New Apaches

[moxey]

Evening all. Noticed tday on M40 high wycombe area south bound. 2 brand new H64 ZM704 AN 705. anyone in the know. Where from an too please. Cheers neil

[TonyO]

Probably en route to Wattisham from Brize Norton.

[Mike]

Delivered to Wattisham today :- http://www.ukserials.com/

[plmc135]

Brand new, no, rebuilt yes.

[slogen51]

I thought they were new builds

None the less a very good catch by the Doncaster correspondent - surprised the serial was visible. Hopefully the 'new' numbers will be spotter friendly!

[ArabJazzie]

Brand new, no, rebuilt yes.

I thought that, but had my head swayed in this thread.

viewtopic.php?f=287&t=195424&start=20

[raameagle]

They are brand new if you collect airframes and not just serial numbers. The fuselage (airframe) is brand new with only components taken off the old D models and used on the Es.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you view things!), we all have 50 new Apaches to collect lol.
Regards
Mark

[tommc]

Yes, these AH-64Es are brand new airframes.

(BTW we don't ALL have 50 new Apaches to collect )

They look pretty much the same as the old AH-64Ds from a distance. They do SOUND slightly less agricultural though.

The paintwork is obviously cleaner (for now), so the serial numbers are currently easier to read than on the old Apache AH1s, but "easier" is just a relative term when it comes to Apaches anyway.

Don't forget, there are still 30 old Apache AH1s active in the UK, so get them while you can.

[slogen51]

Wonder if there will be a 'Marham effect' at Wattisham whereby the local spotters who previously had the station to themselves will suddenly need to arrive by 8am to get parked

[gary1701]

Wonder if there will be a 'Marham effect' at Wattisham whereby the local spotters who previously had the station to themselves will suddenly need to arrive by 8am to get parked

I hope not! Only those of us who can recall the F-4 days will even remember where the place is! Even if 3 Regiment gets it's allocation by spring/summer next year I hope people don't get their hopes up, as it's not likely to be busy. There was only a surge around late May/early June this year because they had some training to catch up on.

Gary

[Ravendriver2008]

Nice one, slightly digressing first uS Army AH-64E Guardian I seen up close was 1st Cavalry Division 1st Air Cav Bde one on European Theater rotation on display at Euroatory 2018 held outside Paris. This was without Longbow radar and for those of you who live in Europe the 1st Air Cav are back in Europe on their Rotation taking over from the Fort Riley based 1st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. In fact I saw their Guardian up close at Paris Air Show last year.

I thought the 1st Air Cav Guardian was tidy neat paint job probably like the ones that we are receiving.

Also w.r.t to the 1st CAB, it was their trio of Ch-47F that came to these shores (transiting through Biggin Hill first) supporting Trumps visit to the south then came back through the ‚Hall after he left for states.


Cheers

[markranger]

Yes from my understanding they are new airframes but the good bits from the old D model are being taken off and put in the new E-model, self defence system being one of them and i think.

Thanks

[Snoop 95]

Pictures and info on here:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-rece ... licopters/

[Typeflyer]

Pictures and info on here:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-rece ... licopters/

I note reference to the E model replacing the mark 1. Are they to be known as AH-64E or Apache AH.2?

[tommc]

Pictures and info on here:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-rece ... licopters/

I note reference to the E model replacing the mark 1. Are they to be known as AH-64E or Apache AH.2?

They ARE Apache AH-64Es.
After UK MAA certification etc they MAY become Apache AH2s.

[pako-2008]

for those of you who live in Europe the 1st Air Cav are back in Europe on their Rotation taking over from the Fort Riley based 1st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division.

Just a bit of a correction here, its currently the 101st CAB on rotation from Fort Campbell. They replaced the 3rd CAB in the summer (https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/Artic ... n-mission/)

1st ACB (not to be confused with 1st CAB who have also rotated prior to 3rd CAB) haven't returned since their initial deployment from 2017/18.

[gaviscon]

Why didn’t they get delivered direct to Wattisham?

[Nighthawke]

Isn't there an issue with C-17s and the runway quality? As for An-124s, they're currently grounded.

[TeeJay]

Why didn’t they get delivered direct to Wattisham?

Because the runway at Wattisham is U/S.
It was suitable for heavies only but not fast jets up until a few years ago.

From latest AIP:

“Use of Runways

The largely PFC surface has considerably exceeded its design life (DIO AD maintenance inspection, April 2016) and the integrity of the surface cannot be guaranteed. The following restrictions apply:
1. No take-off, landing or touch-and-go by fast jet or heavylift (eg C17, AN24 etc). Low approach to go around accepted. 2. Caution: Due to degradation of rwy surface a heightened risk of FOD from runway debris exists.”

Trev

[seven]

Isn't there an issue with C-17s and the runway quality? As for An-124s, they're currently grounded.

Only Volga Dnepr have grounded '124's AFAIK, Antonov Airlines were still flying yesterday.

7