The AH-64 Apache is the twin turboshaft attack helicopter for the US Army that comes with tailwheel landing gear along with the cockpit for being operated by 2 crewmembers. The AH-64 Apache has a sensor suite mounted on its nose that allows acquiring targets along with having night vision.
The primary weapon that the AH-64 Apache carries is the 30 mm M230 Chaingun that is fitted right in-between the main landing gear located at the downside of the forward fuselage. In addition to that, the AH-64 Apache also has 4 hardpoints which are mounted its stubbing pylons that allow for carrying arioso kinds of armaments as well as stores following missiles.
- AGM-114 Hellfire missiles
- Hydra 70 Rocket Pods
The main feature of the AH-64 Apache is that is able to reduce its systems when there is a need for improved combat scenarios and need for survival.
The Apache program was started and developed by the Hughes Helicopters in order to replace the aging fleet of AH-1 Cobra helicopter serving for the United States Army. The very first prototype of the AH-64 Apache took its first flight back on September 30th, 1975 and after that, it was selected by SU army over the Bell’s prototype YAH-63 and was approved for mass production back in 1984. The further development of the AH-64 Apache was carried out by the McDonnell Douglas and the helicopter entered the US army’s service back in April of 1986.
The AH-64 Apache is also one of the primary attack helicopters for various following militaries of the world.
- Greece
- Japan
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Singapore
- UAE
For our readers today, we have gathered a bunch of amazing facts about the AH-64 Apache.
Able to Operate At Seas
The AH-64 Apache was built to serve the US Army with its primary purpose of supporting the ground troops as well as engaging against the ground threats. In addition to that, the AH-64 Apache is also able to work for the US Navy on their aircraft carriers as well as being their transport aircraft.
Its Robust Engine had a critical flaw
The AH-64 Apache is a feat of the aviation engineering that was a result of one of the best engineering feats of its time. However, despite the aircraft being able to do considerable feats in the wartime problems still happen in it. One of the major flaws that the AH-64 Apache suffered was back in 2014 which led to the tragic loss of many AH-64 Apaches.
The flaw was the contamination of the hydraulic fluid that resulted in a major system error for the hydraulic system. The issue was promptly taken care of at the manufacturer’s process. This error occurred due to a fault in the hydraulic reservoir of the service units that allowed for the contamination to enter the hydraulic fluid.
First female helicopter pilots were for AH-64 Apache
Before AH-64 Apache, attack helicopters were only operated by male pilots. However, after 1990s female pilots started to fly the attack pilots with the very first helicopter being the AH-64 Apache. The first female pilot for that role was Gwen Shallow who flew in missions over Bosnia.
When she was asked as to who feel about being the first African American pilot she said that I do not feel anything else besides feeling like me.
Foreign Apaches
The name of the AH-64 Apache is derived from the native American nation and is a name that symbolizes the days of the US cavalry. This aircraft was only made possible by the combined efforts of major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Hughes Helicopter and McDonnell Douglas.
What you might not know is that some versions of AH-64 Apache are also being manufactured overseas. The most specific one is the AH-64D longbow which is being manufactured by the UK under license to serve the British Armed Force. In the UK it is being manufactured by the Westmoreland Helicopters at one of their facilities located in Somerset. This helicopter there has been a crucial one in the British Armed Forces’ effort on their War On Terror.
A mass-produced helicopter
The AH-64 Apache happens to be among one of the most successfully operated helicopters in the history of the world. Despite having its prowess at the battlefield, the helicopter has the upper hand when it comes to its manufacturing number.
The 2000th of the AH-64 Apache helicopter came out of the production line from the Boeing’s facility located in Mesa, Arizona back in 2013. This is by far the most mass-produced number for a military aircraft ever. With it seeing changes in its role, the AH-64 Apache is here to see for the future.
It’s much harder to fly than it seems
There is a lot of military aircraft that are hard to fly but with an aircraft being fast and highly maneuverable for its mission roles, these aircraft turns out to be highly unstable as well.
But what you might not know is that the AH-64 Apache actually is the hardest of any military aircraft to fly. If you don’t believe us then read this quote from the book of a former British Army Air Corps pilot named Ed Macy, who writes as follows,
“Flying an Apache almost always meant both hands and feet doing four different things at once. Even our eyes had to learn how to work independently of each other. A monocle sat permanently over our right iris. A dozen different instrument readings from around the cockpit were projected into it. At the flick of a button, a range of other images could also be superimposed underneath the green glow of the instrument symbology, replicating the TADS’ or PNVS’ camera images and the Longbow Radars’ targets.”
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