Big ‘bird’ flies over Midcoast

OWLS HEAD — A Marine Corps Osprey flew over the Midcoast Thursday, Aug. 4, as part of its training.

The Osprey is an aircraft that can take off vertically like a helicopter then fly horizontally like an airplane. The Osprey is a multi-engine, dual-piloted, self-deployable, medium lift, vertical takeoff and landing tilt-rotor aircraft designed for combat, combat support, combat service support, and special operations missions worldwide, the Marine Corps states.

The Osprey is part of a squadron from the Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C. They are training in Brunswick. The aircraft landed at the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head on Aug. 4.

Owls Head Transportation Museum Aircraft Conservator Karl Erickson waved a Marine Corps flag as the aircraft was flying over the airport.

The aircraft costs $71.3 million.