An ‘MV-22B’ aircraft, manufactured by Boeing and belonging to the US Navy/Marine Corps, arrived at Katunayake Airport this afternoon (7). This aircraft is capable of functioning both as a helicopter and as a fixed-wing airplane.
Although its rotors are positioned to provide vertical lift much like a helicopter they can also be adjusted to face forward, allowing the craft to operate like a conventional airplane.
Furthermore, the aircraft does not require a runway for takeoff; it can ascend directly into the air, similar to a helicopter.
The aircraft arrived at Katunayake after departing from a US naval vessel stationed in the Indian Ocean, approximately 50 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka.