Longbow Apache's just flown over

Azagoth · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:09

How cool, two AH-64D Longbow Apaches have just flown over at no more than 250ft. Bloody awesome sounding things, nearly shook the windows out of the house and I had to turn the car alarm off.

Never seen them that close up before as at the airshows they're "at a safe distance"!

Anyone to the South of Stoke, keep your ears and eyes open as they were on a heading of 180.

ScarySquirrel · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:10

FOr some reason reminds me of Alan Partridge.

rogue66700 · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:11

Im sure I heard a simmilar thing go over my house before the windows where shaking here too. But by the time I look it had gone over.

lokkers · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:17

I've had a Longbow and a B1-B fly over my house in Hampshire in the last year, and what I think was a P-47 Thunderbolt doing aerobatics in the distance.

The B1-B was awesome

Mint_Sauce · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:18

I'd LOVE to see some Apaches over my house. We do get low flying aircraft and helicopters (for training I think) but they're usually troop choppers.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:22

Doubt it was a Longbow, very much. Maybe a Westland WAH-64 Apache

Azagoth · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:23

We normally get the Air Ambulance at least twice a day as we're right under the flightpath to the hospital's landing pad. Every know and then we get some military hardware flying over but it's a pretty rare occurrence.

Visage · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:24

Hmm... Apache's leaving Stoke?

I hope LeChuck's insurance is up to date

Azagoth · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:25

jdickerson said:
Doubt it was a Longbow, very much. Maybe a Westland WAH-64 Apache

Couldn't make out the markings, so they may have been Longbows.

Although you're probably correct with the pedantry.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:27

Azagoth said:
Couldn't make out the markings, so they may have been Longbows.

Not in the UK

Westland bought "kits" off Boeing to make the Apache and seriously improved it (for our use).

Zefan · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:28

They certainly are awesome machines.

Azagoth · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:30

jdickerson said:
Not in the UK

Westland bought "kits" off Boeing to make the Apache and seriously improved it (for our use).

Ah, always thought the Yanks might have had a few of theirs over here. Oh well, you lives and learns as they say.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:32

Azagoth said:
Ah, always thought the Yanks might have had a few of theirs over here. Oh well, you lives and learns as they say.

Yeah, they could well have. Could EVEN be a private one.

However, if it was the Westland one, congrats... there are only 60! So chances of spotting one is low. I'm jealous

Azagoth · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:33

There were two, in line astern formation.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:36

Azagoth said:
There were two, in line astern formation.

Wow. Even more jealous now!

Are there any army air corps bases near by?

^^Gord^^ · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:36

jdickerson said:
Doubt it was a Longbow, very much. Maybe a Westland WAH-64 Apache

Ooooo, splitting hairs! So lets call it by it's proper name......

AgustaWestland WAH-64 Apache AH Mk1

Gaygle · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:37

jdickerson said:
Could EVEN be a private one.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:38

^^Gord^^ said:
Ooooo, splitting hairs! So lets call it by it's proper name......

AgustaWestland WAH-64 Apache AH Mk1

It isn't splitting hairs, they are quite different beasts.

The jury is out on which is "better", though.

^^Gord^^ · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:38

jdickerson said:
Wow. Even more jealous now!

Are there any army air corps bases near by?

They are all based in Wattisham now but they do (and have been this week) use the Mountain Training Area in Wales; operating out of RAF Valley. I expect they are coming back from there, which means there is likely to be another 4 along soon.

meghatronic · 5 Dec 2007 at 14:40

^^Gord^^ said:
They are all based in Wattisham now but they do (and have been this week) use the Mountain Training Area in Wales; operating out of RAF Valley. I expect they are coming back from there, which means there is likely to be another 4 along soon.

TTIUWP!