I got to ride in it a few years ago in Pax River, MA when it was the VX-22. My Uncle was the head of NAVAIR at the time and was friends with the guy revitalizing the project. When they tilt the necels it is a pretty cool feeling and it accelerates FAST. It pulled harder than any sports car I have ever been in once the rotors were rotated forward.

Now it has been reworked and is a much safer plane than it was years ago.

 

When they are landing this way it is actually the rotors controlling the descent. Think of the leaves falling from a tree and spinning on the way down. The blades are also made to break into a million pieces. This was in an emergency the plan can land with the necelles down and not injure anyone inside the plane.

 

one of our good friends worked on the Osprey project and was supposed to be on one of the flights and couldn't for some reason and it was one of the horrific crashes. Talk about a close call!