Some peacetime flying with the WAH 64D, the version of the "Longbow-Apache" build by Westland in UK. This flight in the early morning is from RAF Valley (Wales) to RAF Shawbury, the famous Helicopter Flying School.
It is one of these days you wake up and have a look in to the darkness. Only somewhere out ther you can see a smal dot of the new day...
Your rotorcraft is a WAH 64D and is waiting in the flightline in RAF Valley. In the background you can see some BAe "Hawk" T. Mk. 1/2 from the the Squadrons 4 and 208, the No. 4 Flying Training School based there. Further wie have the SARDU here, Valley is also home to C Flight of 22 Sqn with Sea King helicopters. These are busy in the Search and Rescue role, rescuing people from ships in the Irish Sea, from the mountains of nearby Snowdonia and elsewhere. The mountain rescue work in Snowdonia is coordinated with the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association. The base is also home to SARTU Search and Rescue Training Unit), part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, using AW139 and Griffin helicopters, and newly home to the relocated headquarters elements of both 22 and 202 Squadrons.
(wikipedia)
O.k., it´s showtime. We are underway.
Flying at home in peacetime, with all the lights on...
It is no longer sommer... the wheater-conditions are not the best. Rain and fog are around you and you have to be on alert.
peacetime-flying... As you can see at the IHADS we are in 395 ft, in war times you fly with this seldom over 150 ft.
Hidden behind some trees you are not so visible... but the loud engines relativate this.
Fog!
In peacetime it is easy... stay above the fog. But in wartime you have maby not the chance to do this. Under fire it is not an option. You must fly on... and the risk to fly into something or lost orientation is evident.
We are lucky, left the fog behind us and flying into the valley.
In the valley and covered...
The last two shoots are not bad, are they? No. they are not realistic. Why? In this helicopter you have not a "classic HUD" ... no, you have a helmet mounted display, In reality you have always the "HUD"-style informations in sight in front of you. But, this feature you may not have in FSX...
The daylight sun in front of you... this makes flying easier. But in wartime it is different story.
Fog! And no time to stay above.
Out of the dark.. and nearly got some trees...
Nowit is safe flying. We can see...
Not to fast and good idea to avoid it, to fly over villages...
We reach RAF Shawbury.
Flying in to the special approach for helicopters.
Okay, got the position, a "Squirrel" is next to us.
The job is done.
This flight was a little bit different as so many flights. Flying helicopters in bad weather is sometimes a bit tricky. But the used WAH 64D made by Area 51 is more for "fun flying". If You want flying a Helo under real harsh conditions in a simulation look at this:
http://www.simhq.com/_air14/air_504a.htmlMenwhile the Russians gave up the single-seater. It was to hard to fly and to fight without assistence. The more conventional Mi 28N is now the main new helicopter of the russian Army´. The Navy has the Kamov Ka 52 Aligator in use, a stretched "Black shark" for two. The problem with this helicopter is now known froim Chechnya. The rebbels avoid to meet them, because he has another sound as all the other helicopters in russian inventory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtGb57qaKD4...player_embedded
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:38 pm
Andreas, you took the thread one step ahead.
