Apache Crash in Afghanistan - "Return to target" maneuver

[redback911]

Woah...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FguAOoUg3ZY

"AH-64 Apache helicopter crash in Sharana, Afghanistan. The pilot was executing a maneuver known as "return to target". No one on the ground was killed and both pilots survived, possible criminal charges were laid."

Not sure if the above statement is entirely true. I guess more info will come out soon.

[bravonovember]

Bloody Yanks

[paddyhasneeds]

fk me that's got to be quite a ride!!

[Puggit]

Trying to land a helicopter like a 'plane, what was he thinking?!

[Hugo a Gogo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRJYu9clZF0

that's how it should be done

[davepoth]

Hugo a Gogo said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRJYu9clZF0

that's how it should be done

Looks much less extreme than the Apache one - less steep, slower. And also not over an Army base which he had previously told he was going to put on a show for. Apache pilot is in a lot of trouble methinks.

[andy_s]

Extreme sledging.

[jmorgan]

Jeepers, says something for the aircraft if they survived. Wonder if the g suits squeeze it out your collar?

[fatboy69]

fk me! How did they survive that impact?

[Zaxxon]

That' one glittering career in tatters.

[tank slapper]

Otherwise known as the "Watch this" manoeuvre.

I think they owe their survival to how strongly built the Apache is - it remained remarkably intact after turning over.

[Odie]

Puggit said:

Trying to land a helicopter like a 'plane, what was he thinking?!

the return to target maneuver isnt trying to land, its like doing a J turn in a car

[tank slapper]

davepoth said:

Looks much less extreme than the Apache one - less steep, slower. And also not over an Army base which he had previously told he was going to put on a show for. Apache pilot is in a lot of trouble methinks.

I once saw the London air ambulance (when they had the Dauphin) do something similar at an air show. It was basing there for the day and was returning from a call, and came across the airfield at high speed and pulled up like that before landing all in one manoeuvre. It was as spectacular as it was unexpected.

[Zaxxon]

tank slapper said:

Otherwise known as the "Watch this" manoeuvre.

I think they owe their survival to how strongly built the Apache is - it remained remarkably intact after turning over.

Sod the idiots in the Apache, thank fk the guys on the ground are ok.

[Madness60]

Its just a wingover but he cocked up the recovery!

[jains15]

..... Gonna come,and save the motherfking day YEAH!!!

[anonymous-user]

I think i'm right in saying most military 'copters now have vertical G limiters built into the seats for just such an eventuality? (i.e. a shear pin system that allows the seat to "submarine" in a controlled fashion and hence limit the max G the pilot receives in the crucial vertical plane ?)

[Butter Face]

Ouch. He's going to be in a whole world of st for that...

[GarryA]

That’s a negative Ghost rider, the pattern is full.

[rhinochopig]

GarryA said:

That’s a negative Ghost rider, the trousers are full.

EFA.

Funnily enough I was nearly blown over by a longbow this afternoon whilst out with the dogs. The crew were practising slow (~50kts) very very low level flying along the valley where I walk my dogs.

It was bloody awesome to watch despite being engulfed in leafs twigs and down-wash.

Edited by rhinochopig on Wednesday 21st March 21:21