It was an incredible experience. Moon and 25 other Apache pilots flew home to Hunter Army Airfield Tuesday after learning to fight in an even more-lethal helicopter. The 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment from Hunter spent the past eight months at Fort Hood, Texas, as it upgraded its Apache helicopter fleet to the AH-64D Longbow. The AH-64 is the Army's primary attack helicopter. The AH-64D Longbow flies with a digital computer system and modem that communicates between helicopters.
Pilots use night vision goggles for night combat.
Because the system is new, the battalion shot more live Hellfire rounds in training than most pilots do in a career unless they've seen combat. Thirteen of the battalion's 24 helicopters flew home Tuesday afternoon. Three others started the trip but stopped in Louisiana for mechanical problems. The entire 368-soldier battalion, including pilots, mechanics and truck drivers, moved to Fort Hood to learn the new helicopter system, Jones said. They spent hours in classrooms learning about new digital computers in the cockpit and how to operate the fire-control radar system.