[Closed] WTF? Apache helicopter in Derbyshire?

A10's were removed from frontline service and given to the Air National Guard, after some halfwit decided that F16 Fighting Falcons were better ground attack aircraft. Plus the Yanks were too scared to use them at low level, which is what they were designed for, in case one got shot down with an RPG, and had them operating at 10000ft, where they couldn't clearly identify coalition vehicles and so shot the crap out of several, killing a number of people.
I remember being sat up on Llanstephan Castle watching A10's doing live firing runs across the river. Amazing sound, like someone ripping large sheets of heavy canvas.

I thought the point of the A10 was just a big gun and an armoured bath tub for the pilot with everything else being designed to work if when most of it was shot away.

I do hope that the ANG are taking good care of those A10s.

If Terminator Salvation taught us one thing, it's that they'll form the cornerstone of our air combat operations in the forthcoming post-apocalyptic war against Skynet.

😛

A couple of years back, we were on a night ride in Snowdonia, when 3 buzzed past at about our level, turrets pointed at us! I guess they'd seen the lights and the gunners / pilots glanced our way with their night vis. Quite scary!

yes army air corp apache built under licence from Boeing by Westland helicoptors...

uk apache has more powerful engines and other UK features... (probably making it less effective lol - daylight/clear weather only chinnock anyone)

still looks awesome and and odd sight when you see them over london

rootes1 - Member

yes army air corp apache built under licence from Boeing by Westland helicoptors...

uk apache has more powerful engines and other UK features... (probably making it less effective lol - daylight/clear weather only chinnock anyone)

Actually, UK variant generally considered superior to the American.

Oh a boys toys thread......we had a couple of A10 fire above us at Infantry School in Brecon. That Gatling sounds like someone has set off a Black and Decker drill next to your head.

We'd have put in an order for 200 of those but the RAF decided they knew best and blew the dough on Eurofighter Typhoons instead. That was 1993. Cheers guys.

Actually, UK variant generally considered superior to the American.

By people on forums or by actual apache pilots?

Good if ours is better, shows well can still cut it in aviation engineering.

Lets face it. Its probably safer for them to fly Apache's in England than in a war zone.

Just had two go over Dorking. Makes a change from the Chinooks 😀

:edit: ...and another one

No RPG's in Dorking either 😆

loddrik - Member

One flew over my house in Liverpool the other day, first one I ever saw.

when I go and see my Mum in Liverpool the helicopter is always up, the Police one 😉

but the RAF decided they knew best and blew the dough on Eurofighter Typhoons instead

I seem to recall the 4 down in the Falklands seem to be upsetting the Argies as we aren't playing fair and leaving 'Las Malvinas' undefended any more. So it appears eurofighters are good for some things. Those, and the possibility of sub-launched cruise missiles....

rootes1 - Member

Actually, UK variant generally considered superior to the American.

By people on forums or by actual apache pilots?

That Mi-24 is a mean machine and it can carry 12 troops as well. They were pretty effective in Afghanistn during the war in the late-70s - 80s and that is why the US started shipping Stingers to the mujahidin....whoops.

The Apaches are getting a bit of a rep in Afghanistan where they are known as "Mosquitos" and are not winning any friends amongst the bearded and AK47 carrying nutters 🙂

One other useful feature of the British variant is that it's navalised. So, unlike the original, it can be flown from carriers, HMS Ocean and indeed any RN/RFA vessel with a helipad.

apache and A10 rely on a benign air evironment to operate

if the iranians manage to get operator guided man portable surface to air missiles to the oppostion things will be a lot different

Not especially for the Apache with it's DAS.

I followed one in the car for 20minutes oN friday!! It was flying pretty low over the m25 following the traffic.

Mental but brightened up my journey!!

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One flying east up the a505 just at Royston right now if anyone else is on te flight path!

They are based at Wattasham, Suffolk, hence seeing them near Royston, delivered a rental car one day to RAF Honington, parked the car on the perryroad, there was an apache hovering about 20 feet of the deck following me,scary, when you think the pilots of them are trained to use both eyes independantly, the one round the M25 was probably the new police vehicle to stop speeding drivers LOL

Not especially for the Apache with it's DAS.

I disagree, a credible SAM threat using SACLOSBR technology will be difficult to counter and if they go lower to avoid this threat they are at risk from RPG

even if they can detect the laser (for the 10-30 sec max time of flight, target at around 6km) they will not be allowed to laser back due to the risks for civilians or kids with laser pens

also older anti tank sytems such as Milan which are essentially passive and unjammable are a credible threat and probably available on the market