SIX ISSUE | / 2023 Coverstory: U.S. Navy BLUE ANGELSCHE Ci g@sap the military aviation journal ena em occas ery Toad ee eae eee ee Contact Cen Ce eae ae hone: +49 (0)177 4867937 eect ted Peers) roar PTs Crier) CUP cg Robert Kysela et reed Cents eo) ee eer ray tra Co ea eet oes CHECKSIX No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including copying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing by the managing editor. Responsibility for the contents of reports labeled with the name of the author rest upon the author. Letters to the editor presuppose the right to publish the contents. Photographs and reports sent to the editor without prior request will be returned only, if a post paid and addressed envelope is nclosed. We are always happy to receive images and/or articles from our readers. Only if the managing editor deems material submitted to be of interest/ use will it be used in our magazine. The rights on all images and written content submitted belong to the photographer /author.CONTENT HKG is published four times a year. Beside breathtaking images ‘and detailed stories you wil find much more inthe 2. AirPower 2022 Ie was exactly 25 years ago when Hinterstlsser alr base, located hosted its very first aviation event, this show twas later to become known 3, Thunder over Michigan 16 The 2022 edition of the THUNDER OVER MIC held from July southwest of ‘This annual show is hosted by the 4, Airshow London 2022 From September 9 to 11, 2022, Airshow London pr ‘kyOrive atthe London Intemational Airport (CYXU). This seventh instalment of this event since it restarted in 5. U.S. Navy BLUE ANGELS est the worlds many 3 ut above all - the U.S. NAVY Flight GELS. Founded in 1946 6, Attack Helicopter Part | the begining of the hostilities fn Ukraine, one type of n the focus of reporting: the allack helicopter Especially during the rat wees ofthe conct 7. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom Il 88 nel Douglas F-4F Phantom II landed at the Luftwaffe airbase in Wittmundhafen. ly 40 years ater, the yout Dn the 31 of August 1973 the frst of two . behind the image 103 This section is for you - our readers! Often we are asked about the camera gear, the settings we use, etc. Well, there are no secrets, just experience which we will share RON Rec Cee eC he eT RC POR Cee et a anata eee es ee ceo Cenc RUS RS ae Cone Mc) Sere et eer ea ae eee eee ky Cra canceUR aS ean Come cut) SORA cee eC aetna cs from us in the future. CHECKSIX will be published four times a year for the time being. | am looking forward to Sota en eta nee eae ny Drone Cece reece Creed CHECKSIXsoe ne MCC c a base, located in Zeltweg, Styria, hosted its ee oa eat yi ince of Styria CTR RUC UM ca vn have conducted some of the best aviation events SCN mC) ens Fo ee oe Ae. @ keep pet dy) a = 3 aa nme ac) ec eer iets ro) — Se aa a No ae CORCR OE Ser Iee ee Cres r Poca eee Cag er ae Re cL status and, as a result, their good relations in eters CER LAE 4 arth eteXian Y-20 KUNPENG his year was no exception with both the static and flying displays featuring a range of top class aircraft, for example, a Chinese Xian Y-20 KUNPENG making its very first appearance at a European airshow. “Fat Girl", as this four-engine military transport has been unofficially named, has been in PLAAF (People's Liberation Army Air Force) service since mid 2016. Very little has been revealed about the Y-20, however what is known is that the type is powered by four Shenyang Woshan-18 turbofan engines. These engines are a Chinese copy of the Russian Aviadvigatel PS-30/Soloviev D-30KP-2 powerplant, which were used on the Y-20 prototype. These turbines, while very reliable, are vastly inferior to Western engines in terms of fuel consumption and performance. Future variants of the Y-20 are to be powered by the more powerful Shenyang Woshan-20 engine. The Y-20's maximum payload is just about 60 tons, which is roughly on a par with the latest variant of the Ilyushin II-76MD-90A. Of course, the visit of this rare aircraft had nothing to do with the fact that the Austrian Armed Forces are currently looking for a replacement for their aging fleet of Lockheed C-130K HERCULES. Potential candidates such as the Embraer C-390 MILLENIUM, the Airbus A-400M ATLAS or the Airbus C-295, PERSUADER were also on static display. Austria operates three Hercules, which were procured second-hand from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and will reach their end of their service life by 2030 at the latest. One C-130K was on static display at AIRPOWER, while a second aircraft participated in the flying display along with two Eurofighter EF-2000’s of the Austrian Armed Forces demonstrating an air interception exercise. In this exercise, the Hercules acted as the intruder, being intercepted by the ready alert section (QRA), with the Hercules being forced to land under strict direction. Once all was “safe“,the EF-2000’s demonstrated their outstanding versatility with various air combat maneuvers. This realistic scenario impressively demonstrated the capabilities of this very potent air defense CHECKSIX“The Y-20’s payload is just about 60 tons, which is roughly on a par with the latest variant of the Iljushin IL-76MD-90A” Lockheed C-130K HERCULES CHECKSIX 7: 5 y Il SLLANOW A9LE'Vs aleNedsolsy ©Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-21UMD he star at this year's AIRPOWER, at least from the point of view of most aviation enthusiasts and spotters, was the Croatian Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-21UMD. To everyone's disappointment, this aircraft did not fly its display from Zeltweg, but took off and landed from Zagreb, Croatia. This condensed its display to just three short (and relatively high) passes, since the fuel capacity of the two-seat Variant UM is extremely limited. Croatia received a total of twelve of these of aircraft from various sources after its declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in June 1991. Another, quite special MiG-21 was recently handed back to Croatia from Austria, this being the aircraft which mysteriously landed at Klagenfurt in October 1991. The pilot, Brig Gen. Rudolf Peresin, defected from Croatia to Austria in his MiG-21R, because of his unwillingness to fight his own countrymen during the 1991-1995 Croatian War of Independence. His MiG has since been on display at the Aviation Museum in Zeltweg and was returned to Croatia in a formal ceremony in 2019. All active Croatian MiGs will be retired next year and replaced with 12 used Drea nas Soa iow \0)6) a a replaced by Leonardo Va he workhorse of the Austrian Federal Ne CTD Ce aga OC on Cae os ec ead Cn ear (escarole SRA ceca coy Se aCe mnie Austrian provinces. This reliable helicopter eee Re er) Reem SN eer ee es CEU Rc dsc ae nc CCR UEC a TU Re ae ua Cae UC Rieu nae Ae es FV aC ees erat na CHECKSIXfo ir] es > 3 uw = i Es I by i PS Bd ro} Ey & 10 eee aaa sce) Pee Va CO eee Red CRN UC CES pilots has already begun (in Italy) with the first PReria a eeS cd delivered later this year. A total of 18 aircraft are planned to be acquired (twelve AW-169 UW Wa goer Cee el aa te UU Be PE aces eae a Cea Pec mee Cc Sad CTT ae Rega TRC EC nen acc Rear Pee esa Une Vee erat accom Mom Ca ee Steven De Vries of the Belgian Air Force (BAF). eee Un Care en eR ec CaCO CMCC aR BUCO Rmecn ae aC eo AR ar Sen Cece an CHECKSIX the Dutch always applied very bright and colorful paint schemes, the Belgians often flew their demonstrations with an aircraft that was kept in the normal squadron finish or with a nice but rather unspectacular design The Koninklijke Luchtmacht F-16 display team has not existed since 2015 (officially since 2018). Up until then, the Belgians have caught up tremendously - particularly in terms of the “The most spectacular display was flown by Capt. Steven De Vries / Belgian Air Force” quality of their flying display, which has always been first class. It’s the magnificent paint scheme of the display Vipers that is always the icing on the cake of their flying performances. Another a great paint scheme is on the Greek F-16 solo display aircraft, although these displays are very rarely seen, a Greek F-16 solo display "ZEUS" was flown at AIRPOWER, albeit with an aircraft in a simple yet basic "squadron finish”.11 x a x o 0007-44 4214syoinga 2 i I 8 3 2 S a = x Milc = Pa & Q E 2 a 8 8 2 5 a n addition to the ALOUETTE Ill, all other helicopter types belonging to the Austrian Armed Forces were also displayed at AIR POWER. A Mil Mi-24V (NATO Codename: HIND E) of the Czech Air Force and a Mil Mi-24P (NATO Code: HIND D) of the Hungarian Air Force also took part in the flying display. Hungary decommissioned its Mi-24 fleet in 2013, however four years later this decision was reversed resulting in the reactivation of all twelve aircraft following completion of their complete overhaul in Russia. The aircraft displayed at Zeltweg, sporting the designation "331", was originally in service with Combat Helicopter Regiment 5 Adolf v. Liitzow (NVA) in Basepohl and was later handed over to Hungary following the German reunification. The Mi-24P version is armed with a twin- barrelled 30-mm_=—_Gryazev-Shipunov GSch-30-2K gun mounted on the starboard side of the aircraft. A unique feature of this gun is that each barrel loads the other when fired resulting in a high rate of fire. A relatively rare guest at air shows is the Eurocopter TIGER helicopter and it was great to see a Tiger Dear Reon ae er aed ace are nae Lc feel a Cee SMa Ma aC ee Car Ce RUC U ce me ag CAMO CLC ROR ar eae Rec a eee Rd PRE ee aan Sra Rm ce Rec Cee ema eo Say AUTO mcr Le le RU Lat t-te) barrel loads the other when fired” UCU a ake DC-6B was seen in a brief solo display, the rest CR Ree CRC acy Dena eee eg SEE Reco) tne CCL ar Dornier ALPHA JET may be ok for the pilots, Ce Cec OCR ae Soa CW oem ce geo) eC Re DRE eco CORO CHECKSIXDee ge Da aD Te ee es eee oe ee Ce CT ee gee se aR ae) photographers are invited to view the show from up to 17! different locations around the airfield - and with transport and full catering included! When will the next AIRPOWER take place? Re SRB eee ik eee Re es (ae a Nee ae Re sd ee ee ee ee Cee el ae ae es CHECKSIX 15Lockheed Martin F-16C VIPER = THUNDER OVER WM hel CTV ii Peete em) Pee ea Ro July 15 to 17 at the Willow Run Airport (KYIP) southwest of Detroit. This Po se OCR CU ae UU UU ec event going to support the museum and its wonderful collection that Rae cer Ceo RN CRO SCE DR Ley Sc Ae LA TC a Oa Eee a amc SN ke aes rc) Econ acta ra)tol 6 aSupermarine SPITFIRE Mk.IX he show returned with the same hybrid drive-up format that was adopted in 2021 and featured separate morning and afternoon flying programs each day. The United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 VIPER Demonstration Team was the headliner in the morning while the United St s Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the BLUE ANGELS, closed the afternoon segment of flying. This year’s theme was a salute to British aviation dubbed “The British Are Coming”. Unfortunately, the British did not show up in the announced number, as numerous aircraft, including the de Havilland DH.98 MOSQUITO from Jerry Yagen’s Military Aviation Museum (MAM) in Virginia Beach, were stuck in St. Louis with technical problems, while the Fairey FIREFLY as well as the Westland LYSANDER could not even leave their home airport due to technical issues.These cancellations challenged the organizers in the days leading up to the event. Additionally, operational commitments forced modern military aircraft like the Grumman E-2C HAWKEYE to miss the show as well. Another highlight, the Hawker HURRICANE Mk Xi! from the Vintage Wings of Canada was also unfit to attend. Even the Lockheed P-3C ORION from the German Navy (NAW 3/NAS Nordholz), a highly anticipated static aircraft due to its pending retirement, made it across the Atlantic only to develop issues during its stop over in Nova Scotia, Canada. cHecksix | 19UIVSUOD GL-D4 4eaXpoop CHECKSIX 20North American F-100F SUPER SABRE ith the Leap Frogs unable to jump from WwW their Sikorsky MH-53E SEA DRAGON due to low cloud ceiling, Louis Horschel opened the Saturday morning show with an aerobatic routine in his Goodyear FG-1D CORSAIR. The FG-1D is actually a Vought F4U-1D CORSAIR built under license by Goodyear. A total of 2.303 of this type were produced. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W radial with an impressive output of 2.250 hp, the CORSAIR was widely used in the Pacific Theater of Operations but also served with the British Fleet Air Arm, who received some 2,012 Corsair in total. In British service the Corsair was re-designated as Corsair | (FaU-1), Corsair Il (FAU-1A), Corsair Il (F3A-1D;_ licenses produced by Brewster company) and Corsair IV (FG-1D). Louis Horschel was a welcome late addition to the lineup in an effort to fill the vacancies left by the unavailable performers, ean “CUTTER” Cutshall, a former A-4 SKYHAWK pilot, fourth appearance at Thunder Over Michigan in his stunning North American F-100F SUPER SABRE. made his Sse ace SOC Rl CRC Cae a mn 0 a Oa aod (Og Cn CURD Se Sore te) PR eo MECC uncer Ces “The FG-1D is actually a Vought rE Pee) ey Nei tae ie license by Goodyear” the HUN, as it is also known, found its way to Dean Cutshall, who restored it to its current Ce Sas Oe UNC a CMe oe CR mre] FRc a STG Be een er mm cd CD performed plenty of high energy passes for the crowd each morning, lighting the rr ae cae a Cee Ue Sane then heard as it’s accompanied by a sharp co cHecksix | 21SS 5) & § Fa i rd Gc oe a 8 rai Fed f 5 2 ey s va z re R r=) on & oy 8 Fe 22 Peace Oa Coa meso CT Deum me Sa eC cece ene sce aod OS a eM en Nene ee ee Bad Bera naa Ce Oc CCR RRO Co ie COR me ea CO RU nc ta cc around the jet, all while fire poured out of her ena ee SCOR Rl Once ad yA Ue at ae Cee Po Nr ee nc aU ean Cae ome a acc Oe RM Rae MUL known as “Bald Eagle” leading “Rebel” in the Cee en CR cu DE Un Cee od PCR oer lee eae Cn Rm aCe] roe mu Cec USC Mu arm) CHECKSIX a VFC-12 Boeing F/A-18E SUPER HORNET Wearing an adversarial livery and the Yankee Air Museum’s most recent acquisition, a beautiful Ford TRI-MOTOR that will soon be available for passenger rides. On the topic of rides, the break between shows allowed the Bell UH-1H HUEY “Greyhound” and Boeing B-17G FLYING FORTRESS “Yankee Lady” to fly multiple passenger flight. Although the static “The Sikorsky MH-60S KNIGHTHAWK from HSC-2 had an all female crew” display was not as plentiful as in previous years, there were some fun conversations to be had with the visiting pilots. The Sikorsky MH-60S KNIGHTHAWK from HSC-2 had an all- female flight crew who were extremely friendly and eager to share their wealth of knowledge about their helicopter and its missions.AIA F39L-4 UseW pesyy207 cueckstx | 23(e21)d9y) 01-968Focke Wulf FW 190 AF (Replica) espite all the cancellations, the line-up was impressive. In addition to the US aircraft, such as the North American P-51D MUSTANG and the Chance Vought F-4U CORSAIR, it was two German legends that enhanced the flight program of the warbirds. First and foremost was a Messerschmitt Me 1096-10 from the Erickson Aircraft Collection in Madras, Oregon. Based on a Spanish HA-1112 "Buchon’, this aircraft was converted into an (externally) almost identical G-10. The engine is not an original Daimler Benz DB-605D with 1.850 HP take-off power, but a much weaker Allison V-1710 inline twelve-cylinder with just 1.200 HP. However, this was perfectly adapted under an original hood of a G-10. The paint scheme is based on an aircraft flown by fighter ace Major Hermann Graf (212 confirmed Kills; however, Graf flew a G-6 in this livery). In addition to the original engine cowling, the tail unit was also adapted to the G-10 version. The only (external) feature that. shows that the 109 is not an original is the propeller. This is coming from a Douglas DC-3 and was only adapted in length. ener meg We race ma mC Ue A amo) CTC ee Ohio. The 190 is one of a total of 21 replicas Ue a Ra URS Cum “In addition to the original engine (econ aU meT OLA LRU Lo) adapted to the G-10 version” Pea em SU tr ae OM ue me Lan Schwezow ASch-82 14-cylinder radial engine Orr URSA Mem mC SOM Cs eg Mca SM R-2800-57M2 Double Wasp. Cooling air problems caused by the relatively small on ae Dee UE ec eC Mn ae Cr ACO noc Cane Rp Reser ey Tn ea Cece acco) CHECKSIX 25Havilland DH.115 VAMPIRE T.Mk55 de 26 y 2:30 pm the guests for the sold-out afternoon shows were all parked and the display was opened each day by aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian in his yellow and purple Extra 330SC. By far the most spectacular display of the event was flown in a de Havilland DH. 115 VAMPIRE T.Mk55. This DH. 115, known as “Vampy Too”, belongs to Jerry “VLAD” Conley, who has two more Vampires in his inventory. His latest acquisition is a de Havilland SEA VENOM, which will hopefully be seen at air shows soon. His exceptional display was flown nice and low with lots of topside banking, pleasing the photographers located in the tent at the extreme right of the show line, The “Vampy Too” was built by the Swiss FEW Emmen aircraft company in 1959 and flew in the Swiss Air Force as a two-seat trainer (with the registration: U-1222) until December 1990. Development of the Vampire began during World War II, but the first aircraft were not delivered to the Royal Air Force until 1946. Powered by a de Havilland Goblin turbojet engine, the VAMPIRE proved to be a great export success. Switzerland alone owned 221 aircraft in various versions (39 of | which were T.MKSS trainer). CHECKSIXwould have probably been the Jerry nost exciting performer at the show had it not been for Ber was airborne again in the aftemoon flying the other warbird from the Dakota Territory Air Museum, a Supermarine SPITFIRE Mk IXc “Half Stork”. Before his aerobatic routine he was joined by three other fighters for the “WWII Famous Fighters” segment that featured the already mentioned Messerschmitt Me 109 from the Erickson Aircraft merican P-51D Collection, the Focke Wulf Fw 190AF and locally based North ANG “Gentleman Jim” from Roush Aviation. rs flew three ve i acet ns be joining up together for a very impre riefly te th s to land before© & rd rs a & = s Fy 2 5 a ES z 28 A fter the USA entered the war in 1941, the CO etm erat SON et eco aC Cote ee ane ce were skilled workers employed in the Rene pa Coca ae ea COU en Mica a Conc eon Ci eC SCC Cy CORR eae ue ERR Re aOR er cae RnR eae eCard I Cu een COM RCO Cm ene Maat Ran a ce Era NE et CC Pe ar DO eC cg (ec CC Oc oe eat cu mr Cal nec R TC Soul ee) COUN elec cat SMa an ee ORE CORR a ee Re recognizable by their red and white dotted headscarf, and by their friendly smile! eect CHECKSIX Verdict: The relaxed and __ friendly atmosphere, the rich program and the possibility to participate in the night engine run make this air show one of the best events on the North American continent - a MUST for every aviation enthusiast! The show will return to its traditional dates on the second weekend in August in 2023 (12 - 13%) - CU there! “Even though “Rosie the Riveter" was a fictional character, there were several real Rosie's.” Special thanks to Kevin Walsh and Ashley Myers for their generosity Shawn Clish & Robert KyselaAUGUST 12/13 DEEPLY DISCOUNTED TICKETS ON SALE NOW Oe cee ee (ota c sta er)a ° = is)cHecksix | 31Fd oO = Soh Ese (NATE Meloy] LL MCCABE LUO EL Tale ov 1oB eT AES ALockheed Martin F-16C VIPER perations gurus Gerry Vanderhoek and Mike Lewis have an impressive track record when it comes to attracting aircraft from the Canadian and American Armed Forces and their abilities were on full display again in 2022. Less than four weeks before the gates opened on Friday September 9, Airshow London announced the addition of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, —_—the Thunderbirds. Major demonstration teams like the Thunderbirds publish their schedules two years in advance, but thanks to a cancellation of their appearance at the Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show and the impression made by the team in London during the Thunderbirds recent appearance in 2020, the Air Force’s Ambassadors in Blue were welcomed and fit perfectly into the USAF anniversary theme. The addition of the Thunderbirds should have meant two aerobatic teams at Airshow London, but two weeks prior to the show, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds, confirmed they would not be participating due to an accident that took place on August 2 as CeO eee ON MLC CuPc aoe Dames Ce CT Re CCU CMCC marked the third time the team had been “Major demo teams publish their schedules two years in ETN Tiles PO RS CT-114 TUTOR was designed in 1957 and first flew on January 13, 1960, and is certainly Se Mc oR a Aes Rae CR Cart Pe RRR aE cata Poe aCe SU rao cHecksix | 33ss Rm eae a ee aE Secu aR Una ca oe Cn aircraft staged from Selfridge Air National (eet Ce en Dc perfect for the entire day and a quiet morning rr Tog cca ume OM cm ere Ce VS eC a Se See Seed RR ee a a TOs OS Cee Uae Re ae ed Coc Ee a Sn ee ee RO Con RS Lee aU a Genser Pe ee mad cc CCR ce ee Dime eM cee aS DUO eR erm RCA CO mC io ir 4 a ° A Po fz ry ny a v 4 Py = a i} a 34 | CHECKSIXx Homestead Air Reserve Base, arrived in style by flanking a Boeing KC-135R STRATOTANKER. The “Fighting Makos” pilots also put on quite the show, not just for the fortunate few allowed on the grounds of the airport but also for the many photographers and enthusiasts parked south of the fence on Creamery Road. After some reshuffling to maneuver larger aircraft, the six Air National Guard (ANG) “The first four from the 112th Fighter Squadron “Stingers” showed up in two sections” Vipers were parked together, lined up smartly in the static display along Charlie Taxiway. The Air Ops team has a fondness for the military variant of the Boeing 707 airliner and as usual there were multiple airframes in attendance. Two ANG KC-135s arrived on Thursday afternoon, one from Arizona while the other, wearing a colourful 100th anniversary scheme applied to its tail, was from Alabama,LANYOH V881-49 Suls0gEn) befee Ut l:) CHECKSIX cr)Airbus CC-150 POLARIS 1 Friday afternoon, the gates were Olea early to offer spectators the opportunity to watch the Thunderbirds perform their practice routine. The show officially started around 5:30 pm and included a United States Marine Corps Bell Boeing MV-22B OSPREY that demonstrated its unusual configuration that helicopter and fixed-wing capabilities. The highlight of the night was the arrival of six Boeing F-15C/D EAGLES. The first four belonged to the 173rd Fighter Wing from the Oregon Air National Guard, a unit that is in the process of transferring and retiring its aging fleet. The four Eagles performed the most enthusiastic passes of the weekend, especially the leader, who flew three spectacular passes that included a topside right bank, a sharp left crosswind and a pull to the vertical, all in burner. As the Oregon jets landed, two more Eagles arrived from the “Bayou Militia” out of New Orleans, completing the “Eagles Nest” that organizers had hoped for. The Oregon F-15s were put in the static display after the completion of the Friday night show while the tilt-rotor combines Louisiana jets parked on the south end of Golf ava Aa a AVY po TCC o cm UCU Payee ce ee Coy Con er aS COCR CUCU et Senn enc eer nea) SUE MU Mr Cer LALLY Hairless Joe” performed two passes in SC CUR ean Co Dena Ce Ue Cd SCRE gece So WNT MN al Urine MRA the arrival of six Boeing F-15C/D EAGLE” particular Mustang served with 416 Squadron Ca a ea Sa removed from service due to a crash. It was acquired from Baden, Germany by Peter SEE Ree OUR) nearby at the Chatham-Kent Airport (CYCK).. cHEcksIx | 39a. a ae & Fa fe} a a q es ea iy 8 3 40 t is colourfully painted to honour the fighter CaM cn ake CC Ra cae ce IMU Reece ae age Eighth Air Force. “Wild Bill” finished the war Sree Ca Ret aircraft destroyed on the ground. Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson then demonstrated Oars ae ae cor a CC Re econ RZ Ng CR tC CO nC ec CS Mee eae eco Reon Ura cae UCR SRC CMe sec cd ecu mecca Us aC a Ci en Ree cea EOC ae ICO Cem ec Ua Sees COR a aa Cre CHECKSIX 1: four F-15 Eagles performed the most enthusiastic passes of the weekend, especially the leader, who flew three spectacular passes that included a topside right bank, a sharp left crosswind and a pull to the vertical, all in burner. As the Oregon jets landed, two more Eagles arrived from the “Bayou Militia” out of New Orleans, completing the “Eagles Nest” that organizers “The aerial display started at 1300 and was opened by the CF-18 Demo Team” had hoped for, The Oregon F-15s were put in the static display after the completion of the Friday night show while the Louisiana jets parked on the south end of Golf Taxiway in the hot zone.BEN Orr] ae Role: a tel eteBoeing F-15C EAGLE re iS Bee cu mn ee Eee ne Nc See ee eee Ea aa er UB Ry aE te SUR Mec CURR Aa CERRO EI Ry COR aE an 2 eT ee Poe ar ee Ue with the Thunderbirds closing the show Se eR) EIU eS Ie Geter os CO ce a cn individual routines joined together -for a rare Cer Rema) CN Cee eC takes months =p arte seSAO Cr a a ee Cee DR SC rere ere eo eR eee CT mC eee eRe ea Cea Ucn me Com traces its lineage back to the Boeing 367-80 prototype. PERSO OR ec cc eae enthusiasm of the crowd when a Northrop Grumman B-2 SPIRIT performed three passes to open the ACCC ia oe eso A UL an Ress ke ae 1989, and that its replacement is due to be publicly unveiled before the end of the year. The B-2 was airborne for memorial flypasts in honour of September 11 and its inclusion in the show was quite the ‘opportunistic addition by the team at Airshow London. Cee RC eR Re eae ge Re a i again in 2022, promoting aviation power and military heritage while raising money for the Children’s Health Foundation and Veterans Charities. Terrific weather supported a strong lineup that suffered few cancelations and maintenance issues. The Eee ea ee nem A Ct eS announced as a permanent fixture for future shows. Airshow London will return from September 8-10, 2023. Eke Ad tol 0 aE)U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team lec Magel mongst the worlds many aerobatic teams, one team in particular stands Boeing F/A-18E SUPER HORNET / Sneak Pass out above all - the U.S. NAVY Flight Demonstration Team, the BLUE ANGELS. Founded in 1946, the BLUES are amongst the world’s top ten aerobatic teams and for good reason. The BLUES make full use of the extreme performance capabilities of their Boeing F/A-18E SUPER HORNETS delivering performances that are correspondingly spectacular. In the USA, the BLUE ANGELS are surrounded by a popularity that is at best comparable to that of the FRECCE TRICOLOR| of Italy. In terms of flying and choreography, the BLUE ANGELS live up to their well earned reputation - hardly any other team are as spectacular - both on the ground or in the air. Unfortunately for many, the BLUE ANGELS are rarely ever seen outside of the USA and Canada, one more reason for us to take a closer look at them. story & all images by: Rob Kysela 44 | CHECKSIXcHEcksIx | 45MEER eee: CHECKSIX 48in Kesselring a 3 a s 5 3 a v 2 Ee urrently, 154 officers and enlisted eon MRR RC ed Cc personnel are members of the team. The Denon cama aed prerequisite for joining the BLUE ANGELS are ee CU ced excellent references in addition to being a CUP to ae volunteer. The pilots, event coordinator and Dee Ce maintenance officer remain with the team for two years. Being a member of an aerobatic team is however not all sunshine and roses. During a season, the BLUE ANGELS can perform at as many as seventy airshows. This leaves very little time for their families with hard training during the week and performances on CO oa eee aS the weekends. Nevertheless, it is the highlight COR Ra och Ran of a NAVY / MARINE CORPS pilot's career when teams are surrounded by myth, while some he/she receives his/her marching orders to PCa cea NAS Pensacola. Cee men Et ag ae fter the season ends (mid-November), the See aR BLUE ANGELS return to their home base at isa little more to it. It's just a pity they are so NAS Pensacola. This event is celebrated in a aR a me mC Ds big way with what is known as a Homecoming Cee Re) Airshow, and where the BLUES say goodbye to UR mena ce their audience until next year. During the winter months (January to March) the BLUES move to Naval Air FacilityCOMM Rue Rar tere CER meee oe ERR UR ee and Poe eae impressive performance by their Lockheed- PC eRe Bele Conard Poe UC Cree RR RC RRC ume ag Drea OSU cet Re NON el CUE a On seo emcee Ua) CVs Uae Cam Hercules series. However, this aircraft was Pree Rear Uc Ceo Cee Ue ao SON naa ERR ae ence ae Pern RC ca fee OE aa Rete a eae cee Sree Uua ECR Ur Ce re a UC Soe ME aca had to be abandoned, simply because there Lockheed C-130K FAT ALBERT are none left. All the JATO bottles were from the Vietnam War era and stock quickly diminished, as such the last demonstration of FAT ALBERT with JATO took place in November 2009. With the C-130J, an aircraft is available which has a considerably higher performance than the older models and thus also achieves an impressive rate of climb during take-off without JATO bottles, but the sensational 1e thunderous roar of sorely the crew banks around flames and above all the rockets are still missed. Following takeoff, outside the airfield to demonstrate to the audience the quite acceptable speed of their C-130J Hercules with a high-speed pass. An ‘equally impressive and short landing ends the display of FAT ALBERT.doo7 Aj110 puoweiq cHecksIx | 51Diamond 360 demonstration of the BLUES begins on the A ground. Everything runs exactly according Introduction of the team, boarding the cockpit, starting the engines, releasing the brakes and taxiing to the runway for takeoff. The flying display takes a good half hour in total. Very few spectators can imagine how much work and training is required to achieve the _ perfection demonstrated by the BLUE ANGELS. to a precise ritual he team start takes place in two stages - first the main field takes off with four machines (#1, 2, 3 & 4) in close formation next to each other, with #4, the slot, falling back a little after take-off to take its position within a formation typical for the BLUE ANGELS - the DIAMOND FORMATION. In this configuration the first maneuver is flown, the DIAMOND LOOP. The most difficult thing about this maneuver is the extremely close distance between the machines. The distance between machine, weighing 14.5 tons, is often just 1 meter! After the DIAMOND LOOP, the two solo machines take off. In the meantime, the four- each CUCU a PSRs Um Er one Le) ESI nd Peau horizontal circle at a low altitude. Which bed PIU aT nym oat oeceni na a(t it is decided which display will oT miter De eee aoa always depends on the weather. Vertical Dare ee WC Oe Caner Rae ee cu ore) Re OM CCR Beene oe Meee ed Pee MN nee ee well as the team leader have the possibility to Ee Um eC TE cHecksix | 5354 ean Waa Scene aK) SSO omar cre VCC CuO ce DY ene nce eel RR eRe Rn eae CeO rc Cec Ce PU cn UR oe formation, and avoid collision, Due to his Ps eee a US Srna Coe OR Re ee CR i aC Ares Ca oa Con Cm Ir ae De oe Pe ae ae end Eo one a n le CSC Coe Bora Cee ac CCU Pea eC Poe CeO) PCRS a COU ae UR eC en a cea CHECKSIX the DIAMOND DIRTY LOOP, the formation flies a loop with landing gear and arrestor hooks extended (except for #1). Although most formations of the BLUE ANGELS are flown with four aircraft, the two solos always merge with the main formation. In doing so, both aircraft always occupy the outer positions. The maneuvers shown are called FLEUR DE LIS, LINE ABREAST-LOOP, DELTA LOOP BREAK, and “Another special feature setting the BLUE ANGELS apart from all other aerobatic teams is that they fly without G-Suits” last but not least SIX PLANE CROSS. Another special feature setting the BLUE ANGELS apart from all other aerobatic teams is that they fly without G-Suits. With loads of -2.0 to +7.5 G during a display, one can only imagine how fit these pilots must be in order not to lose consciousness under these conditions.= 3 wv 2 ° cS a tl eo aEBa ele] s6| cHecksixBreak he reason why the BLUE ANGELS fly without their anti-G suits has nothing to do with cockiness or bravado but relates to their particular way of flying. In order to be able to react precisely and quickly to the smallest changes in their flight attitude, they control their machines with their forearm resting on their thigh. A G- suit constantly inflating, or deflating would cause the pilot's arm to move, resulting in an inadvertent movement of the control stick. In a tight formation, any involuntary would inevitably lead to disaster. The final maneuver of the BLUE ANGELS display is flown by all six jets together. In delta formation, the team says goodbye to the audience, with the aircraft breaking out of formation one after the other by abruptly pulling up to land afterwards. During this maneuver, the pilots are forced into their ejection seats by as much as 7g. The entire display of the BLUE ANGELS is very dynamically structured, i.e, formation maneuvers constantly alternate with performances by the soloists. There is —=— pO nm ne ch aC CT Re ee eC Re ac RU eu Runs PC CR eR On) “During this maneuver, the pilots Ec oM (olga te lCoM an m-5 [cel 8(e)A) RRM ACM Ue Cee re CORES PE ener Rao) Oem MARE Cm a Rao TOU Cme cu Rea Pec ee Cee Ce on CMRC MRC Cac Cesc Seer Re ce Cd SU nnn ee Baan a CHECKSIX 57he solos not only fly crossing maneuvers, Cec Cae ae es CO ne Cm Co Ca DR ec POT a ane ec a tightly flown horizontal full circle, the #5 Lead Solo is pressed into his seat with no less ACen Coa Rau CUI ne Cn ee Ca SNE COC CO ere ae OCS PCa Ce Mec Bt DR cee uc joint maneuver (e.g.: DELTA LOOP). Te most spectacular maneuver for the DCR ec) US Oe RR CC OM AE esc Cea Prete eR ee ON eae eae Cnc ae WEG as just under 100 meters. You can clearly see the Cen eR oe Rea ites Rm ees highly compressed air. in clear air and with a CeCe Re We ea The maneuverability and performance of the F/A-18 Super Hornet is certainly one of the reasons why the solo demonstrations cannot be surpassed in terms of Tog entire display of the BLU pure dynamics. er with their team formations, the ANGELS ina show that captivates every spect Perfectly staged from beginning to end, th BLUES show where it's at. So, when you plan your next trip to the USA, remember to ensure that at least one event featuring the BLUE ANGELS is on your to-do list (or better said, your must-see list)!SHOW SCHEDULE 2023 MARCH SEPTEMBER 11 NAF El Centro, CA 2-4 Toronto, ON / Canada 18-19 NAS Point Mugu, CA 16-17 NAS Oceana 25-26 Barksdale AFB, LA 23-24 MCAS Miramar, CA 30 McMinnville, OR APRIL, OCTOBER 1-2. Lakeland, FL 15-16 NAS Key West, FL Minnville, OR 22-23 MCAS Beaufort, 0, CA 29-30 Fort Lauderdale, ion, CO Beach, FL MAY IN 6-7 Corpus Christi, TX 13-14 Scott AFB, IL 20-21 Seymour Johnson AFB, NC 24 26 27-28 Long Pond, PA JUNE 10-11. Smyrna, TN 17-18 Columbus, OH 8 Pensacola Beacl 15-16 Duluth, MN 22-23 Milwaukee, WI AUGUST 5-6 Seattle, WA 12-13 Billings, MT 19-20 New Century, KS 26-27 Lincoln, NE CHECKSIx | 59er Cae iS Treen em nd FSR a eee es cee eo eee videos showed the shooting down of several of these highly complex weapon systems. Discussions quickly ensued on relevant platforms and in various media, which criticized the quality of the (Russian) attack helicopters RU RC ec an Ca cece Ste UCR RC am oe CIES Ren iat ee Men Resa eke blades, etc.) to withstand even heavy fire. In addition, vital systems are redundant. Dg ee RU i cu Rm na Rs Pe ae a ge Se ee ecco) Roem ona ce SNe Sen cna acy Cree ete 0distorical background: even though the development of helicopters was relatively contemporaneous with that of airplanes, the first usable models did not see service until the end of World War Il. These fragile structures had virtually no influence on they were used in insufficient numbers and only for ambulance purposes or to transport personnel. None of these early helicopter models had any kind of armament, or were suitable for combat use in any form. This changed increasingly in the early 1960s. The introduction of the gas turbine as a propulsion system gave the helicopter the necessary power and reliability, so that it became more and more the focus of military planning. the outcome of the war; he first combat helicopters were therefore nothing more than converted transport helicopters, such as the U.S. Bell UH-1B/C IROQUOIS (also known as "HUEY HOG" within the U.S. Army). While the B-series was equipped with a 960 shp turbine, the "Charly. model” was equipped with a 1.100 shp = 3G = ° — uy a = z S < = x 3 & 2 = ee REE Sen aoe UH-1C was still underpowered. Fully loaded with crew and armament, a very experienced PC Ree Re ei wad the air at all. The armament consisted of four “None of these early helicopter models had any armament” OW Cee aeR Ce) roc Ue RA Seon i Renee ec CC cae CO PU Moe ered De Cen arc) Ree ee NCR eee aM ieee CO CCC Rec) Ca On eu a) CI eee Se engaged it with its on-board weapons. De LUc ur eeec or merece Eee oR Cal Ce aoa co ECU eccoCn Coa Seg ler cere Or RU ace Oe ee accommo ee eR Ca eas This was also based on the basic Huey model Eo ee ed (ee ere Ren cee Peace eae CRC Oe Soe RU Rae Roa Ceca Soars Tem nC UCd Cie Ree Mee Reach missions. eras aia Pe Rete cee Ae ae ieee Cem ee Cea forward cockpit responsible for operating the Ee eR a ee PR Concer rare TOC uC was able to fly the aircraft as iN Caen Cay RR a Rae) of the AH-1 were still equipped with 7.62 mm eee a Ee 2 g 3g fo} Ee = ae 5 3 EB 66 | CHECKSIX scaled-down version of the 20 mm M61 Gatling gun. It soon became apparent that the range and firepower of insufficient, so it was variants by a 20 mm M197. This was basically an M61 with three barrels instead of six, halving the reducing ammunition consumption. In addition to the obligatory unguided missiles, guided missiles the small caliber was replaced in later rate of fire and “As armament, a movable chin turret was used for the first time” were also provided for the AH-1 for the first time. The BGM-71 TOW guided missile (TOW = Tube Launched Optically Tracked Wire Command-link Guided Missile), developed and built by Hughes (and later by Raytheon), was used from 1970. The TOW was a wire-guided missile with a 3.9 kg shaped charge warhead (in later variants even with a 5.9 kg tandem shaped charge). This enabled gunship pilots to engage not only stationary targets such as bunkers and anti-aircraft positions, but also increasingly posed a threat to armored units.VudOD SI-HV ledBell AH-1S COBRA 68 he TOW also increased the range of an attack helicopter’s weapon effectiveness (the first TOW's Ven hit targets up to a distance of 3.000 meters, with later variants even reaching 4.500 meters). The miniguns, on the other hand, were only effective at distances of a few hundred meters. At this range, however, the gunships were exposed to enemy fire from all of the enemy's weapons. The Hydra-70 wing-stabilized unguided rockets also have a relatively long range of 8.000 m, but the hit probability in a firefight is far below that. hile the first helicopters in service were already endangered by a stray bullet from an AK47, most attack helicopters are relatively immune to ground fire from infantry weapons up to .50 caliber (12.7 mm). Vital systems are redundant, ensuring that a hit helicopter can continue to perform its mission or at least remain airworthy until it can safely land on its own territory. The greatest threat to any helicopter today comes from portable surface-to-air missiles, so-called Manpads (Manpads = Man Portable Air Defense System). The best-known model of this is the FIM-92 STINGER built by the U.S. consortium Raytheon. This missile became famous after the CIA equipped Afghan mujahideen with it in the 1980s. They were able to inflict heavy losses on the Soviet occupation forces. According to official figures, up to 250 aircraft and helicopters were shot down by Stinger missiles in the period until the Soviets withdrew in February 1989. The STINGER has a very high hit rate (up to 80%) and features a CHECKSIXpassive target detector that responds to a target's infrared signature in addition to covering the UV range, making it much less sensitive to jamming measures such as flares. The missile's effective range is officially stated to be 6.000 m, with 3.000 m envisaged as the maximum operational altitude. The major advantage of the STINGER compared to other manpads is that the FIM-92 is a fire-and-forget weapon, which tracks the target completely independently after firing. The warhead has a proximity fuse and an impact fuse and carries a 1 kg explosive charge consisting of a mixture of highly explosive hexogen, TNT and aluminum powder. At present, there are said to be about 2.00 ERs of various types in Ukraine. In addition to the American FIM-92 STINGER, the British JAVELIN (not to be confused with the FGM-148 JAVELIN anti-tank weapon) or the French MISTRAL guided missile, it is primarily Russian models based on the 9K32 STRELA (NATO code: SA-7 GRAIL) or its successor ——_ as the six | os | 6VI NePce NUON Solel -F8 aTIN IY} arte ee9K338 IGLA-S (NATO code: SA-24 GRINCH) that inflict. The Russian manpads, especially the older models, are not as effective technologically, but still pose a threat to attack helicopters that should are being used in the Ukraine not be underestimated. The reason for this is flight proximity to the enemy. At a distance of just the aforementioned altitude and under one kilometer and a flight altitude of about 100 meters, a fired guided missile takes just 2 to a maximum of 2.5 seconds to impact = not much time for a pilot to initiate countermeasures. Even fully automatic defense systems, such as those used in the Kamov Ka-52, are virtually useless here. | n the former Soviet Union, too, the need for an attack relatively early and its development was on helicopter was recognized the way almost simultaneously with that of the USA. Like Bell, the designers of the MIL OKB used proven components from a transport The Mil Mi-8 (NATO code: HIP), whose series production had just begun in helicopter 1965, served as the basis for the Soviet attack z = o ue < a 3 3 8 i) & = oo < a aw Fed fe G ~ 8 g x helicopter. But that was the end of the ACU ame ar Wome) Cree) Me OR OE) (ret ARCO eC ma ere eee RR Cem ny “Like Bell, the designers of the MIL OKB used proven components. from a transport helicopter” TPR eke aD CS Pee Me Ceo Sr Co a Cee en on accom ec a ee Cen Ns a CC Ca ae rs WR Ok Co course) which let to its nickname: “Flying ac mee aQASGEING AH-64 APACHE combat proven, battle tested - this is Boeing's slogan for the latest variant of its APACHE attack helicopter (AH-64E, version 6). Boeing hits the nail on the head with this slogan - no other attack helicopter can boast a more intense operational career than the AH-64. At most, its counterpart, the Russian Mil Mi-24 (NATO code: HIND) can keep up to a certain point. The APACHE flew its first combat sortie in Panama in 1989. Missions during Operation Dessert Storm (Second Gulf War), the 2003 Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan followed. The knowledge gained from these missions, both of a technical and tactical nature, has been incorporated into the ongoing development of this weapon system. The AH-64 has been in service with the U.S. Army since 1986. It is also in service with numerous armies and is certainly the benchmark for all current and future attack helicopter! story & images by Robert Kysela 72 | cHECKSIXxTechnical Specs (Boeing AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN): Length: 58 ft 2 in (17,73 m) Rotor diameter: 48 1.0 in (14,63 m) Empty weight: 11.385 tb (5.160 kg) Payload: 23,000 lb (8.010 kg) Max speed 473 mph (279 km/h) Ceiling 20,000 ft (6,096 m) Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14,2 m/s) Range: 300 miles (480 km) Performance: 2x GE T700-GE-7010 rated at 1.491 kW ‘Armament: 1x 30 mm M230 Chain gun 16x AGH-114 Hellfire Antl-tank missiles or 4x AIN-92 Stinger Up to 76 x 2,73 inch unguided Rockets CHECKsIx | 73LOW HY SHV PueNsemelsnsy CHECKSIXBoeing AH-64A APACHE he AH-64 was based on a U.S. Army Request for Proposal (RFP) called AH - Advanced Attack Helicopter. well-known aerospace companies such as Lockheed, Sikorsky, Boeing-Vertol and, o! course, Bell Textron, Hughes Helicopters o' In addition to Culver City, California also participated in the RFP, The goal was to design a helicopter that was based on the experiences of the Vietnam War and that was capable of standing up to the numerically superior armored units of the Warsaw Pact. The high losses of helicopters in attack helicopter must have extensive protective Vietnam had shown that the new measures and correspond to the current operational doctrine of the Army, which provided for the combined use of units on the ground as well as in the air not only during the day but also at night. For this purpose, the helicopter had to be equipped with a number of sensors that would enable the pilot to operate even in complete darkness. fter the initial evaluation phase, the Hughes-designed Model 77 was shortlisted A Recor ume eRe eee Ce Meat) SCE GRR CM URC SLC] designated YAH-64. While both aircraft had, “The Bell Model 409 looked like a scaled-up version of an AH-1” Pe ae Wore Pa see mee acs PTC CT mC geno Do Cee a amy decisive advantage, since a four-blade rotor eee cue ek Ue Ra Den eRe ce) of a Huey/Cobra announced the approach of es ce Ce Cen emt RMU Par While Bell preferred a fixed relatively narrow ee CR cet UR Ue stable on the ground, which was a great Ene ane ance Src cHEecksIx | 7530 mm M230E1 Chain gun T Ponca aad CeCe RU coed YAH-63 flew for the first time just one day Car UR eae ac Rie eae Mat nae ened Ee ecu The entire development process did not go quite as smoothly as the U.S. Army envisioned PRU oO owe oc delays in the development of the sensor A Raa oe cd COR eee eee called the APACHE, was handed over to the Rae ee ee CO ae nr Ls ee eGo designated the M230. This is a so-called chain EU Una s CcC a ejection of the shell is controlled by a chain Ce ee onc a a Cee CEC Mere etn Reems Cua acces is concerned. An unfired cartridge is simply Ooo eR oma eC CHECKSIX process. The weapon has a theoretical firing rate of 625 (+/-25) rounds per minute. The crew can preset different rates of fire (10, 20, 50, 100 rounds or continuous fire). After firing approx. 300 rounds, however, the gun must be time (approx. 10 min). Fully chambered, an APACHE carries led for a considerabl 1.160 rounds of ammunition. This is unfortunately to the disadvantage of the “The advantage of this system is its higher reliability, at least as far as jamming is concerned.” range. When using an auxiliary fuel tank (called a Robby tank), only 300 rounds of ammunition can be carried. The maximum effective operational range of the M230 is between 1.500 and maximum 1.700m. The primary ammunition used is an M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) projectile, hich can penetrate armor up to 25mm and with the target. disintegrates oF Boeing AH-64D APACHEhe original specification (AAH) called for the use of TOW anti-tank guided weapons. This is a fe h a control wire was unwound after firing, alloy missile in w gunner to steer the guided rocket into the target. This meant that the target had to be aimed by the gunner throughout the missile’s whole flight time. The range of such a guided missile was inherently limited. Therefore, the U.S. Army changed its specification for the main standoff weapon of its future attack The Rockwell AGM-114 HELLFIRE guided missile, also under development, was helicopte provided as an alternative. The HELLFIRE is made up of the terms HELicopter + Launched + FIRE & forget. This features a semi-active laser targeting system (or an guidance system - W HELLFIRE). These highly enable the AH-64 to a target at ranges up to ,000m. However, the laser-guided variant name active radar-based AGM-114L accurate missiles effectively engag requires the gunner to aim at the target with a homing laser. This is no longer necessary with the radar-guided variant. In this wy = i 5 = a x= x = 9g =< z = & 8 z ea area reo Cn MC ce CC oe ea ae ULC can carry up to 16 AGM-114 HELLFIRE missiles, giving it tremendous firepower. “The name HELLFIRE is made up of the terms HELicopter + Launched + FIRE & forget.” n addition, an APACHE can also carry up to PW MCR ta RY container designated as M261 with a capacity CCM CoC ana ue containers are carried on an AH-64). The Hydra 70 has a variety of warheads, ranging CE aries ean SC er ne ECD) PO Ree PS Ce Pm oe CoML a CLC Cue a Ly Ce Re Lg Cer CRO De Crao rm ze G a Ed Pa = a eo ed Py = i 8 Fy ape Pte ee system TADS/PNVS (TADS = Target SSE a Ad Pilot's Night Vision Sensor). These consists Cae err ce od er NG ee em et COC CS ac ce aCe Td Se eee Ta CNet CE CeCe MCU ran ROR Cec R RM SCM RU RL a Rcd SA eC ner co) COG sie) mag CRD eMC MLS Pease GOS cee Ris EOS RS ioc MSE ad Se oan Rc ee Ree Rt aa CnC Zr Ua cae Ud Sr Cnet oR eis 6.25 inch multi-purpose displays. a eC cd Oe aa RCE UI ace CHECKSIX fire control radar (FCR) is located, which operates in the millimeter wave band (Ka- band/26.5-40 GHz). Thus compensates for the biggest disadvantage of the TADS/PNVS + its position at the bottom of the AH-64, To bring the sensor system to bear, the pilot must move his aircraft out of cover, which exposes him to enemy forces. The mast - mounted sight allows the pilot to move his “The radar allows the AH-64 to detect and classify up to 128 targets and engage 16 of them” aircraft out just a little behind cover (a house, a tree, etc.), keeping him in relative safety. With the Longbow-FCR the ‘AH-64 can detect and classify up to 128 targets and engage 16 of them simultaneously. In addition, a Longbow- APACHE operating in concert with other ‘AH-64°s can share its radar data with them via an integrated radio modem, allowing them to deploy all of their armament in a coordinated manner. AN / APG-78 Longbow RadarMO@9DNOT JHDVdV Gr9-HVBoeing AH-64A APACHE HE APACHE made its operational debut in Panama in 1989, but it really proved its worth in the Second Gulf War. It was actually AH-64s of the 101st Airborne Division that fired the first shots on 17 January 1991, opening Operation Desert Storm. This opening night strike proved to be very successful, taking out two key Iraqi radar and early warning stations. In the course of the ground offensive, AH-64s then destroyed 278 tanks, close to 500 vehicles, as well as more than 100 artillery positions and numerous other relevant targets (this information comes from a 1992 U.S. Accounting Office _ report). However, the deployment also revealed various shortcomings of this weapon system. For example, there were repeated problems with the 30 mm gun but also with the TADS/PNVS. Another problem was due to the sand, which everywhere in this region and sometimes General is found almost has a very negative effect on mechanical moving parts. The losses in the Il Gulf War with the AH-64s were absolutely limited. Ae Ore ees GR CeCe SE ee eC RCo Ces ON aa aes Dae eR a “There were repeated Pee Mmm Par CoR lamar ya ho Tene Gee acca ga Cem ec) Cao oe Rc Cr aras weapons. In the Afghanistan war, the CoC aR Cream SU RnR Pa eg Oe RR Mee eT] SU RCC cc Rt Ce RE er es eas une ee Ue v6 APACHE GUARDIAN. cHECKsIx | 85