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Another aspect is that the size of some of the components would have made (literal) field maintenance a great challenge. Special engineering equipment to pull rotor shafts, and blades would be needed, possibly large enough to lift the entire aircraft in the case of landing gear failure. This, along with the massive downwash/outwash for something this size would have gravitated the platform to prepared sites. This would have made the platform less desirable for the increased cost over something like the C-130.
Had a very bad decision by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army to give the C-27J to the USAF Inc., who immediately killed the program, a very good tactical airlifter would have obviated the need for a larger tilt rotor.
I do know that Bell had been asked unofficially if they could re-wing a C-27J to make it a VTOL platform. Nothing really came of it.
Had a very bad decision by the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army to give the C-27J to the USAF Inc., who immediately killed the program, a very good tactical airlifter would have obviated the need for a larger tilt rotor.
I do know that Bell had been asked unofficially if they could re-wing a C-27J to make it a VTOL platform. Nothing really came of it.
