Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

AH-64E

Please post movements and activities to do with AAC Wattisham here
User avatar
tommc
Posts: 980
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:11 pm
Location: Suffolk, UK
Contact:

AH-64E

Post by tommc » Wed Sep 01, 2021 12:46 pm

AH-64E ZM711 is outside on the pan for anyone who still needs it.

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: AH-64E

Post by Snoop 95 » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:30 pm

Are they still grounded? I remember reading somewhere that they were originally forecast to fly from Wattisham in July this year.

User avatar
tommc
Posts: 980
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:11 pm
Location: Suffolk, UK
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by tommc » Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:59 pm

Snoop 95 wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:30 pm
Are they still grounded? I remember reading somewhere that they were originally forecast to fly from Wattisham in July this year.
They are not grounded, it is just they have not yet been cleared to fly in the UK.

User avatar
Nighthawke
Posts: 5300
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:04 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by Nighthawke » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:14 pm

"Grounded - prevented from flying" - in this case due to lack of clearance. OK I accept that the word is often used when flying is stopped for a reason.

Vulture 01
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:20 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by Vulture 01 » Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:20 pm

Why aren't they flying yet? Seems very strange to spend all that money upgrading an aircraft and then letting it sit on the ground.

User avatar
tommc
Posts: 980
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:11 pm
Location: Suffolk, UK
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by tommc » Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:34 pm

Vulture 01 wrote:
Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:20 pm
Why aren't they flying yet? Seems very strange to spend all that money upgrading an aircraft and then letting it sit on the ground.
They are not upgraded. They are BRAND NEW AIRFRAMES.

They are just awaiting clearance to fly in the UK.

Agent K
Posts: 1264
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 7:50 am
Location: Nearby RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire

Re: AH-64E

Post by Agent K » Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:02 am

Vulture 01 wrote:
Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:20 pm
Why aren't they flying yet? Seems very strange to spend all that money upgrading an aircraft and then letting it sit on the ground.
I'm sure Boeing, the military certification authorities, the Army etc. know what they are doing and have a clear plan to achieve that certification and release to service. Not seeing any flying doesn't mean nothing is happening with the programme. I've introduced new types to a fleet and they sit on the ground for a while whilst crews and engineering and ground ops and logistics train on them and work towards their introduction to service.

Warren
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:20 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by Warren » Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:37 am

I was working on base a few months ago and asked the question, the reply was exactly the above. Learn to take apart put back together again, train on the systems etc. So when flying everybody knows what they are doing and how to fix it if goes wrong.

Northsky
Posts: 572
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:35 am

Re: AH-64E

Post by Northsky » Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:37 pm

I understand that a training unit will be set up at Middle Wallop.

STN RAMP RAT
Moderator
Posts: 2437
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:12 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by STN RAMP RAT » Thu Oct 21, 2021 5:35 pm

ZM712 and ZM703 were offloaded from a USAF C17 at MIldenhall today after its diversion in from Brize Yesterday. I suppose they will be driven to Wattisham soon.

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: AH-64E

Post by Snoop 95 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:26 am

So the new Apaches are all being taken to Wattisham by road and there being re-assembled ready for testing. Correct? It seems from earlier posts that things are well behind schedule (originally said to be flying in July ) and also that the Training Unit would be at Middle Wallop. So how will they get from Suffolk to Hampshire? All of which presumably means that operational flying at Wattisham will not happen for many months yet.

User avatar
TeeJay
Posts: 3329
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:43 pm
Location: Mid Suffolk
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by TeeJay » Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:51 am

Snoop 95 wrote:
Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:26 am
So the new Apaches are all being taken to Wattisham by road and there being re-assembled ready for testing. Correct? It seems from earlier posts that things are well behind schedule (originally said to be flying in July ) and also that the Training Unit would be at Middle Wallop. So how will they get from Suffolk to Hampshire? All of which presumably means that operational flying at Wattisham will not happen for many months yet.
I’d like to think by the time ‘training’ commences at MW they will be flying by then.

User avatar
gary1701
Posts: 788
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Stowmarket, Suffolk
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by gary1701 » Sun Nov 07, 2021 3:59 pm

Gents,

There was a official station event for the introduction of the type into service at Wattisham late last week. It was for station personnel and contractors only so I only know about it second hand. I'm told that it now means it will be cleared to fly in the next week or so, although with so many dates having come and gone I'll believe it when I see it. As for Middle Wallop and Wattisham it looks like they're doing it a little backward and flying will commence at Wattisham prior to the stand up of any permanent training operation at Middle Wallop, assuming that happens as planned. Sounds strange but you only have to look at the introduction of the F-35 to see that a operational sqn can be formed before the formal training unit if enough personnel are already trained.

Gary
My photo website

My name's Wild Bill Kelso, and don't you forget it! - John Belushi, 1941.

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: AH-64E

Post by Snoop 95 » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:08 pm

Thanks for the clarification Gary.

Goldstar31
Posts: 842
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:06 pm
Location: Mid point of Brize runway
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by Goldstar31 » Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:25 am

2 more Apaches were delivered overnight into Brize aboard USAF C17 03-3120. Serials are ZM713 and ZM714. Expect them to be delivered to Wattisham next week.

Cheers

Eccie
3 miles south of MAM-GITUS-MAM
20 miles south of MAM-DIKAS-MAM
1 mile north of UL9/14/18

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: AH-64E

Post by Snoop 95 » Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:07 pm

Goldstar31 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:25 am
2 more Apaches were delivered overnight into Brize aboard USAF C17 03-3120. Serials are ZM713 and ZM714. Expect them to be delivered to Wattisham next week.

Cheers

Eccie
I wonder why they went to Brize. Given it was a USAF C17 I would have expected them to go to Mildenhall as the previous two did and then by road to Wattisham, eventually. Maybe these new arrivals will go to Middle Wallop to found the training unit.

User avatar
tommc
Posts: 980
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:11 pm
Location: Suffolk, UK
Contact:

Re: AH-64E

Post by tommc » Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:16 pm

Snoop 95 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:07 pm

I wonder why they went to Brize. Given it was a USAF C17 I would have expected them to go to Mildenhall as the previous two did and then by road to Wattisham, eventually. Maybe these new arrivals will go to Middle Wallop to found the training unit.
Apart from the previous delivery you mentioned, every other AH-64E delivery has gone through Brize (including USAF C-17 transports).

Alf
Posts: 1001
Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:08 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by Alf » Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:18 pm

Snoop 95 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:07 pm
Goldstar31 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:25 am
2 more Apaches were delivered overnight into Brize aboard USAF C17 03-3120. Serials are ZM713 and ZM714. Expect them to be delivered to Wattisham next week.

Cheers

Eccie
I wonder why they went to Brize. Given it was a USAF C17 I would have expected them to go to Mildenhall as the previous two did and then by road to Wattisham, eventually. Maybe these new arrivals will go to Middle Wallop to found the training unit.
More like I wonder why they went to Mildenhall last time, as they have used Brize for all other deliveries.

Longbow25
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:02 am

Re: AH-64E

Post by Longbow25 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:15 pm

I saw two Apaches on low loaders heading south on the M40 at Stokenchurch on Wednesday afternoon. Probably the new arrivals.

STN RAMP RAT
Moderator
Posts: 2437
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:12 pm

Re: AH-64E

Post by STN RAMP RAT » Fri Nov 26, 2021 12:04 am

Alf wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:18 pm
Snoop 95 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 12:07 pm
Goldstar31 wrote:
Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:25 am
2 more Apaches were delivered overnight into Brize aboard USAF C17 03-3120. Serials are ZM713 and ZM714. Expect them to be delivered to Wattisham next week.

Cheers

Eccie
I wonder why they went to Brize. Given it was a USAF C17 I would have expected them to go to Mildenhall as the previous two did and then by road to Wattisham, eventually. Maybe these new arrivals will go to Middle Wallop to found the training unit.
More like I wonder why they went to Mildenhall last time, as they have used Brize for all other deliveries.
A weather diversion if I recall

Post Reply

Return to “AAC Wattisham”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests