AAC AH-64E Arrives in the UK

[WE992]

ZM704 and ZM705 looking rather smart were seen leaving Brize Norton by road today. One assumes that they must have arrived by C-17 in the last few days.

[NIREP reader]

To Boscombe or Wattisham?

[nohold]

To Wattisham.

[SLXOwft]

I assume the first four AH2s ZM700-703 are still at Fort Rucker?

In 2018 the plan was to have 10 AH2/Es by the end of 2020 with the AH1/Ds reduced to 35 and 22 v 21 by the end of 2021. Would be interesting to know if this is likely to get back on track - last I heard the schedule had slipped by 6 months which would explain first deliveries in late November.

Also when are the three crew trainers are scheduled for delivery? (if they haven't already been). I assume to ATIL?

The 2020 total accounts for all/most of the stored airframes which were RTP for components for the remanufactured element of the new airframes - I think I read 70% somewhere. The AAC goes environmental - reduce, reuse, recylcic, (Hat, coat etc...)

[HEDP]

At least one Longbow Crew Trainer has been delivered. ATIL no longer exists, BDUK now provide the training.

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by HEDP

At least one Longbow Crew Trainer has been delivered. ATIL no longer exists, BDUK now provide the training.

Thanks, Boeing should update their website as they still refer to ATIL as their wholly owned subsidiary providing the Attack Helicopter Training Service. I assume having bought out Leonardo the name is superfluous.

[chopper2004]

Here’s the official press release and pics

https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-eve...he-helicopter/

[ORAC]

Keep taking the pills.....

Twitter

[Not_a_boffin]

Seems a bit of a faff to deliver to Brize and then road transport to Wattisham. Anyone any idea why they weren't flown directly into Wattisham?

[Chris Kebab]

Originally Posted by Not_a_boffin

Seems a bit of a faff to deliver to Brize and then road transport to Wattisham. Anyone any idea why they weren't flown directly into Wattisham?

Red Book entry states: No take-off, landing or touch-and-go by fast jet or heavylift (eg C17, AN24 etc).

Would appear the r/w is past its best.

[Not_a_boffin]

Fair enough, VMT.

[[email protected]]

Would appear the r/w is past its best.

It hasn't been properly looked after for many years and ISTR the taxiway clearances aren't wide enough for heavylift now.

[dead_pan]

Did we get a discount because they were only part-assembled?

[[email protected]]

We didn't get a discount when the first D-model ones were flown in to Middle Wallop from Yeovil and the MFDs removed from them, put in a car and driven back to Yeovil for a repeat trip. They were classed as delivered, contract met, money paid.

[SLXOwft]

Originally Posted by Not_a_boffin

Seems a bit of a faff to deliver to Brize and then road transport to Wattisham. Anyone any idea why they weren't flown directly into Wattisham?

Same thought occured to me but suspected it was as runway was now unsuitable. I then wondered why not via Mildenhall and A11 + A14 or would that be too complicated?

*Thread Drift Alert*

This reminded me of being held up trying to get out of Cemetery Hill in Odiham on the way to work in 2018. Only to find something larger was also avoiding the road works. Again wondering - as I believe it was on it's way to Mali - why a C-17 hadn't come to take it. I know a C-17 brought one to Odiham in April this year (see below).


Source @GHRBerksHants via RAF Odiham Twitter



Source RAF Odiham Twitter