Major Tom Currie has come full circle in a career that has spanned the pioneering years of the CV-22 Osprey. He was the first U.S. Air Force pilot qualified to fly the CV-22—the Special Operations variant of the V-22 tiltrotor—and piloted the first experimental flight in 1997. Today, as Vice President of Flight Operations at Bell, he has closed a remarkable chapter by flying the final company flight of the last CV-22 produced under the programme of record.
This last aircraft will now enter service with the Air Commandos of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), extending the Osprey’s legacy in demanding operational environments. Reflecting on his unique journey, Currie said:
“The CV-22 has been and will continue to be a pivotal aircraft for the Airmen of Air Force Special Operations Command. The development of this aircraft as part of the larger V-22 family was a seminal change for aviation. For me it has been extremely satisfying to have been a small part of the CV-22 legacy.”
The CV-22 programme has achieved several key milestones since its inception. In September 2000, the first two test aircraft were delivered to Edwards Air Force Base in California. By January 2007, Bell had handed over the first operational CV-22 to AFSOC, marking the start of its active service. Currie’s 25-year Air Force career included nine years as a test pilot, contributing to both the MV-22 and CV-22 variants’ development and operational success.
Now at Bell, Currie continues to look ahead. The company is driving innovation with initiatives such as the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HSVTOL) projects. For Currie, being part of a team that “not only dreams about the future but actively builds it” is a natural continuation of the pioneering spirit that defined his career with the Osprey.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: BELL
