New jobs at Boeing riding Osprey, 'copters. (Boeing Helicopters; V-22 Osprey helicopters)(Delaware County Economic Report)

New jobs at Boeing riding Osprey, 'copters

Last week's crash of a prototype of an innovative military aircraft, made in part by Boeing Helicopters, was seen as a potential setback for the Ridley Park company, which has been adding jobs recently.

Two test pilots, employees of Boeing Helicopters, escaped serious injury in the crash of a V-22 Osprey at Greater Wilmington Airport in Delaware on June 11. The V-22, which was the fifth of six prototypes, crashed while landing during its maiden test-flight.

It was the first major accident associated with the controversial aircraft, being developed by Boeing Helicopters and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. for the Navy.

The accident removed some of the euphoria Boeing officials felt in April when the Army picked the team of Boeing and Sikorsky Aircraft to develop a new armed reconnaissance helicopter. With a total estimated value over the next decade of about $34 …