Apache Knows When To Fold 'Em | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Fri, Jun 20, 2003

Apache Knows When To Fold 'Em

Boeing Rapidly Deploys Blade Fold System for US Army Apaches

Called “the toughest combat aircraft in the world” the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopter has a newly designed main rotor blade fold system which adds flexibility to the U.S. Army’s deployment planning for force insertion. In April the U.S. Army demonstrated that Apaches could be deployed from Fort Hood, Texas, to the Middle East is as little as 66 hours –the time from notification to operation in the field.

In November 2002, the Army asked Boeing to develop a system that would substantially reduce the time it takes to reassemble and have Apaches ready to fly after they roll off a transport. The blade fold system, produced by Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., speeds deployment of the Apaches shipped by cargo aircraft.

The new blade fold system allows the main rotor blades to be folded along the aircraft’s length without being removed. The solution also provides for storage of the Apache Longbow’s radar dome on the aircraft aft of the rotor hub for transport. The first 24 units were designed, developed and delivered in March, four months after the initial request and ahead of schedule.

“It took just 120 days to bring this program from idea to delivery,” said John Pennypacker, Boeing Blade Fold Project lead. “A total of 48 units were delivered by mid April with the last six units delivered one month early. It is a truly amazing accomplishment.”

The blade fold system also saves space. A single C-5 aircraft can carry six Apaches, their flight crews, reassembly technicians and their tools. In the past, a second aircraft was needed to haul in special reassembly equipment, and additional personnel. The blades had to be removed and stored along with the radar apart from the aircraft, taking up space in the cargo airplane and requiring more time to reassemble at the Apaches’ destination.

“Not only is the need for a test flight eliminated,” continued Pennypacker, “but much of the equipment normally needed to lift the blades and radar into place is also eliminated, saving even more space.” This concept was recently verified at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, A Boeing team trained and assisted an Army unit in preparing six Apaches, loading & unloading then onto a C-5 transport aircraft, and reassembly and flyaway of the helicopters.

FMI: http://www.boeing.com/ids

Advertisement

More News

KidVenture Educational Activities Lineup At EAA AirVenture 2025

Youth Explore With Hands-On Builds, RC Airplanes, Flight Sims, Much More KidVenture is located just north of the EAA Aviation Museum, at Pioneer Airport, and has arranged a myriad >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.07.25)

“About nine decades ago, Amelia Earhart was recruited to Purdue, and the university president later worked with her to prepare an aircraft for her historic flight around the >[...]

Airborne 07.07.25: Sully v Bedford, RAF Vandalism, Discovery Moving?

Also: New Amelia Search, B737 Flap Falls Off, SUN ‘n FUN Unveiling, F-16 Record Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hu>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.08.25)

"It is critically important for North American flight safety that Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations are avoided. All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.08.25: Joby in Dubai, Army Electra, Archer iin Abu Dhabi

Also: Hackers v Aviation, Discovery Moving?, Gogo Galileo HDX, EVE to Costa Rica Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne tri>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC