Sunday, June 26, 2011

Deadly Boeing AH-64 Apache

Boeing AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine attack helicopter landings by type using the setting wheel in the tail and tandem cockpit for two crew. Apache as the Model 77 was developed by Hughes Helicopter to U.S. Army helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra attack.
 
First flown on September 30, 1975, AH-64 has a suite of sensors mounted on the nose for target acquisition and night vision systems. Apache is armed with 30 mm (1.2 in) M230 Chain Gun among the main landing gear, under the front of the helicopter body. He has four hooks mounted on the wing shorter, typically carry a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rockets fruit. AH-64 also has a lot of systems to improve survivability for aircraft and flight crew in combat, as well as raise awareness of the accident.

U.S. Army AH-64 pick than Bell YAH-63 in 1976, Hughes Helicopters received pre-production contracts for two aircraft. In 1982, the Army agreed to a full-scale production. McDonnell Douglas continued production and development after purchasing Hughes Helicopters from the Summa Corporation in 1984. The first production AH-64D Apache Longbow, an upgraded version of the original Apache delivered to the Army in March 1997. AH-64 production followed by a division of Boeing Defence, Space & Security. more than a thousand AH-64 has been produced to date.

 
American Army is the main operator of AH-64, but also a major attack helicopters are some countries that have been exported to Britain, Israel, Japan, Greece and the Netherlands. U.S. AH-64 have served in conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf War, Kosovo War, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Israel has been using Apache in the military conflict in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, while two coalition allies of the U.S. AH-64 has been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Following the cancellation of the AH-56 Cheyenne in 1972, the U.S. Army sought to fill the anti-armor attack role that would still be under the command of the Army. In 1948 Key West Agreement prohibits the Army to have a fixed wing aircraft. The Army wants a better plane than the AH-1 Cobra in weapons, performance and range. will have to follow terrain maneuverability to fly nap-of-the-earth (NOE). To this end the United States Army issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) on 15 November 1972. As a sign of the importance of this project, in September 1973 the Army declared the five most important project called "Big Five" with AAH in it.

 
Proposals submitted by five manufacturers: Bell, Boeing Vertol (in cooperation with Grumman), Hughes, Lockheed, and Sikorsky. In July 1973 the U.S. Defense Department chose Bell and Hughes Aircraft's Toolco Aircraft Division (later Hughes Helicopters). to begin phase 1 of the competition, every company built prototype helicopters and conduct flight testing. The first prototype flew Hughes Model 77/YAH-64A on September 30, 1975, while Bell's Model 409/YAH-63A ​​first prototype flew on 1 October. After evaluating the test results, the Army chose YAH-64A over Bell's YAH-63A ​​in 1976. Reasons to choose YAH-64A Because the damage that can not be tolerated in a four-blade main rotor and the instability of three-wheeled landing arrangements at the landing YAH-63A.

AH-64A then entered phase 2 AAH program to build three pre-production AH-64, and upgrading the two YAH-64A prototypes and test flights and landings with the same standard. weapons and sensor systems are integrated and tested continue to include two new Hellfire missile.

 
In 1981, three pre-production AH-64A delivered to the U.S. Army for Operational Test II. Army testing was successful, but then decided to upgrade the engine to the version of the T700-GE-701 is more powerful, was recorded at 1690 shp (1259 kW). AH-64 Apache in 1981 named the end, in accordance with the traditions of the U.S. Army's use of the names of Indian tribes for the helicopters and approved for full scale production in 1982. In 1983, the first production helicopter rolled out at Hughes Helicopter facility in Mesa, Arizona. Hughes Helicopters was purchased by McDonnell Douglas valued at U.S. $ 470 million in 1984. helicopter unit later became part of the Boeing Company with the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in August 1997. In 1986, additional costs for the AH-64A was U.S. $ 7.03 million and average unit cost of about U.S. $ 13.9 million based on the total cost.

In the mid-1980s, McDonnell Douglas learned of a design improvement "AH-64B" with updated cockpit, a new battle control system and other upgrades. In 1988 funding was approved for a multi-stage improvement program to improve the system of sensors and weapons and avionics systems combining several digital systems, but new technology has been applied previously. It was decided to cancel the upgrade program for the more ambitious changes that presents a more advanced model of the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Development of the AH-64D has been approved by the Defense Acquisition Board in August 1990. AH-64D Apache Longbow prototype first flown on April 15, 1992 and prototype testing ended in April 1995 after they significantly outperformed the AH-64A model. On October 13, 1995 full-scale production of the Apache Longbow were approved and five-year contract worth U.S. $ 1.9 billion was signed in August 1996 to upgrade and rebuild 232 AH-64 Apache. The first production AH-64D flew on March 17, 1997 and delivered on 31 March 1997. AH-64D program cost reached U.S. $ 11 billion through 2007.


DesignApache has a four-blade main rotor and four blade tail rotor. tandem seating, with the pilot sitting behind and copilot / gunner in front. Crew compartment and fuel tank armored so that the plane will still be able to fly even after being shot guns caliber 23 mm (0.91 in).


AH-64 powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines with drains installed above on both sides of the fuselage. Various models have been used on the Apache machine, such as engines from Rolls-Royce British replacement General Electric. In 2004, General Electric Aviation began producing engines T700-GE-701D stronger, recorded 2000 shp (1,500 kW) for AH-64D.

  •     AH-64A: the GE T700-701 engine with a power shp 1.696 (1.265 kW).
  •     AH-64A + / D: with the GE T700-701C engine with a power shp 1.890 (1.410 kW).
  •     AH-64D Block III: the GE T700-701D engine with a power shp 2.000 (1.500 kW).
  •     WAH-64D: a Rolls Royce RTM322-powered turbomeca shp 2.100 (1.600 kW).

One revolutionary feature in Apache is a helmet mounted display, Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS) which have the capacity in which the pilot or gunner can synchronize automatic weapons 30 mm M230 Chain Gun with the helmet, making head movements following the gun head to the point where he view. Another alternative M230E1 Weapons can also be tuned to the locked position for a shot, or is controlled via the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS).


The AH-64 is designed to survive the forefront and to operate during the day or night and in adverse weather using avionics, such as the Acquisition and Targeting system, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS / PNVS), passive infrared countermeasures, GPS and IHADSS. A new system replacement TADS / PNVS is Arrowhead (MTADS), manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the contract was made on February 17, 2005 to begin to equip all models of American Apache.


AH-64 are adapted to different roles within the context of the Close Combat Attack (CCA), and has adjusted the weapon model for the role of the desired addition to 30-mm Chain Gun M230E1. Apache can carry a variety of external weapons on the wing mast, usually a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Hydra 70 rockets and not multipurpose guided 70 mm (2.76 in). Stinger missiles and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radiation missiles were evaluated beginning in the late 1980s. Stinger initially chosen instead of the AIM-9, but the U.S. Army Missile Starstreak is considering a replacement. also has a wing pylon assembly point for that could be used for the maintenance of helicopters as an example in an emergency assembly point on the wing can be used by personnel during flight. external fuel tank can also be pinned on the pylon to increase over time and mission.

Specifications :
Nation: USA
AH-64 Apache Helicopter Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Type: Attack Helicopter
Year: 1984
Engine: 2 General Electric T700-701C turboshaft, 1,857 shp
Rotor Diameter: 48 ft
AH-64 Apache Helicopter Tail Rotor Diameter: 9' 2"
Fuselage Length: 49 ft 1 in
Overall Length: 58 ft 3 in
AH-64 Apache Helicopter Height: 16 ft 9.5 in
Empty Weight: 10,760 lb
Max Takeoff Weight: 21,000 lb
Max Speed: 186 mph (level), 227 mph (never exceeded powerdive)
Ceiling: 10,200 ft (hover)
Range: 428 miles
AH-64 Apache Helicopter Crew: 2
Load/Armament: 1 M230A1 30mm chain gun; 4 underwing hardpoints for Hellfire and Hydra 70 rockets. Typical loadout is 8 Hellfire and 38 Hydra 70 (in 2 17 rocket pods).

<