both in CONUS and overseas. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Through 1982,
1089-429: Is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller . A turboprop consists of an intake , reduction gearbox , compressor , combustor , turbine , and a propelling nozzle . Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel is then added to the compressed air in the combustor, where the fuel-air mixture then combusts . The hot combustion gases expand through the turbine stages, generating power at
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#17328701472141188-482: Is normally a constant-speed (variable pitch) propeller type similar to that used with larger aircraft reciprocating engines , except that the propeller-control requirements are very different. Due to the turbine engine's slow response to power inputs, particularly at low speeds, the propeller has a greater range of selected travel in order to make rapid thrust changes, notably for taxi, reverse, and other ground operations. The propeller has 2 modes, Alpha and Beta. Alpha
1287-494: Is sacrificed in favor of shaft power, which is obtained by extracting additional power (beyond that necessary to drive the compressor) from turbine expansion. Owing to the additional expansion in the turbine system, the residual energy in the exhaust jet is low. Consequently, the exhaust jet produces about 10% of the total thrust. A higher proportion of the thrust comes from the propeller at low speeds and less at higher speeds. Turboprops have bypass ratios of 50–100, although
1386-738: Is strictly a secondary MOS. All Marine Corps aviation falls under the cognizance of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) at Headquarters Marine Corps , with the cooperation of the United States Navy . There, plans for all aspects of aviation are created and managed, including acquisition of new aircraft, training, maintenance, manpower, etc. HQMCA creates Transitional Task Forces to assist units in transitioning between aircraft and aircraft versions. The Deputy Commandant of Aviation also commands Marine Corps Detachments at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Naval Air Station Patuxent River . The NAS China Lake Marines are responsible to DCA for
1485-404: Is the mode for all flight operations including takeoff. Beta, a mode typically consisting of zero to negative thrust, is used for all ground operations aside from takeoff. The Beta mode is further broken down into 2 additional modes, Beta for taxi and Beta plus power. Beta for taxi as the name implies is used for taxi operations and consists of all pitch ranges from the lowest alpha range pitch, all
1584-432: Is to rapidly deliver small payloads using fixed-wing aircraft in situations where helicopters have inadequate range, and ground transportation is unavailable, slow, subject to enemy attack, or otherwise impractical. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, OSA support is provided by commercial off-the-shelf aircraft rather than relatively complex and maintenance-intensive tactical airlifters . OSA assets are an exception to
1683-784: The Aircrew insignia . Marine aviators are eligible to earn medals such as the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight as well as the Gray Eagle Award for seniority. Pilots in combat have a chance to become flying aces . Marine light attack helicopter squadrons (HMLA) are composite squadrons of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. These provide light-attack and light transport utility capabilities. Marine medium tilt-rotor (VMM) squadrons fly
1782-508: The Battle of Tarawa as the air support for ground troops flown by Navy pilots left much to be desired. After the battle, General Holland Smith recommended, " Marine aviators, thoroughly schooled in the principles of direct air support, " should do the job. The New Georgia campaign saw the first real close air support provided to Marine ground forces by Marine Air; the Bougainville campaign and
1881-503: The C-6 Ute and T-44 series. In addition, there are a number of Beechcraft 1900s operated by the military under civilian registrations, using their civilian model designations. Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2005-2006 General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Turboprop A turboprop
1980-455: The Cefly Lancer , Beechcraft RC-12 Guardrail and Project Liberty programs. The first C-12A models entered service with the U.S. Army in 1974 and were used as a liaison and general personnel transport. The aircraft was essentially an "off-the-shelf" Super King Air 200, powered by the type's standard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines. The U.S. Navy followed suit in 1979, ordering
2079-617: The EA-6B Prowler was the main tactical electronic warfare aircraft left in the U.S. inventory, until Navy squadrons replaced it with the EA-18G Growler . Based on the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Growler has been labeled a "national asset" and is frequently borrowed to assist in any American combat action, not just Marine operations. Since the retirement of the EF-111A Raven in 1998,
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#17328701472142178-739: The F-35C carrier variants, enough for five squadrons, to serve with Navy carrier air wings . The Corps operates its own aerial refueling assets in the form of the KC-130J Super Hercules . In Marine transport refueling (VMGR) squadrons, the Hercules doubles as a ground refueller and tactical-airlift transport aircraft. With the addition of the ISR / Weapon Mission Kit, the KC-130J will be able to serve as an overwatch aircraft and can deliver ground support fire in
2277-839: The H-1 upgrade program , UH-1N Twin Hueys were replaced by UH-1Y Venoms , while AH-1W SuperCobras were upgraded to AH-1Z Vipers . The VH-3D Sea Kings and the VH-60N Blackhawks of HMX-1 are to be replaced by the Sikorsky VH-92 in the VXX program . Unmanned aerial vehicle programs will be upgraded in tiers, with the RQ-7 Shadow replacing the RQ-2 Pioneer and the RQ-11 Raven . They have also been in
2376-511: The HO3S1 helicopter —made their combat debut in August 1950 during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter . January 1951 saw the activation of HMR-161 , the world's first helicopter transport squadron. The Korean and Vietnam wars saw the size of Marine Aviation rebound from its post-WWII lows, emerging as the force that exists today, consisting of four air wings, 20 aircraft groups and 78 flying squadrons. By
2475-483: The Navy or Air Force , or in the case of HMX-1 , by the company that created the aircraft. After completion, aviators are assigned to their first squadron. Flight officers, after Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, continue their own training path by staying at Pensacola and training further in navigation and avionics . After Advanced NFO training, they receive their wings and are assigned to their first duty squadron. With
2574-496: The Navy's General Board published a new mission for Marine Aviation, which stated: " Marine Aviation is to be equipped, organized and trained primarily for the support of the Fleet Marine Force in landing operations and in support of troop activities in the field; and secondarily as replacement for carrier based naval aircraft. " On 7 December 1941, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor , Marine Corps air units consisted of 13 flying squadrons and 230 aircraft. During World War II,
2673-616: The P-3 Orion , and the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. The first turbine-powered, shaft-driven helicopter was the Kaman K-225 , a development of Charles Kaman 's K-125 synchropter , which used a Boeing T50 turboshaft engine to power it on 11 December 1951. December 1963 saw the first delivery of Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6 turboprop engine for the then Beechcraft 87, soon to become Beechcraft King Air . 1964 saw
2772-830: The Piper Meridian , Socata TBM , Pilatus PC-12 , Piaggio P.180 Avanti , Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air . In April 2017, there were 14,311 business turboprops in the worldwide fleet. Between 2012 and 2016, the ATSB observed 417 events with turboprop aircraft, 83 per year, over 1.4 million flight hours: 2.2 per 10,000 hours. Three were "high risk" involving engine malfunction and unplanned landing in single‑engine Cessna 208 Caravans , four "medium risk" and 96% "low risk". Two occurrences resulted in minor injuries due to engine malfunction and terrain collision in agricultural aircraft and five accidents involved aerial work: four in agriculture and one in an air ambulance . Jane's All
2871-590: The Tupolev Tu-114 can reach 470 kn (870 km/h; 540 mph). Large military aircraft , like the Tupolev Tu-95 , and civil aircraft , such as the Lockheed L-188 Electra , were also turboprop powered. The Airbus A400M is powered by four Europrop TP400 engines, which are the second most powerful turboprop engines ever produced, after the 11 MW (15,000 hp) Kuznetsov NK-12 . In 2017,
2970-604: The V-22 Osprey , a tilt-rotor transport aircraft. Marine heavy helicopter (HMH) squadrons fly the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter for heavy-lift missions. These will eventually be replaced with the upgraded CH-53K , currently under development. Marine attack squadrons (VMA) fly the AV-8 Harrier II ; while Marine Fighter-Attack (VMFA) and Marine (All Weather) Fighter-Attack (VMFA(AW)) squadrons, respectively fly both
3069-660: The campaign to retake the Philippines saw the establishment of air liaison parties to coordinate air support with the Marines fighting on the ground, and the Battle of Okinawa brought most of it together with the establishment of aviation command and control in the form of Landing Force Air Support Control Units . During the course of the war, Marine Aviators were credited with shooting down 2,355 Japanese aircraft while losing 573 of their own aircraft in combat, they had 120 aces and earned 11 Medals of Honor . Immediately following
Beechcraft C-12 Huron - Misplaced Pages Continue
3168-619: The fighter , attack , and electronic warfare roles. The MV-22B Osprey replaced the CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion . The Corps has transitioned all East Coast CH-46 squadrons to the MV-22, which has made its first combat deployments and Marine expeditionary unit deployments. The CH-53E Super Stallion will be replaced by the CH-53K King Stallion . The KC-130J Super Hercules will replace all other C-130 models. As part of
3267-492: The 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base , New Mexico . Another is based at the 517th Airlift Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska . Three were based at the 55th Airlift Flight, Osan Air Base , South Korea. They have been relocated to the 459th Airlift Squadron , Yokota Air Base , Japan. The remaining two are used by U.S. Army Aviation. Although the UD- series 1900s were manufactured exclusively for military use,
3366-507: The Air Force's only EW aircraft, Marine Corps and Navy aircraft have provided electronic warfare support to Air Force units. Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 ( VMFT-401 ) operates F-5 Tiger II aircraft in support of air combat adversary ( aggressor ) training. Marine Helicopter Squadron One ( HMX-1 ) operates the VH-3D Sea King medium-lift and VH-60N Nighthawk light-lift helicopters in
3465-956: The Aviation Company split into the First Aeronautic Company which deployed to the Azores to hunt U-boats in January 1918 and the First Marine Air Squadron which deployed to France as the newly renamed 1st Marine Aviation Force in July 1918 and provided bomber and fighter support to the Navy's Day Wing, Northern Bombing Group . By the end of the war, several Marine Aviators had recorded air-to-air kills, and collectively they had dropped over fourteen tons of bombs. Their numbers included 282 officers and 2,180 enlisted men operating from 8 squadrons, with Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot being
3564-609: The F-35 replacing the F/A-18 Hornet by 2030, the Marine Corps is no longer accepting new Naval Flight Officers. Student RPA pilots are trained by the Air Force and receive their wings after finishing Undergraduate RPA Pilot Training. Next they are assigned to an Air Force IQT squadron for follow on MQ-9A qualifications and then proceed to their first operational squadron. Enlisted aircrew also serve on some aircraft (mostly helicopters). They are trained at NAS Pensacola and are eligible to wear
3663-518: The King Air 200, represent specially built airframes that combined upgraded engines (1,100 shp PT6A-67) and structural upgrades (swapping the traditional KA-200/300/350 T-Tail for the 1900 modified T-Tail to compensate for torque and aerodynamics and having reinforced spars to compensate for the increased maximum gross weight - up to as high as 16,500 lbs). Note: The U.S. military also operates other King Air versions under other designations, including
3762-450: The Liberty program had exceeded 300,000 combat flying hours. The MC-12W was rushed into combat as a supplemental surveillance and signals intelligence asset. Since its first combat mission on 10 June 2009, the aircraft flew 400,000 combat hours in 79,000 combat sorties, aiding in the kill or capture of "more than 8,000 terrorists" and uncovering 650 weapons caches. With its roles taken over by
3861-621: The MAW is to conduct air operations in support of the Marine Forces to include offensive air support , anti-aircraft warfare , assault support , aerial reconnaissance , electronic warfare , and the control of aircraft and missiles. As a collateral function, the MAW may participate as an integral component of naval aviation in the execution of such other Navy functions as the Fleet Commander may direct. The Operational Support Airlift (OSA) mission
3960-568: The Marine Corps altogether in a series of budget cutbacks and decommissioning of forces. After World War II, most propeller aircraft were gradually phased out as jet aircraft improved and helicopters were developed for use in amphibious operations. The first Marine jet squadron came in November 1947 when VMF-122 fielded the FH Phantom . In December 1950, VMF-311 became the first Marine jet squadron used in combat, providing close air support for
4059-521: The Marine Corps became the preferred force for military intervention; where the Marines went, so went Marine Corps aviation. During the Banana Wars , while fighting bandits and insurgents in places like Haiti , the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua , Marine Corps aviators began to experiment with air-ground tactics and making the support of their fellow Marines on the ground their primary mission. It
Beechcraft C-12 Huron - Misplaced Pages Continue
4158-491: The Marine Corps' air arm expanded rapidly and extensively. They reached their peak number of units with 5 air wings , 31 aircraft groups and 145 flying squadrons . During the war, and for the next fifty years, the Guadalcanal campaign would become a defining point for Marine Aviation. The great takeaways were the debilitating effects of not having air superiority , the vulnerability of targets such as transport shipping, and
4257-520: The Marines and soldiers on the ground, flying the F9F Panther . In February 1957, VMA-214 became the first Marine squadron to be certified for "special weapons delivery": dropping nuclear weapons . Several others would receive certification, though eventually all nuclear weapons were turned over to Navy and Air Force responsibility. HMX-1 , the first Marine helicopter squadron, was commissioned on 1 December 1947. Marine helicopters— VMO-6 flying
4356-588: The Model 200-based UC-12F and UC-12M along with the Cessna UC-35D and replace them with new UC-12Ws by 2032. The Air Force currently operates only 4 C-12Js. 3 are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base , Japan and 1 by the Air Force Materiel Command from Holloman AFB , New Mexico. The Army has C-12Js in use. The following RC-12 variants, although similar to earlier RC-12s based on
4455-635: The Navy Flying School. In 1915, the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the creation of a Marine Corps aviation company consisting of 10 officers and 40 enlisted men. The Marine Aviation Company was commissioned on 17 February 1917 as the first official Marine flying unit, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard . The first major expansion of the Marine Corps' air component came with America's entrance into World War I in 1917. Wartime expansion saw
4554-464: The Navy ordered 64 of these aircraft. A U.S. Air Force variant of the plane for surveillance roles primarily over Afghanistan and Iraq was the MC-12W Liberty. For that variant, Beechcraft built the basic plane and then sent it to Greenville, Texas where sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment was installed by L-3 Communications Missions Integration . As of 2013
4653-616: The Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics , issued a directive officially authorizing three fighting squadrons. In the 1920s, Marine Corps squadrons began qualifying on board aircraft carriers . However, in terms of mission and training, the assignment of two Marine scouting squadrons as component units of the Pacific Fleet carriers would be one of the greatest advancements for Marine Corps aviation. Prior to this, Marine Corps squadrons were loosely controlled with regard to doctrine and training. This assignment enabled nearly 60% of active duty aviators at
4752-519: The Soviet Union had the technology to create the airframe for a jet-powered strategic bomber comparable to Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress , they instead produced the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, powered with four Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprops, mated to eight contra-rotating propellers (two per nacelle) with supersonic tip speeds to achieve maximum cruise speeds in excess of 575 mph, faster than many of
4851-429: The Super King Air 200, use PT6A-42 engines, and have a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 13,500 lb (6,100 kg). They are configured as combi aircraft and are also used for multi-engine training and testing. To meet the needs of transporting larger groups, the U.S. Army purchased six C-12J aircraft, based on the Beechcraft 1900 C commuter airliner. One of the military C-12Js is used for GPS jamming tests at
4950-459: The U.S. Navy with Training Squadron 35 (VT-35), the Navy's only TC-12B Huron squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , Texas, home of the Training Air Wing 4 (TAW-4). The Navy retired this aircraft on 16 May 2017 and replaced and now relies on the T-44C for multi engine training. The UC-12F and UC-12M are light passenger and cargo airlift versions procured for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from 1986 and 1987 respectively. They are based on
5049-501: The United States military and other military and government organizations use 1900s from other series such as the UB-series 1900C, and 1900Ds which may be found elsewhere. The UC-12W is an improved version of the UC-12F/M for the Marine Corps procured from 2010 for the same missions. It is based on the Super King Air 350, uses PT6A-60A engines, and has an MTOW of 16,500 lb (7,500 kg). According to its 2022 Marine Aviation Plan, United States Marine Corps Aviation plans to phase out
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#17328701472145148-629: The Vietnam War, flying more than 120,000 combat hours in support of operations in and near Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite their aging aircraft and high operating tempo, Marine Aviation maintained a 74.5-percent mission-capable rate . Since the Corps as a whole began to grow in 2007, Marine Aviation expanded with it and continues to grow. Several new squadrons have been activated, including VMFAT-501 , and VMU-4 . Some support units will gain personnel and equipment. The Corps intends to procure 420 F-35B/Cs (353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs) to replace all F/A-18 Hornets , AV-8B Harrier IIs and EA-6B Prowlers in
5247-682: The World's Aircraft . 2005–2006. United States Marine Corps Aviation The United States Marine Corps Aviation ( USMCA ) is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps . Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force , as the aviation combat element , by providing six functions: assault support , antiair warfare , close air support , electronic warfare , control of aircraft and missiles , and aerial reconnaissance . The Corps operates rotary-wing , tiltrotor , and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces. Other aircraft types are also used in
5346-508: The competition continuum against a peer adversary. The Air Warfare Systems TACAIR (AWS-TACAIR) sustains and enhances MAGTF warfighting capabilities. Marine TACAIR must thrive at sea and in forward, isolated, austere locations while fully integrating into the Naval Expeditionary and Joint Networks. AWS-TACAIR will ensure the MAGTF is able to conduct offensive air support, anti-air warfare, electronic warfare and provide multi-sensor aerial, maritime and terrestrial targeting and coordination within
5445-604: The competition continuum against a peer adversary. The Air Warfare Systsems Unmanned Aerial Systems (AWS–UAS) sustains and enhances MAGTF warfighting capabilities. Marine unmanned aviation must thrive in forward, isolated, austere locations while fully integrating into the Naval Expeditionary and Joint Networks. AWS-UAS ensures the MAGTF provides multi-sensor aerial, maritime and terrestrial looking early warning; provides identification, tracking, targeting and coordination for offensive air support and ground and ship based long range strike; as well as be inherently strike capable within
5544-443: The competition continuum against a peer adversary. The basic tactical and administrative unit of United States Marine Corps aviation is the squadron . Fixed wing and tilt-rotor aircraft squadrons are denoted by the letter "V", which comes from the French verb "Voler" (to fly). Rotary wing (helicopter) squadrons use "H." Squadrons flying lighter than air vehicles (balloons), which were active from World War I to 1943, were indicated by
5643-515: The complexity of our aircraft. The Air Warfare Systems Assault Support (AWS–AS) sustains and enhances MAGTF warfighting capabilities. Marine Assault Support aviation must thrive at sea and in forward, isolated, austere locations while fully integrating into the Naval Expeditionary and Joint Networks. AWS-AS will ensure the MAGTF is able to conduct combat assault support, air delivery, aerial refueling, air evacuation, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, and air logistical support missions within
5742-417: The compressor intake is at the aft of the engine, and the exhaust is situated forward, reducing the distance between the turbine and the propeller. Unlike the small-diameter fans used in turbofan engines, the propeller has a large diameter that lets it accelerate a large volume of air. This permits a lower airstream velocity for a given amount of thrust. Since it is more efficient at low speeds to accelerate
5841-459: The control system. The turboprop system consists of 3 propeller governors , a governor, and overspeed governor, and a fuel-topping governor. The governor works in much the same way a reciprocating engine propeller governor works, though a turboprop governor may incorporate beta control valve or beta lift rod for beta operation and is typically located in the 12 o'clock position. There are also other governors that are included in addition depending on
5940-474: The critical enablers that will allow Marine aviation to thrive at sea and in forward, isolated, austere locations while fully integrating into the Naval Expeditionary and Joint Networks. AXE enablers will ensure the MAGTF can perform the six functions of Marine Aviation within the competition continuum against a peer adversary. The Aviation Sustainment Branch (ASB) sustains and enhances MAGTF Warfighting capabilities. ASB integrates aviation sustainment to deliver
6039-465: The end of the Vietnam War, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force had grown dependent on its multi-mission inventory of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, which could operate from land or sea bases to support Marines on the ground. Marine Aviators deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , then to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom . 2006 saw Marine Aviation at its highest operational level since
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#17328701472146138-438: The equivalent of a division . Wings are usually grouped with a Marine division and a Marine Logistics Group to form a Marine Expeditionary Force . Administratively, Marine aviation is organized into three active duty MAWs and one reserve MAW. MAWs are designed to provide units in support of MAGTF or other operations. Each MAW has a unique organizational structure. The MAW may be reinforced with assets from other MAWs to provide
6237-420: The establishment of Aircraft One and Aircraft Two to replace the old Aircraft Squadron, East Coast and Aircraft Squadron, West Coast that had supported operations in the Caribbean and China as part of their expeditionary duties. This organization would remain until June 1940 when Congress authorized the Marine Corps 1,167 aircraft as part of its 10,000 plane program for the Navy. Just prior, in 1939,
6336-423: The events in the Caribbean, pioneering Marine Corps aviators such as Alfred Cunningham had noted in 1920 that, " ...the only excuse for aviation in any service is its usefulness in assisting the troops on the ground to successfully carry out their missions. " It was not until 3 May 1925 that the Marine Corps officially appeared in the Navy's Aeronautical Organization when Rear Admiral William A. Moffett , Chief of
6435-440: The first jet aircraft and comparable to jet cruising speeds for most missions. The Bear would serve as their most successful long-range combat and surveillance aircraft and symbol of Soviet power projection through to the end of the 20th century. The USA used turboprop engines with contra-rotating propellers, such as the Allison T40 , on some experimental aircraft during the 1950s. The T40-powered Convair R3Y Tradewind flying-boat
6534-495: The first Marine Corps aviator to earn the Medal of Honor , for action against the Luftstreitkräfte air arm of Imperial Germany on 8 October 1918. In 1919, the 1st Division/Squadron 1 was formed from these units and still exists today as VMA-231 . The end of World War I saw Congress authorize 1,020 men for Marine Corps aviation and the establishment of permanent air stations at Quantico , Parris Island and San Diego . The United States embraced its role of global power, and
6633-399: The first Marine aviator when he took off in a Burgess Model H given to him by the Burgess Company in Marblehead Harbor , Massachusetts . As the number of Marine Corps pilots grew, so did the desire to separate from Naval Aviation , an objective realized on 6 January 1914, when First Lieutenant Bernard L. Smith was directed to Culebra, Puerto Rico , to establish the Marine Section of
6732-422: The first deliveries of the Garrett AiResearch TPE331 , (now owned by Honeywell Aerospace ) on the Mitsubishi MU-2 , making it the fastest turboprop aircraft for that year. In contrast to turbofans , turboprops are most efficient at flight speeds below 725 km/h (450 mph; 390 knots) because the jet velocity of the propeller (and exhaust) is relatively low. Modern turboprop airliners operate at nearly
6831-407: The form of 30mm cannon fire , Hellfire or Griffin missiles, and precision-guided bombs . This capability, designated as " Harvest HAWK " (Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit), can be used in scenarios where precision is not a requisite, such as area denial , and was first used in Afghanistan in late 2010. Serving in Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare (VMAQ) Squadrons until its retirement in 2019,
6930-487: The gas generator section, many turboprops today feature a free power turbine on a separate coaxial shaft. This enables the propeller to rotate freely, independent of compressor speed. Alan Arnold Griffith had published a paper on compressor design in 1926. Subsequent work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment investigated axial compressor-based designs that would drive a propeller. From 1929, Frank Whittle began work on centrifugal compressor-based designs that would use all
7029-404: The gas power produced by the engine for jet thrust. The world's first turboprop was designed by the Hungarian mechanical engineer György Jendrassik . Jendrassik published a turboprop idea in 1928, and on 12 March 1929 he patented his invention. In 1938, he built a small-scale (100 Hp; 74.6 kW) experimental gas turbine. The larger Jendrassik Cs-1 , with a predicted output of 1,000 bhp,
7128-505: The growing MQ-9 Reaper fleet, the Air Force decided to divest itself of the 41 Liberty aircraft and turn them over to the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Operations Command , which was completed by October 2015. The Air Force's final MC-12W deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ended on 13 October 2015. The TC-12B Huron was a twin-engine, pressurized version of the Beechcraft Super King Air 200. Twenty-five served with
7227-490: The lead in looking at unmanned helicopters to resupply troops at remote forward operating bases in places such as Afghanistan. The Executive Secretariat ensures integration and increased collaboration with fellow HQMC Deputy Commandants and Staff Agencies. The Cunningham Group forms the nucleus of Marine Aviation. Threat informed, the Cunningham Group is responsible for synthesizing existing capabilities with emerging operational concepts and technologies in order to develop
7326-413: The letter "Z" in naval squadron designation. Marine squadrons are noted by the second letter "M." Squadron numbering is not linear, as some were numbered in ascending order, and others took numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned. From 1920 to 1941, Marine flying squadrons were identified by one digit numbers. This changed on 1 July 1941 when all existing squadrons were redesignated to
7425-406: The model, such as an overspeed and fuel topping governor on a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 , and an under-speed governor on a Honeywell TPE331 . The turboprop is also distinguished from other kinds of turbine engine in that the fuel control unit is connected to the governor to help dictate power. To make the engine more compact, reverse airflow can be used. On a reverse-flow turboprop engine,
7524-657: The most widespread turboprop airliners in service were the ATR 42 / 72 (950 aircraft), Bombardier Q400 (506), De Havilland Canada Dash 8 -100/200/300 (374), Beechcraft 1900 (328), de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (270), Saab 340 (225). Less widespread and older airliners include the BAe Jetstream 31 , Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia , Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner , Dornier 328 , Saab 2000 , Xian MA60 , MA600 and MA700 , Fokker 27 and 50 . Turboprop business aircraft include
7623-467: The necessary assets to meet mission requirements. The MAW contains a Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters (MAW HQ), that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW, a Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) ( see: MWHS-1 , MWHS-2 and MWHS-3 ), which provides administrative and supply support for the MAW HQ, three or four Marine Aircraft Groups (MAGs), and a Marine Air Control Group (MACG). The mission of
7722-507: The necessary expeditionary capabilities across the functional areas of aircraft maintenance, aviation supply, avionics, aviation ordnance, and aviation information systems, allowing Marine aviation to thrive at sea and in forward, isolated, austere conditions. ASB coordinates across the Naval Aviation Enterprise and Marine Corps Forces to develop, manage, and improve aviation sustainment capabilities, plans, and policies in support of
7821-543: The needs of the Corps. After selection, student aviators are assigned to Advanced Flight Training in their particular field (strike, multi-engine, rotary, or tilt-rotor). Upon completion, students are designated as Naval Aviators and are awarded the Naval Aviator Insignia . From that point, they are trained at a Fleet Replacement Squadron for the specific aircraft they will be flying. A few uncommon aircraft are taught by
7920-416: The pilot not being able to see out of the rear of the aircraft for backing and the amount of debris reverse stirs up, manufacturers will often limit the speeds beta plus power may be used and restrict its use on unimproved runways. Feathering of these propellers is performed by the propeller control lever. The constant-speed propeller is distinguished from the reciprocating engine constant-speed propeller by
8019-403: The point of exhaust. Some of the power generated by the turbine is used to drive the compressor and electric generator . The gases are then exhausted from the turbine. In contrast to a turbojet or turbofan , the engine's exhaust gases do not provide enough power to create significant thrust, since almost all of the engine's power is used to drive the propeller. Exhaust thrust in a turboprop
8118-494: The propeller that is converted to propeller thrust falls dramatically. For this reason turboprop engines are not commonly used on aircraft that fly faster than 0.6–0.7 Mach , with some exceptions such as the Tupolev Tu-95 . However, propfan engines, which are very similar to turboprop engines, can cruise at flight speeds approaching 0.75 Mach. To maintain propeller efficiency across a wide range of airspeeds, turboprops use constant-speed (variable-pitch) propellers. The blades of
8217-477: The propeller. This allows for propeller strike or similar damage to occur without damaging the gas generator and allowing for only the power section (turbine and gearbox) to be removed and replaced in such an event, and also allows for less stress on the start during engine ground starts. Whereas a fixed shaft has the gearbox and gas generator connected, such as on the Honeywell TPE331 . The propeller itself
8316-446: The propulsion airflow is less clearly defined for propellers than for fans. The propeller is coupled to the turbine through a reduction gear that converts the high RPM /low torque output to low RPM/high torque. This can be of two primary designs, free-turbine and fixed. A free-turbine turboshaft found on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 , where the gas generator is not connected to
8415-585: The same speed as small regional jet airliners but burn two-thirds of the fuel per passenger. Compared to piston engines, their greater power-to-weight ratio (which allows for shorter takeoffs) and reliability can offset their higher initial cost, maintenance and fuel consumption. As jet fuel can be easier to obtain than avgas in remote areas, turboprop-powered aircraft like the Cessna Caravan and Quest Kodiak are used as bush airplanes . Turboprop engines are generally used on small subsonic aircraft, but
8514-646: The single-seat (F/A-18C) and dual-seat (F/A-18D) versions of the F/A-18 Hornet strike-fighter aircraft. The AV-8B is a VTOL aircraft that can operate from amphibious assault ships , land air bases and short, expeditionary airfields. The F/A-18 can only be flown from land or aircraft carriers. Both are slated to be replaced by the F-35B , the STOVL version of the F-35 Lightning II . The Marine Corps will also purchase 80 of
8613-484: The standard squadron-group-wing organizational system used by most Marine Corps aviation units; active-duty OSA units report to the air station or base where they are assigned, while reserve OSA units report directly to the 4th MAW rather than a Reserve Component Marine aircraft group. OSA operations are scheduled through the Joint Operational Support Airlift Center . The Marine Corps includes
8712-681: The test and evaluation of all weapons and weapon systems and for electronic warfare development. While those at NAS Pax River work with Naval Air Systems Command and are responsible for developing, acquiring and supporting naval aeronautical and related technology systems for the operating forces. Due to the range and space needed to operate aircraft, each MAW spreads its groups and squadrons amongst several Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS), as well as offering detachments/liaisons (and occasionally full units) to airports, Air Force Bases and Naval Air Stations . Each MCAS maintains its own base functions as well as air traffic control and facilities (often with
8811-481: The time to be exposed to a disciplined training syllabus under a clearly defined mission. The turning point for the long-term survival of Marine Air came with the structural change of the establishment of the Fleet Marine Force in 1933. This shifted Marine doctrine to focus less on expeditionary duty and more on supporting amphibious warfare by seizing advance naval bases in the event of war. This also saw
8910-449: The total lifecycle management of new and existing aviation platforms and supportingequipment. ASB synthesizes and assesses key performance indicators and material readiness trends across these functional areas to drive improvements in material condition, reliability of repairables and increase aircraft readiness. ASB leverages emerging technologies and concepts to enable modernization of our training systems to ensure our Marines keep pace with
9009-492: The vital importance of quickly acquiring expeditionary airfields during amphibious operations. Because of the way the Pacific War unfolded, Marine Aviation was not able to achieve its 1939 mission of supporting the Fleet Marine Force at first. For the first two years of the war, the air arm spent most of its time protecting the fleet and land-based installations from attacks by enemy ships and aircraft. This began to change after
9108-564: The war, the strength of the Marine Corps flying arm was drastically cut as part of the post war drawdown of forces. Their active strength fell from 116,628 personnel and 103 squadrons on 31 August 1945 to 14,163 personnel and 21 squadrons on 30 June 1948. They maintained another 30 squadrons in the Marine Air Reserve . Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson attempted to eliminate Marine Corps aviation by transferring its air assets to other services and even proposed to progressively eliminate
9207-410: The way down to zero pitch, producing very little to zero-thrust and is typically accessed by moving the power lever to a beta for taxi range. Beta plus power is a reverse range and produces negative thrust, often used for landing on short runways where the aircraft would need to rapidly slow down, as well as backing operations and is accessed by moving the power lever below the beta for taxi range. Due to
9306-504: Was destroyed in a bombing raid. In 1941, the engine was abandoned due to war, and the factory converted to conventional engine production. The first mention of turboprop engines in the general public press was in the February 1944 issue of the British aviation publication Flight , which included a detailed cutaway drawing of what a possible future turboprop engine could look like. The drawing
9405-535: Was in Haiti that Marines began to develop the tactic of dive bombing and in Nicaragua where they began to perfect it. While other nations and services had tried variations of this technique, Marine Corps pilots were the first to embrace it and make it part of their tactical doctrine. Marine Corps aviation in Nicaragua developed the skill of air resupply of outposts dropping bundles from Fokker F.VII tri-motors. Even prior to
9504-686: Was operated by the U.S. Navy for a short time. The first American turboprop engine was the General Electric XT31 , first used in the experimental Consolidated Vultee XP-81 . The XP-81 first flew in December 1945, the first aircraft to use a combination of turboprop and turbojet power. The technology of Allison's earlier T38 design evolved into the Allison T56 , used to power the Lockheed Electra airliner, its military maritime patrol derivative
9603-629: Was produced and tested at the Ganz Works in Budapest between 1937 and 1941. It was of axial-flow design with 15 compressor and 7 turbine stages, annular combustion chamber. First run in 1940, combustion problems limited its output to 400 bhp. Two Jendrassik Cs-1s were the engines for the world's first turboprop aircraft – the Varga RMI-1 X/H . This was a Hungarian fighter-bomber of WWII which had one model completed, but before its first flight it
9702-593: Was the first turboprop aircraft of any kind to go into production and sold in large numbers. It was also the first four-engined turboprop. Its first flight was on 16 July 1948. The world's first single engined turboprop aircraft was the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba -powered Boulton Paul Balliol , which first flew on 24 March 1948. The Soviet Union built on German World War II turboprop preliminary design work by Junkers Motorenwerke, while BMW, Heinkel-Hirth and Daimler-Benz also worked on projected designs. While
9801-481: Was very close to what the future Rolls-Royce Trent would look like. The first British turboprop engine was the Rolls-Royce RB.50 Trent , a converted Derwent II fitted with reduction gear and a Rotol 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) five-bladed propeller. Two Trents were fitted to Gloster Meteor EE227 — the sole "Trent-Meteor" — which thus became the world's first turboprop-powered aircraft to fly, albeit as
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