Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA, KIWA, IWA) "Willie"

[Matt Ottosen]

Two of the 14 that arrived today.

Boeing AH-64D Apache

[cpasley]

Awesome one Matt!

[Matt Ottosen]

Awesome one Matt!

Thanks Chris!

[Chris V]

Nice!!

[Matt Ottosen]

Nice!!

Thank you!

[cpasley]

AV-8B Harrier II VMA-211 BuNo 163879 by Chris Pasley, on Flickr

[Bjorn van der Flier]

165429 by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing AH-64D Apache

[Matt Ottosen]

Don't the D models have the radar dome above the main rotor?

The Block II Apache is the D model, with the mast it is a Longbow.

[Joe Copalman]

All Ds have the capability to mount the Longbow radar, but there are more AH-64Ds without it mounted than there are with it.  Several Apaches can access the radar from a single Longbow system via a datalink and receive independent targeting data from it, so there's no need for all of them to have the radar mounted.  Pretty cool system.  And a well-framed shot.  Doesn't get much better than a tightly-cropped front-quarter shot on these birds.  Really emphasizes how beefy they are.

[cpasley]

Boeing AH-64D Apache by Chris Pasley, on Flickr

[Matt Ottosen]

All Ds have the capability to mount the Longbow radar, but there are more AH-64Ds without it mounted than there are with it.  Several Apaches can access the radar from a single Longbow system via a datalink and receive independent targeting data from it, so there's no need for all of them to have the radar mounted.  Pretty cool system.  And a well-framed shot.  Doesn't get much better than a tightly-cropped front-quarter shot on these birds.  Really emphasizes how beefy they are.

Thanks Joe!

[Bjorn van der Flier]

I think the backseater is surprisedby how many photographers were there..


160937 T-34C by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr

[Bjorn van der Flier]

Some other shots I was able to edit..


165427 by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr


164545/WE-23, AV-8B, VMA-214 by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr


163113 VFA-204 by Bjorn vd Flier, on Flickr

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing AH-64D Apache
1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment (1-227 AVN) "First Attack"