High Gallery
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Military Aircraft AH-64 APACHE Photo By Salamander |
| After canceling the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, the US Army badly needed a new Attack Helicopter offering a high level of survivability during all weather day or night operation against Soviet armor on the high intensity battlefield. Late in 1972 competition began between Bell and Hughes for an Advanced Attack Helicopter, and in December 1976 the Hughes (now McDonnell Douglas Helicopter) type was declared winner. The AH-64 is a very complex aircraft, it must not only survive defensive ground fire though the use of a sturdy structure and the protection of key features inside an armor "bath" but also maintain full capability with its trainable under fuselage cannon (to suppers ground fire) and 16 Rockwell AGM-114 hellfire laser homing anti tank missiles. The key to the AH-64s capabilities are the Martin Marietta Target Acquisition and Designation System (for optical and thermal acquisition of targets that are then laser ranged and laser designated) and Pilot Night Vision System (for all weather nap of the earth flight). |
| Description | Specifications |
|
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas |
Height: 15 ft. 3.5 in. |
| First Flight: | Empty Weight: 10,268 lb. |
| Model: A | Max. Weight: 17,650 lb. |
| Crew: Two. | Armament: One 30-mm cannon and up to 3,880 lb. of disposable stores. |
| Nickname: Apache |
Dimensions |
| Basic Role: Battlefield attack and anti tank helicopter. | Main Rotor Diameter: 48 ft 0 in. |
| Other Versions: AH-64A sole production model. |
Length Overall Rotor Turning: 58 ft. 3 in. |
| Principal User: USA. | Main Rotor Disk Area: 1,809.5 sq. ft. |
|
Performance |
Propulsion |
| Range: 380 miles. | Power Plant: General electronic T700-GE-700 turboshift. |
| Max. Speed: 192 mph at optimum altitude. | Horsepower: 1,536-shp. |
| Ceiling: 20,500 ft. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Climb Rate: 2,880 ft. per minute. |