The Squadron together with local members of the FAAOA and Old Rotors (retired RAF helicopter pilots) were very privileged to spend the day at the headquarters of the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop. We were welcomed at the greatly extended and improved Museum of Army Flying by the Director of Army Aviation , Brigadier RPD Foulkes OBE ADC, Lt/Col CHG Baulf MBE AAC, (SO1 G3) , Brigadier EC Tait (retd) CE of the Museum, and the Curator Lt/Col D.Patterson (retd). Brigadier Foulkes gave an introduction to the background of Army Aviation and present day operations which are frequently combined with units of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, for example Army helicopters operating from the decks of RN carriers like HMS Ocean. We then learned about the acquisition of the magnificent Apache Longbow AH64A/D attack helicopter for the Army Air Corps that has been welcomed with great enthusiasm. It is an awesomely large, powerful and highly sophisticated battlefield helicopter with an amazing range of weaponry. Assembly of the WAH64 is being carried out in the UK by Agusta Westland with many British modifications such as the twin Rolls Royce turboshaft engines which give considerably increased power over the American General Electric version. The crew of two, the pilot and co-pilot/gunner have at their disposal a very powerful armament consisting of an automatic 30 m.m. cannon under the fuselage, up to sixteen Hellfire air to ground missiles , or a combination of air to ground and air to air missiles , or 2.75 inch rockets, all chosen before flight according to the type of mission profile required. The crew also have available radar and a variety of types of sophisticated sensors for offence and countermeasures for day and night use all controlled by on-board computers. The crew wear an integrated helmet and display sighting system for gun and rockets. The Apache is highly resistant to battle damage with all systems duplicated and any damaged controlling black boxes easily replaced on return to base. 67 Apaches have been ordered for the British Army of which 32 have been delivered. The U.S. Army have 800 in service, and more than 1000 have been exported to various countries around the world. The high standard of training for instructors and air and ground crews is very intensive using highly sophisticated simulators and computers supplied by Boeing, to save wear and tear and costly accidents (each aircraft costs £32,000,000 ! ) The training is carried out by civilian contractors - Aviation Training International Ltd. Finally the visit was completed by an inspection of the Army Historic Flight but a fly-past unfortunately was not possible due to the low cloud base, which had also precluded the fly-in earlier of most of the Squadron aircraft. Phil Moore (Auster) and Denis Woodhams (Piper Cub) were the only ones who had managed to sneak in.
Report and photographs by Ron Dobree-Carey . |
