One of the U.S. Air Force’s more unique aircraft is scheduled to arrive at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The CV-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft, was designed for use by special operations forces. Equipped with integrated threat countermeasures, terrain-following radar, forward-looking infrared sensor (FLIR) and other advanced avionics systems, the CV-22 can operate at low-altitude, in bad weather and high-threat environments. The first operational CV-22 was delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command’s 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in November 2006.

Built by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and the Boeing Co., this particular CV-22 was originally built as a preproduction aircraft for the U.S. Navy. It flew more than 600 test missions at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Hurlburt Field.

The public can view the aircraft landing from the museum grounds, which open at 9 a.m. Visitors must enter through the main museum entrance off of Springfield Street. The aircraft will make a pass over the museum prior to landing on the runway behind the museum. Traffic along Springfield Street near the museum’s entrance and along Woodman/Harshman Road may be congested due to the aircraft arrival.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is located on Springfield Street, six miles northeast of downtown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.