Whiteman Guard unit receives first Apache Longbow helicopters

Missouri National Guard's State Aviation Officer Col. Mark McLemore greets the pilots as they bring in the brand new Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbows and takes time to look into the cockpit to see the difference between the analog and digital model of aircraft. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

By Rachel Knight
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - After about four years planning and training, the Missouri National Guard's 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion received three new Apache Longbow helicopters.

Four years ago the battalion was scheduled to get the Bell ARH-7- Arapaho, which is a four-bladed, single-engine, light military helicopter, but that program was cancelled. In August 2009, the battalion was officially designated as a Longbow unit.

"The biggest challenge was getting the entire battalion through aircraft transition schools," said Maj. Fin Carey, AASF #1 instructor pilot supervisor. "We had to send all our mechanics and armament electricians to the AH-64D school, some of which took several months to complete. Additionally, we had to get all the pilots qualified in the Longbow."

The Apache pilot transition was about two months long, while the instructor pilots schooled an additional six weeks and the maintenance test pilots schooled an additional two months. After the schools, the battalion had to send a handful of pilots to other units to complete progression training in order to be able to pick up the first aircraft.

Six pilots picked up the first three aircraft straight from Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., in September and then flew them to a maintenance facility in San Angelo, Texas, for a few modifications. The modifications took a month to install. They were then picked up and flown to Whiteman, arriving Wednesday evening, Oct. 19.

"It was a great feeling and satisfaction seeing all the hard labor going into acquiring the new aircraft, getting ground support personnel trained and pilots qualified," said Lt. Col. Thomas Burson, AASF #1 facility commander.

The main difference between the A model aircraft, which the unit has been fielded with since 2002, and the new D model aircraft is the inside of the aircraft is digital instead of analog.

"The flying is the same, it's everything else that has changed," said Carey. "From how you start it to how you process data and information to how you employ the weapon systems."

The digital model gives the crew and command better situational awareness and battlefield management. It also allows the crew to acquire and process targets and data quicker and more accurately.

In anticipation of the Longbows arriving at Whiteman, the last pilot to be qualified to fly the new model is currently in school. When he completes his training, there will be 71 AH-64D pilots that can fly the helicopters out of Whiteman.

The three new helicopters is just the beginning of the transformation from the analog to digital model aircraft. By April 2012, the battalion will be fielded with 24 Longbows.

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