UK Apache question

[Agaricus bisporus]

I live close to a low level helicopter route - presumably a navex route and regularly see all sorts of helos on - (or near) it. It always seems that the Apaches are travelling a great deal slower than the others - something I have noticed whenever I've seen them, even at medium level.

Are they operated at slower speeds than other types - if so why?

[Thelma Viaduct]

Army pilots can't think as fast as RAF pilots, so they have to fly a bit slower. :rolleyes:

[vortexadminman]

No Army pilots think better than crab ones ....... slower = more time in log book!!!!

[owe ver chute]

At various times the pilots will fly by day, but using the night system, the pilots call it "the bag". It is V hard to master, and given they are in training, they'll be working their socks off. Might just be what you're watching.:ok:

[Agaricus bisporus]

Har har.

This isn't a Pongo bashing post, it is a real question as written. Whenever I see the mighty Apache on patrol he seems to be going so so slow. I'm a long time helo pilot, I can see when speed is there or not, and these fellas seem to be tooling around at 80Kts or so. Am I wrong? maybe its a tactical tank-splatting thing - I dunno - Just asking from curiosity.

[HEDP]

Might be that if they are on a tactical exercise that they are flying at min fuel consumption speed so they can spend as much time as possible doing what they do best!

[Occasional Aviator]

The Apache is a slow helicopter. I think they can do a bit better than the 80kn you suggest, but as for keeping up with anything newer than a Sea King, particularly when they're "tooled up", you can forget it. A very capable weapon system in many ways, but as an old friend told me once, you can think of it as a Wessex on steroids!

[RAFEmployee]

There slow, chinooks will out run them so for sure slower than 160 knts

[Occasional Aviator]

how would you know? At 160kn in a Chinook, your eyeballs would be shaken into such a state that you'd never see whether the AH was with you or not. Plus, no-one really knows whether they can actually go that fast, as the instrument panel is vibrating so much.

[wokawoka]

I could the instrument panel fine on Friday. So I can vouch for the Vne of 160 Kts on the mighty woka.

[+SHRA]

Well there is a surprise, an interesting and serious question, which results in some pertinent answers. Only to be hijacked by some Chinook chopper trying to provoke a 'my d*cks bigger than yours' contest.
I especially like the bit where you let everybody know that you fly in 'the mighty wokka' and therefore must be mighty as well. (Well apart from the written word!)

I saw a truck on the motorway the other day doing at least 80mph so that must be better than the tank I saw on the range doing 60mph. Another useful comparison :ugh:

[wokawoka]

No mate I was only replying to a post saying the woka would never reach 160 kts. I could have commented on the speed of the Apache and the tectical implictations it presents in theatre and possibly given some information which I certainly do not want my enemy to know about. :ugh: So I chose to answer another query in the thread instead.
Tell me what your post bought to the discussion apart from making you sound like a right tw*t?

And to come back on the post, we thought speed may be an issue at the start in 2006 but we quickly realised: **** the speed, it's has got big guns.
I would not operate without them, whatever speed they do. Plus all the AAC guys are top blokes and provide friendly RAF/AAC banter.

[Caspian237]

What sort additions are on the Westland Apache to qualify them as 'navalized' over the US army helicopters?

[BluntM8]

Sails. Gin and Tonic. Frequent cocktail parties. An anchor to replace a parking brake....

[Occasional Aviator]

mere banter, me old chum. I did not say, or mean to imply, that the Chinook can't make 160kn. I am merely hinting that there may be more comfortable, newer helicopters in which to travel at such speeds. And yes, I have flown in both, so I can vouch for this too.