The CV-22 Osprey tiltroter aircraft touched down in Winchester at approximately 9:15 this morning. It has been in town since July 13th.

But why is this part-helicopter, part-airplane here in the Valley?

Well...mainly for our 'bad' weather.

"Unfortunately, they do most of their testing in the California desert, and the one thing they don't get a lot of is fog," explained James Darcy, the V-22 Osprey Public Affairs Officer.

"Not a lot of rain either. So it's a nice combination of an approved low-altitude military flight routes with the bad weather they want to fly the aircraft in."

Until the end of August, crews from the 418th Flight Test Squadron will be going out in the mornings to test the aircraft's advanced terrain-following radar.

Though this aircraft won't be heading to Iraq anytime soon, the MV-22 will be.

"They'll be moving troops in and out of combat, they'll be recovering casualties, and getting them back to medical care, in about half the time it took takes to do it in a helicopter. So they'll really be doing all of the traditional helicopter missions, but with a lot more survivability and speed and range."

Bill Wainwright made the journey from the Edwards Air Force Base to Winchester...

"It's the best flying aircraft I've ever flown," he said.

"I've flown about 40 different aircraft, most everything from helicopters to some jets ...this thing is just so versatile and the systems are so nice..It's by far the best airplane I've ever flown."

The experience made quite an impression on his family...

"It was cool to see my cousin flying a plane," said Mya.

A sentiment that was echoed...

"I think it was cool too," answered Ryan.

"It was cool," mimicked Eli.

...by all.