MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Nov. 29, 2012) -- Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 and Marine Corps Special Operations Command put on an air show and static display of an MV-22B Osprey at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Nov. 29.
Upon leaving Marine Corps Air Station New River, VMM-263 picked up four MARSOC parachute-jumpers who would later put on an aerial display.
“Our mission today is to fly to the Naval Academy, unload the jumpers and then land and allow the cadets to walk through and observe the MV-22B Osprey,” said Capt. Matthew P. Banks, VMM-263 Osprey pilot.
After picking up the MARSOC Marines, VMM-263 headed north to Maryland.
When the Ospreys were about a mile from the academy, MARSOC Marines jumped and descended toward a field in front of the Naval Academy graduation.
“The Marines parachuting down was the best part of the day,” said Marshall Letterman, a Naval Academy cadet. “I would love to have the opportunity to do what they get to one day.”
The Ospreys then circled around the area to give the jumpers time to descend land and safely clear the field.
After the jumpers were clear, the pilots landed the Ospreys on the same field and powered them down to allow the cadets to get close to the Osprey and walk through the cabin.
“I have always wanted to see an Osprey in person, and it is even bigger and more impressive in real life,” said Samantha Longley, a Naval Academy cadet. “I have wanted to be a pilot ever since I could remember and seeing an Osprey in person just makes me aspire toward my goals just that much more.”
The MARSOC Marines displayed their weaponry to give the cadets an experience with different systems and promote the MARSOC program.
“The show and display was a complete success,” said Capt. Nathaniel L. Ross, VMM-263 Osprey Pilot. “The jumpers hit their mark and the cadets really enjoyed the static display of the MV-22B. We could not have asked for the operation to go any smoother.