The US Marine Corps have begun test flights of the controversial MV-22 Osprey at its air base in western Japan.

The US Marine Corps have begun test flights of the controversial MV-22 Osprey at its air base in western Japan.

Flight trials started on Friday morning in US military training airspace off the coast of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi prefecture. Officials from municipalities affected by the Osprey deployment will be invited to take part in the flight trials on September 27th.

When the tests are completed, the 12 Osprey will be transferred to the Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture, with operations likely to start in mid-October. The Japanese government have given the green light for operations of the tilt-rotor aircraft after confirming its safety.

But many local residents have staged demonstrations against the multi-mission aircraft, pushing the US military to agree not to fly below 150 meters or above densely populated areas.