you cant just buy a Apache gun ship as a police force bung 2 pilots in it and fly it around fully armed.
you need 100hrs of hours in a sim b4 they will even let you near it let alone armed pmsl.
it is one of the hardest helicopters to fly.
Great video as nobody was apparently harmed.
When I was in the RN (1963 to 1973), the choppers we were using then had a "computer" (as we called it) to smooth out the flying.
I did not know this at the time".......important!
We used to get trips on aircraft, if we wanted to, and if there was enough time and interest from the pilots, who were usually very kind hearted.
I was sitting up front, just to get a good view, and we were probably at 1000 feet or maybe more, and the pilot asked if "I wanted to have a go!" Of course at 24 this was a dream come true, so I said yes.
He asked me to hold the stick gently, and he would make some maneuvers, and I could feel how the stick moved and what the effects were.
So we tried it out and I(in my mind!) began to get a feel for the aircraft.
Then he asked if I was ready, I sad yes, and he took his hands off the stick, and I was flying it!
I made some turns to port and starboard, which all (seemingly) went well, and my confidence was building, "I'M GOING TO FLYING SCHOOL!" I imagined......
Maybe after 5 or 10 minutes, the pilot asked me if I knew about the computer, "What computer?" I said.
Well its there to make controlling the aircraft, especially on long flights, less hard on the pilot, as it smooths out the flying.
I said "switch it on, sounds good!"
It is on he said! Would you like to try it with it off?
I said "OK, lets try it!"
As soon as it was off, the whole aircraft started shaking and pulsing, it was terrifying!
I asked him "What the f*ck is that?"
He answered. that is your heartbeat, transmitted through the stick, and the aircraft is doing what it is being told to do!!
All I could say was "Switch it back on please!" Which he did, and all was great again.
I asked why would anyone want to fly with it off, and he said, when precision flying is needed, picking up a swimmer or flying with a heavy load, the computer "interferes too much!"
He himself could not land on a ship safely with the computer switched on.....
Guessing only, the guy on the video maybe either had no computer or it wasn't switched on, but I am guessing only.
Flying a helicopter is really hard, or at least it was in the 60's - 70's.....today maybe easier, again guessing only!
Many thanks for reminding just how difficult they can be to fly. Great video.
Andy
