Original subtitles

QUIET...

DURABLE...

AND DEADLY.

Man: IT'S JUST THE BEST ATTACK HELICOPTER IN THE WORLD,

BAR NONE.

Narrator: FROM ITS CONTROVERSIAL BEGINNINGS...

Reporter: CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS ARE RECOMMENDING

THAT THE ARMY SCRAP ITS PLANS TO BUY 132 HELICOPTERS.

Narrator: TO ITS BAPTISM OF HELLFIRE.

Man: THE HELLFIRE IS THE APACHE'S ULTIMATE ACCESSORY.

Narrator: THIS IS THE INSIDE STORY

OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER ATTACK HELICOPTER...

HOW THE APACHE HAD TO BATTLE TO SURVIVE.

Man: THE ARMY REALLY WANTED THIS AIRCRAFT,

AND THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Narrator: OVERCOME COSTLY MISTAKES...

[EXPLOSION]

AND PROVE ITSELF IN COMBAT.

2007.

BAGHDAD.

IT'S FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN.

IRAQ'S STABILITY CONTINUES TO UNRAVEL.

INSURGENTS WAGE A GUERRILLA-STYLE WAR

IN THE CITY'S LARGEST GHETTO:

SADR CITY.

ORDINARY NEIGHBORHOODS TURN INTO BATTLE ZONES.

AMERICAN TROOPS AND IRAQI POLICEMEN

STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN THE VIOLENCE.

Man: COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ

AGGRESSIVELY SEEK OUT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

THAT OPPOSE OUR MISSION.

Narrator: PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI

WANTS THE IRAQIS TO HANDLE IT THEMSELVES.

BUT PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH SENDS 20,000 MORE TROOPS.

President Bush: OUR GOAL IS A DEMOCRATIC IRAQ

THAT UPHOLDS THE RULE OF LAW.

Narrator: SOME OF THE TROOPS HEAD FOR SADR CITY,

JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN BAGHDAD.

IT'S PACKED WITH 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE...

MANY OF THEM ANGRY.

Ryan Inbody: AT THAT POINT,

THE GOVERNMENT WAS, "HEY, THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH,"

AND ALL THE FOCUS OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY

BECAME THE SADR FIGHT.

Narrator: CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RYAN INBODY

HAS BEEN A PILOT FOR OVER TWELVE YEARS.

HE SERVED TWO TOURS IN IRAQ.

Inbody: THE ROCKETS WERE STARTING TO COME OUT OF SADR CITY

AND STARTING TO GO INTO THE GREEN ZONE.

THE LEGITIMACY OF THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WAS AT STAKE.

Narrator: NEARLY 80% OF BAGHDAD

IS ALREADY UNDER INSURGENT FORCES.

IF THE REST OF THE CITY FALLS,

IRAQ'S NEW GOVERNMENT COULD FALL WITH IT.

Inbody: BAGHDAD IS THE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR THAT WHOLE COUNTRY.

OBVIOUSLY, WHOEVER CONTROLS THE CAPITAL

CONTROLS THE COUNTRY.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

HAS THE MOST POWERFUL MUNITIONS ON EARTH

AT ITS DISPOSAL.

WHEN IT NEEDS TO LOCK DOWN AN ENTIRE CITY,

THERE'S ONE WEAPON IT TURNS TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN:

THE AMERICAN-MADE APACHE.

Josh Harris: WE'RE HERE TODAY

WITH THE AH-64 DELTA ATTACK HELICOPTER,

THE ARMY'S PREMIER ATTACK PLATFORM.

THE WEAPON SYSTEM THE AIRCRAFT IS MOST KNOWN FOR

IS THE 30-MILLIMETER CANNON, WHICH IS SLUNG UNDERNEATH.

IT'S A MACHINE GUN, ESSENTIALLY, SHOOTS CANNON ROUNDS...

UP TO ABOUT 650 ROUNDS PER MINUTE.

WHEN YOU SHOOT THAT GUN,

ALL THE DECK PLATES ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT

VIBRATE AND RATTLE.

IT MOVES ALL OF YOUR ORGANS INSIDE YOU.

IT VIBRATES YOUR HDU IN YOUR EYE,

IT VIBRATES YOUR RETINAS.

YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR TEETH. IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.

Narrator: IF THE GUN DOESN'T GET YOUR ATTENTION,

THE APACHE HAS OTHER OPTIONS.

Harris: YOU CAN SEE INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT,

ON THE OUTBOARD SIDE YOU HAVE A ROCKET-LAUNCHER TUBE,

YOU HAVE A HELLFIRE MISSILE LAUNCHER RACK.

ALL OF THESE CAN BE CONFIGURED AND TAILORED

SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MISSION THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S GOING ON.

Narrator: THE APACHE CAN DISH IT OUT,

AND IT CAN TAKE IT, TOO.

Harris: BOTH CREW STATIONS HAVE A BALLISTICALLY TOLERANT SEAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF KEVLAR AND SOME CERAMIC BUILT INTO IT,

AS WELL AS SOME KEVLAR PORTIONS

BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT HERE ITSELF.

THE FUEL TANKS OF THE AIRCRAFT THEMSELVES

ARE BALLISTICALLY TOLERANT.

THEY'LL SEAL UP TO ABOUT A .50-CALIBER IMPACT.

BUT THE REAL ADVANTAGE THAT THEY HAVE

IS THAT THEY'RE INERT WITH NITROGEN.

IT'S A SYSTEM THAT TAKES THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE FUEL TANK

SO THAT THE GAS ITSELF BECOMES A BIT OF A BALLISTIC BARRIER.

SO YOU'LL HAVE, AT THE END OF SOME MISSIONS,

YOU'LL HAVE BULLETS IN THE GAS TANK

THAT YOU NEED TO FISH OUT,

BUT THEY DON'T PENETRATE INTO THE CREW STATION.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE MORE LEVEL OF BALLISTIC PROTECTION

BUILT INTO THE AIRCRAFT.

THIS IS THE MOST SURVIVABLE, SAFEST AIRCRAFT

IN THE ARMY INVENTORY,

HANDS DOWN.

Narrator: FEBRUARY 28, 2007.

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RYAN INBODY AND HIS CO-PILOT

PREPARE THEIR APACHE FOR A FLIGHT OVER BAGHDAD.

Inbody: AT FIRST IT WAS JUST A REGULAR PATROL.

IT WAS PRETTY CALM.

I MEAN, IT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF BORING, TO BE HONEST,

JUST FLYING IN A CIRCLE LOOKING.

BUT THAT NIGHT, FOR WHATEVER REASON,

WAS JUST THE NIGHT IT TURNED ON.

Narrator: JUST A FEW MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT,

THE APACHES RECEIVE AN URGENT MESSAGE.

REBEL LEADER CLERIC MUQTADA AL-SADR

HAS LAUNCHED A BOLD OFFENSIVE.

HIS ARMY THREATENS TO BRING ITS GUERRILLA WAR

FROM THE STREETS OF THE GHETTO TO THE REST OF THE CITY.

Inbody: HE ACTIVATED ABOUT 10,000 INSURGENTS THAT EVENING.

THEY ROLLED OUT IN THE STREET.

THEY TOOK OVER JOINT SECURITY STATIONS,

SHOOTING RPGs AT EVERYBODY,

HEAVY MACHINE-GUNNING EVERYBODY THEY CAN.

Narrator: REBELS QUICKLY OVERWHELM TROOPS ON THE GROUND.

Inbody: IT WAS KIND OF LIKE AN OVERRUN SCENARIO

WHERE ALL THESE GUYS ARE NOW COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK

ARMED WITH MILITARY-GRADE WEAPONS.

SO, WE COULDN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHY THE POWERS AT BE SAID, "THIS IS THE FIGHT,"

AND WE MADE IT THE FIGHT.

Narrator: TO WIN AGAINST AL-SADR,

AMERICAN TROOPS AND IRAQI POLICE

MUST REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STREETS.

THAT'S WHERE THE APACHES COME IN.

Inbody: THE ROLE WAS VERY BROAD.

IT WAS JUST ELIMINATE THE ENEMY FIGHTERS IN THE AREA.

Narrator: AL-SADR'S FIGHTERS COUNT ON THE NIGHT

TO GIVE THEM COVER FOR THEIR BATTLE.

BUT NOTHING CAN HIDE FROM AN APACHE'S ROVING EYE.

Harris: AT NIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAS THE ADVANTAGE

OF BEING ABLE TO SEE IN THE ABSENCE OF AMBIENT LIGHT.

IN PITCH-BLACK, ZERO ILLUMINATION,

THIS AIRCRAFT IS FULLY CAPABLE OF NAVIGATING

AND ENGAGING TARGETS.

OTHER AIRCRAFT WOULD REQUIRE SOME MOONLIGHT OR SOME STARLIGHT

OR SOME MAN-MADE LIGHT,

LIKE CITIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO OPERATE.

THIS AIRCRAFT HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT NEEDING ANY OF THAT.

Narrator: A SPECIAL SENSOR IN THE NOSE

ALLOWS THE APACHE TO SEE AT NIGHT.

IT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS.

THE DAYSIDE SECTION SEES LIGHT JUST LIKE THE HUMAN EYE,

IN THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM.

THE OTHER PART OF THE SENSOR IS THE NIGHT SIDE.

IT ALLOWS THE APACHE TO SEE IN PITCH BLACK.

THE THERMAL-VISION NIGHT-VISION SENSOR

DETECTS INFRARED LIGHT EMITTING FROM AN OBJECT.

HOTTER OBJECTS, SUCH AS PEOPLE OR VEHICLES,

EMIT MORE OF THIS LIGHT

THAN COOLER OBJECTS, LIKE TREES OR BUILDINGS.

Harris: 95% OF THE TIME YOU'RE FLYING AT NIGHT,

AND YOU'RE DOING IT UNDER THERMAL VISION.

A GUY GETS IN THE AIRCRAFT, HE'S 26 YEARS OLD,

HE HAS 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,

YOU KNOW, INTERPRETING WHAT HIS HUMAN EYE CAN SEE,

BUT THE PILOT OF THIS AIRCRAFT

HAS TO GET USED TO SEEING IN THE THERMAL.

IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SPECTRUM OF LIGHT.

IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REPRESENTATION VISUALLY

OF WHAT YOU'RE USED TO SEEING.

Narrator: THE SENSORS PROJECT WHAT THEY SEE

ONTO A MONOCULAR LENS,

POSITIONED JUST AN INCH IN FRONT OF THE PILOT'S RIGHT EYE.

Preston Carrington: THIS IS THE MONOCLE THAT REALLY MAKES THE APACHE FAMOUS

FOR WHAT IT DOES.

IT ATTACHES TO THE HELMET, LIKE SO,

AND YOU JUST ROTATE IT OVER YOUR EYE

AND ADJUST THE LENS WHERE YOU NEED IT.

AT NIGHT,

THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR INFRARED SENSORS IS PIPED INTO.

SO WE GET A GREEN IMAGE, A GREEN GRAYSCALE IMAGE

OF THE INFRARED ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.

THERE'S NOT ANOTHER HELICOPTER OUT THERE THAT DOES THIS.

Narrator: FLYING OVER BAGHDAD,

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RYAN INBODY

RELIES ON THIS NIGHT-VISION SENSOR

TO LOOK FOR INSURGENT FIGHTERS.

IT ISN'T LONG BEFORE HE AND HIS CO-PILOT

ZERO IN ON A STRANGE GLOW.

Inbody: THIS IS AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING, SO THERE'S NOBODY AROUND,

AND WE FOUND FOUR, FIVE, SIX TIRES ON THE ROAD ALL BURNING,

BIG MICHELIN TIRES ON FIRE.

Narrator: THE APACHE HOVERS, LOOKING AROUND.

ITS PILOTS KNOW ENOUGH TO SMELL SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS.

Inbody: WHY IS THERE NOBODY HERE?

AND THEN WE LOOK DOWN THE ALLEYWAY.

SURE ENOUGH, SEVEN GUYS IN THE ALLEYWAY.

Narrator: ARE THEY FRIEND OR FOE?

THE CREW MUST BE SURE.

THE CONSEQUENCES ARE LIFE AND DEATH.

Inbody: WE WANTED TO VALIDATE WHO THEY WERE,

SO WE SWUNG BY AGAIN TO MAKE A REAL GOOD LOOK ON THE OBJECTS,

AND WE JUST COUNTED DOWN...

YOU KNOW, AK-47, AK-47, PKM, RPG, PKM, AK-47.

THAT'S CUT AND DRY.

THESE DUDES ARE OBVIOUSLY FIGHTERS, DEFINITELY MILITANTS.

Narrator: THERE IS NO DOUBT.

IT'S A DANGEROUS GROUP OF INSURGENTS

WIELDING LETHAL FIREPOWER

AND TARGETING AMERICAN TROOPS.

INBODY AND HIS GUNNER CIRCLE A GROUP OF INSURGENTS

HIDING NEAR A PILE OF BURNING TIRES.

IT'S A CLASSIC SET-UP FOR AN AMBUSH.

THE BURNING TIRES BLOCK TRAFFIC

WHILE THE IRAQI MILITANTS LAY IN WAIT.

Inbody: THESE GUYS WERE SETTING UP A CHECKPOINT

TO ENGAGE AMERICAN FORCES.

THEY'LL BE AROUND THE TIRES

'CAUSE THAT'S THE OBSTACLE IN THE ROAD

THAT BLOCKS THE VEHICLE,

AND THEN THEY'LL TAKE THE VEHICLE UNDER FIRE.

Narrator: IT COULD BE A SCENE

PLUCKED FROM THE PAGES OF AN INSURGENT HANDBOOK.

BUT INBODY WANTS TO REWRITE THE ENDING.

Inbody: SO WE MADE A LITTLE SWING OUT,

PUT THE MISSILE IN PLACE.

MISSILE'S OFF THE RAIL, LOOKS GOOD,

COMES DOWN...

[EXPLOSION]

BOOF! AND... NO MORE.

Narrator: OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS,

APACHE PILOTS LOG MORE THAN 3,000 HOURS IN THE AIR.

Inbody: WE WENT STREET BY STREET TAKING THEM OUT.

24 HOURS A DAY, THERE WERE 6 AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR,

AND WE WERE TOE TO TOE WITH THEM PRETTY SOLID

FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 WEEKS, 3 WEEKS.

AND WHEN I SAY TOE TO TOE, I MEAN AS KINETIC OF A FIGHT

AS I THINK ANYBODY'S EVER SEEN ON TV.

Narrator: THE APACHES' POWER BEATS BACK THE GUERRILLA FORCES,

ALLOWING IRAQI POLICE AND U.S. TROOPS

TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STREETS.

Inbody: AT THE END OF ABOUT THE 30 DAY, MUQTADA AL-SADR CALLED IT QUITS.

Narrator: THE APACHES SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE

TO MUQTADA AL-SADR'S INSURGENTS

AND TO GROUND TROOPS THAT THEY'VE GOT THEIR BACK.

Inbody: WHEN THAT GUY WALKED OUT INTO THE STREET WITH HIS AK

AND WAS READY TO PICK A FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY,

HE'S PICKING A FIGHT WITH ME.

Narrator: THE MISSION'S SUCCESS

IS A HUGE REWARD FOR THE APACHE AND ITS SUPPORTERS...

VALIDATION AFTER DECADES OF CONTROVERSY.

FROM THE BEGINNING,

CRITICS SAID THE APACHE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN BORN AT ALL.

1966.

THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS ALLIES

STOCKPILE TANKS ALONG THE BORDERS OF WEST GERMANY.

IT'S THE COLD WAR,

AND THE SOVIETS ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND.

THE PENTAGON WATCHES WITH A WARY EYE.

IT KNOWS THAT EVEN ITS BEST PLANES

WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP THE RUSSIAN THREAT.

Roger Connor: THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR AMERICAN PILOTS

WAS THAT THEY HAD HUGE NUMBERS OF SOVIET TANKS TO ATTACK.

Narrator: ROGER CONNOR IS A CURATOR

IN THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM'S AERONAUTICS DEPARTMENT.

Connor: THE UNITED STATES HAD TO DEFEND AGAINST

A VERY SOPHISTICATED SOVIET ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM,

BOTH IN TERMS OF LOW-LEVEL, HEAVY MACHINE GUNS,

ALSO VERY SOPHISTICATED ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.

Narrator: AIR FORCE BOMBERS AREN'T MANEUVERABLE ENOUGH

TO DEFEND AGAINST THE SOVIET WEAPONS,

AND THEY FLY TOO HIGH TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE FIGHTING.

Al Winn: IF YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF FEET

AND YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON THE GROUND,

THERE COULD BE TANKS ALL OVER THE PLACE,

BUT YOU'D NEVER SEE THEM.

SO THEY DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO DEVELOP A HELICOPTER

THAT WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS GROUND ATTACK MISSION.

Narrator: AL WINN WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT

OF BOEING'S APACHE PROGRAM

AND AN ENGINEER AT THE U.S. ARMY'S

AVIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND.

Winn: THE BEST WAY TO SEE A TANK IS TO VISUALLY SEE THE TANK.

AND THAT'S WHY THE HELICOPTER

IS MORE BENEFICIAL THAN A FIXED-WING,

BECAUSE IT GETS DOWN CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

Narrator: AN ATTACK HELICOPTER ISN'T A NEW IDEA.

THE ARMY IS ALREADY USING THEM IN VIETNAM.

Winn: VIETNAM WAS THE FIRST APPLICATION

WHERE AVIATION BECAME PART OF THE GROUND WAR.

IT STARTED OUT WHERE THEY STARTED ARMING HUEYS.

THAT'S HOW THEY FIRST STARTED OUT,

BY JUST THROWING MACHINE GUNS AND ROCKETS

AND CARRYING THEM ON THE SIDE OF HUEYS

TO PROVIDE CLOSE COMBAT SUPPORT FOR THE SOLDIERS.

AND THEN THE COBRA WAS THE FIRST REAL DEDICATED GUNSHIP,

WHERE THEY BASICALLY JUST TOOK A HUEY,

PUT A SKINNY FUSELAGE ON IT WITH A TURRETED GUN

AND SOME WING STORE STATIONS SO THEY COULD CARRY ROCKETS,

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE ATTACK HELICOPTER.

Narrator: THE IMPROVISED GUNSHIPS

ARE BETTER THAN NOTHING,

BUT THE ARMY WANTS MORE.

WITH VIETNAM IN FULL SWING,

ARMY BRASS FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS ON DEVELOPING A HELICOPTER

THAT'S FAST, ARMED, AND HEAVILY ARMORED.

THEY CALL IT THE CHEYENNE.

Winn: THE ARMY CAME UP WITH A REQUIREMENT

WHERE THEY WANTED TO DEVELOP AN ATTACK HELICOPTER,

NOT BUILD IT OFF SOMETHING ELSE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE CHEYENNE WAS.

Narrator: WHEN IT DEBUTS IN 1967,

THE CHEYENNE IS LIKE NO HELICOPTER

THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

IT HAS WINGS.

Connor: THE CHEYENNE PROGRAM

WAS A VERY AMBITIOUS TECHNICAL PROGRAM.

THE ARMY WANTED A VERY SOPHISTICATED CAPABILITY

THAT WOULD WORK IN ALMOST ANY THEATER.

Narrator: THE WEAPONS IT CARRIES

ARE MORE LIKE THOSE FOUND ON AN AIR FORCE BOMBER

THAN ON ANY OF THE ARMY'S HELICOPTERS.

THE BELLY TURRET INCLUDES A 30-MILLIMETER AUTOMATIC CANNON

WITH 360-DEGREE ROTATION.

ANTI-TANK MISSILES, OR UNGUIDED ROCKETS,

ROUND OUT ITS ARSENAL.

THE CHEYENNE IS A COMPOUND HELICOPTER,

MEANING IT HAS ROTOR BLADES

AS WELL AS WINGS AND A PUSHER PROPELLER.

THE ROTORS LIFT IT LIKE A HELICOPTER.

THE STUB WINGS AND PUSHER PROPELLER

PERMIT IT TO FLY AT AN INCREDIBLE 240 MILES PER HOUR.

THE ARMY CLAIMS THE GUNSHIP CAN FACE DOWN ANY FOE.

BUT THE AIR FORCE COMPLAINS

THAT THE CHEYENNE IS FLYING INTO THEIR TERRITORY.

Connor: AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947,

THE AIR FORCE RESTRICTED THE ARMY

TO REALLY VERY LIGHT AIRCRAFT.

IN 1966, WITH THE JOHNSON-McCONNELL AGREEMENT,

THE ARMY AGREED TO STAY OUT OF THE FIXED-WING ATTACK AIRCRAFT

IN EXCHANGE FOR HAVING ESSENTIALLY FULL AUTHORITY

TO DEVELOP THE HELICOPTER AS AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON.

Narrator: THE $4.5 MILLION CHEYENNE

NEVER GETS OUT OF THE GATE.

Connor: AIR FORCE ADVOCATES LIKE SENATOR BARRY GOLDWATER

DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO KILL THE PROGRAM.

Narrator: BUT THE ARMY HAS SEEN INTO THE FUTURE

AND LIKES WHAT IT SEES.

AN ATTACK HELICOPTER IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

Connor: THE REALITY WAS

IS THE ARMY REALLY WANTED AND NEEDED THIS AIRCRAFT,

AND THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Narrator: LESS THAN THREE WEEKS

AFTER TOP BRASS CANCEL THE CHEYENNE,

THE ARMY GOES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

WITH AN EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS PROGRAM.

Connor: WHEN IT FIRST STARTED,

THE ADVANCED ATTACK HELICOPTER PROGRAM

SEEMED SOMETHING LIKE A PIPE DREAM.

IT SPECIFIED AN AIRCRAFT

THAT HAD TO OPERATE AT NIGHT AND BAD WEATHER,

HAD TO HAVE A PRECISION STRIKE CAPABILITY.

IT ALSO HAD TO HAVE VERY SOPHISTICATED DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS.

Narrator: IN 1976, THE ARMY AWARDS A CONTRACT

FOR A NEW ADVANCED ATTACK HELICOPTER

TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE COMPANIES:

HUGHES AIRCRAFT.

Connor: HUGHES REALLY HIT THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK

WITH THE APACHE DESIGN THAT THEY PUT FORWARD.

Narrator: SEPTEMBER 30, 1983.

MESA, ARIZONA.

WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE,

HUGHES AIRCRAFT ROLLS OUT THE PROTOTYPE

FOR THE U.S. ARMY'S NEW ATTACK HELICOPTER.

THEY CALL IT THE APACHE.

Connor: SINCE THE LATE 1950s, THE ARMY HAS HAD A TRADITION

OF NAMING ALL OF ITS HELICOPTER PROGRAMS

AFTER INDIAN TRIBES.

THERE'S CHEYENNE, THERE'S SHAWNEE.

COBRA IS ACTUALLY THE WEIRD ONE.

NOBODY EVER WANTED TO CALL IT ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

THE HUEY IS ACTUALLY THE IROQUOIS,

ALSO NAMED AFTER AN INDIAN TRIBE.

HUEY IS A NICKNAME GIVEN

BECAUSE OF ITS ORIGINAL DESIGNATION AS HU-1.

Narrator: THE APACHE IS DESIGNED TO KEEP FLYING

THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

ALMOST EVERY ELEMENT HAS A BACK-UP,

INCLUDING THE CREW.

Harris: YOU'VE GOT TWO CREW MEMBERS FORWARD AND AFT.

THE FRONT SEAT IS THE CO-PILOT GUNNER.

TYPICALLY THAT CREW MEMBER

IS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE SENSORS,

ACTIONING THE WEAPONS,

AND TALKING ON ALL THE RADIOS TO THE SUPPORTED GROUND UNITS.

THIS IS THE PILOT'S CREW STATION,

THE BACK OF THE TWO.

THE PILOT'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY DURING A MISSION

IS KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT CLEAR,

TERRAIN, OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT YOU'RE OPERATING WITH.

Narrator: THE TWO GE TURBOSHAFT ENGINES

BOAST ENOUGH POWER TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT HOME,

EVEN IF ONE OF THEM IS KNOCKED OUT.

Harris: MOST SYSTEMS ON THIS AIRCRAFT ARE REDUNDANT,

AS IN THERE'S TWO OF THEM.

SO, IF ONE SYSTEM ON ONE SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT

IS HIT BY A BULLET FROM THE GROUND

OR TAKES SOME OTHER KIND OF COMBAT DAMAGE

OR JUST GOES OUT,

YOU SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER OPPOSITE-LOCATED SYSTEM

IN ORDER TO BACK THAT UP.

Narrator: THE APACHE IS TOUGH ENOUGH

TO WITHSTAND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

Harris: THE AIRCRAFT IS EXTREMELY HARDY,

IS EXTREMELY RESISTANT.

I HAVE PERSONAL FRIENDS

THAT HAVE TAKEN A ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE

TO THIS AIRCRAFT,

CONTINUED THE MISSION, AND TAKEN IT BACK SAFELY.

Narrator: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY FORTIFIED

AND WELL-ARMED HELICOPTERS EVER BUILT.

IT'S CONSTRUCTED TO ATTACK...

AND TO WIN.

Connor: ARMY AVIATORS WERE TRULY AWED BY THE APACHE.

IT REPRESENTED A CAPABILITY

THAT MOST OF THEM HAD ONLY DREAMED OF.

Narrator: BUT FOUR YEARS AFTER IT DEBUTS,

THE ARMY'S DREAMS TURN TO NIGHTMARES.

AS THE APACHE IS FIELD-TESTED AT FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA,

IT CRASHES TWICE WITHIN A MONTH.

Winn: IN THE INITIAL FIELDING,

THERE WERE RELIABILITY ISSUES ON THE AIRPLANE.

AND THERE ACTUALLY WERE A COUPLE INSTANCES

WHERE THE AIRPLANE ACTUALLY CRASHED.

Narrator: ONE CRASH IS BLAMED ON AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE;

THE OTHER ON PILOT ERROR.

ENGINEERS KNEW THE APACHE WAS HARD TO BUILD.

NOW THEY DISCOVER IT'S ALSO HARD TO FLY.

Connor: THIS PROVED TO BE

A MAJOR BLACK EYE FOR THE APACHE.

MANY SAW THIS AS A VALIDATION OF THEIR CRITICISM OF THE ARMY

AND SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY

TO PUSH BACK AGAINST USING THE APACHE.

Narrator: THE ARMY PROMISES ITS CRITICS

THAT THE TWO ACCIDENTS ARE FREAK OCCURRENCES

AND THAT THE SHIP IS SAFE TO FLY.

BUT LESS THAN A MONTH LATER,

THE APACHE'S REPUTATION GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE.

AUGUST 1987.

FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA.

A BRAND-NEW APACHE HOVERS IN A ROUTINE TRAINING PRACTICE.

200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND,

IT SUDDENLY DROPS.

THE GUNSHIP HITS THE GROUND.

THE GUNNER SUSTAINS MAJOR INJURIES.

THE PILOT IS KILLED.

IT'S THE APACHE'S THIRD MAJOR ACCIDENT

IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS,

AND THE FIRST FATAL CRASH.

THIS TIME, THE REPERCUSSIONS

REACH ALL THE WAY TO THE PENTAGON.

WITHIN A WEEK, MILITARY LEADERS GROUND THE ENTIRE FLEET

OF 264 APACHES.

THEY'RE DEFEATED EVEN BEFORE THEY'VE SEEN COMBAT.

Connor: ANY NEW AIRCRAFT,

PARTICULARLY A COMPLEX MILITARY AIRCRAFT LIKE THE APACHE,

IS GOING TO HAVE ITS UPS AND DOWNS,

AND THE ACCIDENTS THAT WERE EXPERIENCED AT FORT RUCKER

WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF REALLY ANY NEW COMPLEX SYSTEM.

Narrator: AN INVESTIGATION REVEALS

THAT THE $11.5-MILLION MACHINE

WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING IN THE TAIL ROTOR.

Winn: THE ARMY FORMED THE AAT,

THE APACHE ACTION TEAM.

SO THE TEAM WOULD MEET REGULARLY, WORK TOGETHER,

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEMS

AND COMING UP WITH RAPID FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THOSE

TO ELIMINATE THEM.

Narrator: WITHIN JUST A FEW MONTHS,

SAFETY OFFICIALS CLEAR THE GUNSHIPS TO RESUME OPERATION.

BUT THE BAD TASTE LINGERS.

Connor: ANYTHING THAT WAS SEEN AS A HIGH-COST BUDGET ITEM

THAT DIDN'T WORK EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED

WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DEEMED AT RISK.

THERE WAS A HUGE PUBLIC OUTCRY THAT THE MACHINE ISN'T SAFE,

THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE AS CAPABLE

AS WAS ADVERTISED.

Narrator: WITH THE CHOPPER'S REPUTATION AT STAKE,

THERE'S MORE PRESSURE THAN EVER ON THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FLY IT.

ASPIRING PILOTS HAVE TO LEARN THE GUNSHIP INSIDE AND OUT.

Connor: THE APACHE, BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A COMPLEX SYSTEM,

MUCH MORE SO THAN ANY PREVIOUS HELICOPTER

THE ARMY HAD EVER OPERATED,

IT HAD A LOT OF LESSONS THAT HAD TO BE LEARNED.

Narrator: APACHE PILOTS MUST SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS

SIMULATING WORST-CASE SCENARIOS.

AVOIDING SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES...

LOSING A TAIL ROTOR MID-AIR...

LANDING WITH ONE ENGINE...

IT'S ALL COVERED.

James Altaffer: YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACT

WITHOUT HAVING TO THINK THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT DURING EMERGENCIES

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH LEEWAY

TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO.

Narrator: THE LEARNING CURVE IS STEEP.

IT'S INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

Inbody: DAY ONE YOU'RE IN THAT THING,

IT'S PRETTY INTENSE.

IT TRULY IS DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE,

AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER.

Narrator: THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT THE JOB,

BUT NOT ALL OF THE PILOTS WHO START THE PROGRAM MAKE THE CUT.

THOSE THAT DO BECOME PART OF THE ARMY'S ELITE.

Harris: IT TAKES AN EXTREMELY EXCEPTIONAL,

EXTREMELY TALENTED, EXTREMELY DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL

TO HANDLE THAT STRESS LOAD.

IT REQUIRES PHENOMENAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

BECAUSE YOU'RE CONTROLLING AN 8-TON OBJECT

IN THREE DIMENSIONS OF MOVEMENT,

AT NIGHT, WITH PEOPLE SHOOTING AT YOU.

YOU'RE TALKING TO FIVE DIFFERENT RADIOS,

AND MAYBE YOU'RE SHOOTING BACK AT SOMEBODY.

Narrator: APACHE PILOTS TRAIN HARD.

AND FINALLY, SOME OF THEM GET THE CHANCE

TO TEST THEIR SKILLS IN COMBAT.

1989. PANAMA.

GENERAL MANUEL NORIEGA IS LOSING HIS GRIP AS THE COUNTRY'S RULER.

SIX YEARS OF A RUTHLESS DICTATORSHIP

HAS TURNED HIS OWN PEOPLE AGAINST HIM,

AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT,

WHO FIRST HELPED PUT HIM IN POWER.

George Schultz: HE SHOULD LEAVE PANAMA.

AND WE WANT TO SEE A RETURN TO CIVILIAN DEMOCRATIC RULE.

Narrator: IN OCTOBER,

SOME OF NORIEGA'S OWN GENERALS TRY TO OVERTHROW HIM.

THEY FAIL.

NORIEGA ACCUSES THE UNITED STATES

OF PROVOKING THE COUP,

AND ON DECEMBER 15th, HE DECLARES A STATE OF WAR.

[NORIEGA SPEAKING SPANISH]

Narrator: THE U.S. IMMEDIATELY AUTHORIZES AN INVASION.

President Bush: WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED

BY THE BULLYING TACTICS,

BRUTAL THOUGH THEY MAY BE,

OF THE DICTATOR NORIEGA.

Narrator: IT'S THE U.S. ARMY'S FIRST WAR

SINCE THEY GOT THE APACHE.

THEY CALL IT "OPERATION JUST CAUSE."

Winn: IT WAS GOING TO BE GROUND FORCES GOING IN.

AND SO THEY WANTED TO BRING AIR POWER IN TO SUPPORT THEM.

THE APACHE WAS THEIR MOST ADVANCED, MOST CAPABLE

ATTACK HELICOPTER.

AND THIS WAS THEIR FIRST CHANCE TO SEE IT IN OPERATION.

Narrator: THE ARMY USUALLY ROLLS OUT ITS NEW TOYS

WITH A LOT OF FANFARE.

THIS TIME, IT DOESN'T.

THE PENTAGON ONLY INFORMS ONE GROUP

ABOUT THE APACHE'S IMPENDING DEBUT:

THE TROOPS.

Connor: BY SENDING THE APACHES TO PANAMA,

THE ARMY SAID TO THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND THERE

THAT WE'RE BEHIND YOU 100%,

WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUR LATEST, GREATEST WEAPON SYSTEM

TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS OPERATION.

Narrator: THE GUNSHIP'S GO-TO WEAPON?

THE HELLFIRE.

IT'S THE MOST POTENT HELICOPTER-LAUNCHED MISSILE

THE ARMY'S EVER HAD.

Winn: THE APACHE COULD CARRY 16 HELLFIRE MISSILES.

SO, FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU CAN TAKE OUT 16 THREATS.

Narrator: FOR AN ARMY THAT PRIDES ITSELF

ON PRECISION WARFARE,

THE HELLFIRE IS THE PERFECT KILLING TOOL.

Connor: THE HELLFIRE IS THE APACHE'S ULTIMATE ACCESSORY.

A LOT OF TIMES THE TARGETS TODAY ARE INSURGENTS

THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO NON-COMBATANTS.

THE HELLFIRE GIVES APACHE CREWS

THE ABILITY TO SINGLE OUT THE ENEMY

WHILE ALSO NOT HARMING INNOCENT CIVILIANS THAT ARE NEARBY.

Narrator: THE DENSE URBAN LANDSCAPE

OF OPERATION JUST CAUSE

OFFERS THE HELLFIRE THE PERFECT TEST.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

WHEN SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND COME UNDER FIRE,

THEY CALL THE APACHE,

TELLING THE GUNSHIP'S PILOT

WHERE THEY THINK THE FIRE IS COMING FROM.

FLYING ABOVE, THE APACHE GETS THE INFORMATION.

ITS GUNNER USES HIS THERMAL VISION

TO VERIFY THE INTEL.

ONCE HE VERIFIES THE TARGET,

HE DESIGNATES THE TARGET WITH A LASER.

THE LASER SENDS BACK A CODED SIGNAL,

GIVING THE MISSILE THE EXACT COORDINATES OF ITS TARGET.

ONCE THE LASER LOCKS IN, IT'S ALL OVER.

[EXPLOSIONS]

Winn: A HELLFIRE MISSILE IS A LASER-GUIDED MISSILE.

SO THE HELLFIRE WILL GO TO THAT PINPOINT,

AND THAT IS THE ONLY DAMAGE THAT OCCURS.

Narrator: UNPARALLELED PRECISION STRIKE CAPABILITY.

FOR THE ARMY,

IT'S A LONG-AWAITED DREAM COME TRUE.

Connor: THE ABILITY TO SEE TARGETS A LONG WAY OFF,

SELECT THEM,

AND THEN HIT THEM WITH A PRECISION STRIKE CAPABILITY

LIKE THE HELLFIRE

HAS MADE THE APACHE

A DEVASTATING BATTLEFIELD WEAPON.

Reporter: AMERICAN TROOPS WENT INTO ACTION

AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND THERE WAS FIERCE FIGHTING IN AND AROUND PANAMA CITY.

Narrator: THE SIX APACHES IN PANAMA

RACK UP 240 COMBAT HOURS.

THE GUNSHIPS DEFEND 26,000 SOLDIERS.

THEY PULL THEIR WEIGHT

IN SOME OF THE CONFLICT'S HEAVIEST FIGHTING.

NORIEGA'S TROOPS FIGHT WITH ALL THEY HAVE...

SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES, MACHINE-GUN FIRE...

BUT THE APACHE HAS A THICK SKIN.

Connor: THE APACHES RECEIVED THEIR BAPTISM OF FIRE

IN PANAMA, LITERALLY.

SEVERAL APACHES WERE HIT,

MANY WERE HIT OVER A DOZEN TIMES,

AND THESE AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT BACK TO BASE

WITHOUT LOSS.

Narrator: THE ARMY'S GAMBLE PAYS OFF.

THE DEBUT OF THEIR ATTACK HELICOPTER

AND ITS POWERFUL NEW HELLFIRE MISSILE

IS IMPRESSIVE.

Connor: THE COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND IN PANAMA

WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE APACHE.

THEY WERE THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS THAT THEY ACHIEVED.

Narrator: THE ARMY BRAGS ABOUT THE APACHE'S PERFORMANCE.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE TO THE STORY.

Connor: THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO SAID, YOU KNOW,

THIS WAS JUST KIND OF SHOWING OFF,

THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST KIND OF THROWING SOMETHING IN THERE

FOR THE SAKE OF SAYING, YOU KNOW,

IT'S SEEING ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Narrator: CONGRESS FOCUSES ON THE SUPER HUMAN EFFORT IT TAKES

TO KEEP THE GUNSHIPS FLYING.

Reporter: CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS ARE RECOMMENDING

THAT THE ARMY SCRAP ITS PLANS TO BUY 132 HELICOPTERS.

DURING THE EARLY HOURS OF LAST DECEMBER'S INVASION OF PANAMA,

THE APACHES DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL.

Narrator: AFTER ONLY ONE DAY OF FIGHTING,

BROKEN PARTS SIDELINE FOUR OF THE SIX APACHES SENT FOR COMBAT.

Winn: THE AIRPLANE DID EXHIBIT SOME OF THESE RELIABILITY ISSUES

THAT THE OPERATORS AND THE MAINTAINERS

HAD TO OVERCOME.

THEY DID, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME THOSE.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

Narrator: ARMY MAINTAINERS DISCOVER THAT RAIN AND MOISTURE

ARE THE MACHINE'S ACHILLES' HEEL.

Winn: THIS WAS A NEW ENVIRONMENT.

VERY WET,

RAINING ALL THE TIME AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN

IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT,

AND WE FOUND OUT IT LEAKED A LITTLE BIT

AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE THINGS YOU KIND OF DISCOVERED.

Narrator: SPARE PARTS FOR THE MACHINE

ARE HARD TO COME BY.

TO REPAIR WOUNDED CHOPPERS,

THE ARMY STEALS PARTS FROM APACHES ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.

Connor: ONE KEY DISADVANTAGE OF THE APACHE

IS THAT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN.

IT'S VERY COMPLEX.

YOU NEED SPECIAL TOOLS, YOU NEED SPECIAL PARTS.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE CHEWING GUM AND DUCT TAPE

TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT GOING.

Narrator: A REPORT FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING OFFICE

CALLS THE APACHE TOO LABOR-INTENSIVE

AND TOO COMPLICATED TO FLY.

Reporter: A NEWLY RELEASED CONGRESSIONAL REPORT

SAYS THE APACHE HELICOPTER MAY BE USELESS

BECAUSE IT NEEDS TOO MUCH MAINTENANCE.

Narrator: CONGRESS RECOMMENDS

THAT THE ARMY STOP PRODUCTION IMMEDIATELY.

JUST WHEN IT THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF THE WOODS,

THE APACHE FINDS ITSELF HAVING TO PROVE ITSELF YET AGAIN.

BEFORE CONGRESS CAN SHUT PRODUCTION DOWN,

WAR INTERVENES AGAIN.

BUT THIS TIME THE APACHE

HAS TO FACE SOMETHING ELSE IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR...

NOT WATER AND HUMIDITY,

BUT SAND.

AUGUST 1990.

IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

SENDS HIS ARMY INTO NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.

ITS OIL FIELDS ARE RICH FOR THE TAKING.

AND HUSSEIN MAY HAVE HIS EYE ON SAUDI OIL, TOO.

SAUDI ARABIA QUICKLY GATHERS ITS ALLIES.

THE 39-NATION COALITION

IS THE LARGEST SINCE WORLD WAR II.

THEY VOW TO BRING HUSSEIN TO HIS KNEES.

President Bush: WITHDRAW FROM KUWAIT,

OR FACE A COALITION

READY AND WILLING TO EMPLOY ALL MEANS NECESSARY.

Narrator: THE PLAN IS TO BEGIN AN AIR WAR

USING HIGH-FLYING AIRPLANES AND CRUISE MISSILES.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

Richard Cody: EARLY ON IT WAS DISCOVERED FOR THE AIR CAMPAIGN

THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL RADAR SITES

WITH THE EARLY WARNING RADAR TO PROTECT BAGHDAD.

Narrator: GENERAL RICHARD A. CODY

WAS VICE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

HE COMMANDED THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION OF APACHE HELICOPTERS

IN OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Richard Cody: THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GUYS

CAME UP AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, THERE'S THREE RADAR SITES.

IF WE CAN TAKE THEM OUT,

THAT'LL GIVE US AN EDGE TO START THE AIR CAMPAIGN."

THEY WANTED TO CREATE A CORRIDOR, IF YOU WILL,

SO, THE F17s AND THE F16s AND F15s AND TORNADOS

AND ALL THE OTHER COALITION AIRCRAFT

COULD FLY THROUGH THIS CORRIDOR.

Narrator: BAGHDAD IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED CITIES

IN THE WORLD.

CLEARING ITS SKIES IS A FORMIDABLE TASK.

TO REACH THE RADAR SITE,

THE APACHES WILL HAVE TO AVOID

IRAQ'S HIGH-TECH ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONRY

FOR 200 DANGEROUS MILES.

Cody: I DON'T THINK WE FELT SAFE.

WHAT HAPPENS IF, YOU KNOW,

SOMEBODY TAKES A SHOT AT ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT?

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE FLYING IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S COUNTRY.

Narrator: TAKING OUT THE RADAR SITES

WON'T BE EASY.

BUT IF THE APACHE CAN'T DO IT, NOTHING CAN.

Cody: THE APACHE WAS THE ONLY ONE

THAT HAD THE PRECISION FIREPOWER,

THE DURABILITY IN TERMS OF SURVIVABILITY

TO GET IN THERE AND DO THIS JOB.

Narrator: ARMY BRASS ARE NERVOUS.

THEY KNOW THE APACHE COULD HAVE CHALLENGES

IN A DESERT ENVIRONMENT.

Cody: HELICOPTERS AND TURBINE ENGINES HATE SAND.

JET ENGINES HAVE COMPRESSORS,

AND AS SAND GETS INGESTED INTO IT, IT ERODES

AND IT STARTS TAKING AWAY FROM THE POWER AND CAPABILITY.

Narrator: CODY AND THE OTHER APACHE PILOTS

KNOW THEY'RE NOT ONLY FIGHTING THE ENEMY,

BUT FIGHTING FOR THE REPUTATION OF THEIR AIRCRAFT.

A MISHAP HERE COULD END THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

JANUARY 17, 1991.

MIDNIGHT.

AL JOUF AIR FORCE BASE IN SAUDI ARABIA.

EIGHT APACHES FROM THE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION

PREPARE FOR THE 200-MILE FLIGHT INTO IRAQ.

EACH ONE OF THEM IS ARMED TO THE TEETH.

Cody: EACH APACHE HAD EIGHT HELLFIRE ON ITS OUTBOARD WINGS.

AND THEN WE HAD 19 SHOTS OF ROCKET.

AND I THINK ALL OF US CARRIED

ABOUT 600 OR 700 ROUNDS OF 30-MILLIMETER.

SO WE WERE PRETTY WELL-ARMED.

Narrator: EVEN FOR THE POWERFUL APACHE,

IT'S A VERY HEAVY LOAD.

Cody: WE ROLLED OFF THE TARMAC AT OVER 19,000 POUNDS,

AND THE MAX GROSS WEIGHT FOR THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME,

FOR COMBAT, WAS ABOUT 17,800 POUNDS.

SO, YOU HAD QUITE AN AIRCRAFT TO MANAGE.

Narrator: IN THIS MISSION, MORE THAN ANY OTHER,

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

Cody: WE HAD TO TAKE OUT THE RADAR SITES

AT 2:38 IN THE MORNING,

SO ALL THE AIRCRAFT COULD FLY THROUGH THIS CORRIDOR.

Narrator: THE APACHES TAKE OFF AND SPEED ACROSS THE DESERT,

CRUISING JUST 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND

TO AVOID RADAR DETECTION.

THERE'S A TOTAL BLACKOUT ON NAVIGATION LIGHTS.

TOTAL RADIO SILENCE.

IF HUSSEIN'S RADAR DETECTS THEM,

THEY RISK BEING SHOT DOWN

BY THE VERY TARGET THEY'VE COME TO KILL.

THE APACHES ARE ALL TOO AWARE OF THE DANGER.

Cody: THE ESTIMATES WERE

WE'D PROBABLY GET ONE OR TWO AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN.

BASICALLY, YOU'RE FLYING A HELICOPTER

AGAINST A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SHOOT DOWN AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: IT TAKES JUST OVER TWO HOURS

FOR THE APACHES TO REACH THE RADAR TOWERS.

WHEN THEY'RE FIVE MILES AWAY,

THEY HOVER FOR A MOMENT, SURVEYING THEIR TARGET.

THIS IS ACTUAL FOOTAGE FROM GENERAL CODY'S MISSION...

THE VERY FIRST APACHE STRIKES OF DESERT STORM.

Cody: WHEN WE PULLED THE TRIGGER,

ALL FOUR AIRCRAFT SHOT AT THE SAME TIME.

[FIRING]

YOU'VE GOT 4 TO 6 HELLFIRES EN ROUTE.

THE TIME OF FLIGHT IS ABOUT 12 SECONDS.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY START HITTING.

AND WHEN THEY START HITTING,

THINGS START EXPLODING PRETTY QUICKLY,

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HIT

WHERE THE GENERATORS AND ALL THE FUEL WAS.

[RADIO CHATTER]

AT ABOUT 4 KILOMETERS,

WE STARTED OPENING UP WITH THE ROCKETS

THAT HAD THE FLECHETTE ROUNDS.

AND THAT WAS TO TAKE OUT THE AIR DEFENSE GUNS

THAT WERE OUT IN FRONT.

AND THEN, AS WE GOT CLOSER,

WE'D OPEN UP IN THE 30-MILLIMETER

AND FINISH OFF THE JOB.

[GUNFIRE]

Narrator: IT'S FOUR MINUTES OF MAYHEM

WITH 100% DESTRUCTION.

Cody: WE PUT IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 40 HELLFIRE MISSILES

ON THE TARGET,

A COUPLE HUNDRED FLECHETTE ROCKETS,

AND A LOT OF 30-MILLIMETER,

AND THEN BROKE AND FLEW LOW LEVEL BACK.

Narrator: DESTROYING THE RADAR TOWERS

OPENS UP A PIECE OF THE SKY 20 MILES WIDE.

Cody: ABOUT FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT BACK,

WE COULD SEE THE JETS COMING IN RIGHT OVER OUR HEAD.

AND THAT'S HOW THE AIR WAR STARTED.

Narrator: OVER 900 COALITION AIRCRAFT

MAKE THEIR WAY INTO BAGHDAD.

SAFE PASSAGE,

COURTESY OF THE APACHE.

Cody: NO AIRCRAFT GOT SHOT DOWN THROUGH THAT CORRIDOR,

OR INTO BAGHDAD THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: THE APACHES DESTROY HUNDREDS OF TANKS,

ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, AND OTHER VEHICLES.

TOGETHER, 277 APACHES LOG THOUSANDS OF COMBAT HOURS,

SUCCESSFULLY WITHSTANDING SMALL ARMS FIRE

WITH JUST ONE INCIDENT.

Cody: WE HAD ONE AIRCRAFT

TAKE FIVE BULLET HOLES THROUGH HIS ROTOR BLADES.

AND HE WAS ABLE TO FLY THAT AIRCRAFT

ALL THE WAY BACK TO SAUDI ARABIA.

THAT SPEAKS TO THE DURABILITY

AND THE SURVIVABILITY OF THAT AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE SAND

THAT THE ARMY FEARED WOULD HURT THE APACHE'S PERFORMANCE

PROVES TO BE A NON-ISSUE.

Cody: IT PROVED TO EVERYBODY THAT IT IS A GREAT HELICOPTER.

IT'S STILL THE BEST ATTACK HELICOPTER IN THE WORLD,

BAR NONE.

Narrator: THE SIGHT OF AN APACHE BEARING DOWN IS SO TERRIFYING

THAT IRAQI SOLDIERS CREATE A NAME FOR IT:

"THE BLACK DEATH."

Norman Schwarzkopf: TEN HOURS INTO THIS GROUND OFFENSIVE,

MORE THAN 5,500 PRISONERS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED.

AND WE'VE RECEIVED REPORTS

OF MANY HUNDREDS MORE NORTH OF OUR POSITION

WITH WHITE SURRENDER FLAGS.

Narrator: ITS MASTERFUL PERFORMANCE IN DESERT STORM

MAKES THE APACHE APPEAR INVINCIBLE.

BUT THEIR NEXT CONFLICT PROVES THAT THE APACHE

IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS SUPPORT SYSTEM.

APRIL 1999.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SIGNS AN ORDER

SENDING 24 APACHES TO A REMOTE AIRBASE IN ALBANIA.

President Clinton: I HAVE ORDERED OUR AIRCRAFT TO BE READY

TO ACT AS PART OF THE NATO OPERATION.

Narrator: THEY'RE TASKED WITH AN URGENT MISSION:

TO STOP YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S

MURDEROUS ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN IN NEIGHBORING KOSOVO.

Cody: TASK FORCE HAWK

WAS TO SET UP THE ABILITY FOR THE APACHES TO GO IN

AND START TAKING ON MILOSEVIC'S FORCES

WITHOUT PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND,

BUT GETTING IN CLOSE WITH APACHES.

Narrator: THE ARMY CLAIMS THAT THE BIRDS ARE COMBAT-READY.

Wesley Clark: THE APACHES WILL BE COMING HERE VERY SHORTLY.

Narrator: A MONTH LATER,

MILOSEVIC'S TROOPS ARE STILL ON A RAMPAGE,

AND THE APACHES STILL HAVEN'T ARRIVED.

WHILE WAR RAGES IN SERBIA,

THE APACHES WAIT ON AN ITALIAN AIRBASE

500 MILES AWAY.

THE DECISION TO SEND THEM TO KOSOVO IS EASY;

ACTUALLY GETTING THEM THERE IS NOT.

Connor: THEY NOT ONLY HAD TO MOVE THE AIRCRAFT,

BUT THEY HAD TO MOVE

THIS VERY COMPLEX LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH IT.

Narrator: WHEREVER THE APACHE GOES,

26,000 TONS OF EQUIPMENT AND DOZENS OF MAINTAINERS

MUST FOLLOW.

Cody: YOU GOT THE MAINTENANCE THAT YOU HAVE TO BRING IN,

YOU HAVE THE REFUEL CAPABILITY,

THE AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION YOU NEED.

Narrator: ALL THAT SHIPPING AND SUPPORT

FOR JUST 24 AIRCRAFT ISN'T CHEAP.

THE TOTAL COST TO THE U.S. TAXPAYER:

$480 MILLION.

Connor: THE APACHE

IS A MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT AIRCRAFT

TO OPERATE IN THE FIELD THAN ITS PREDECESSORS.

IT REQUIRES MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE PARTS AND FACILITIES

TO KEEP IT GOING.

Narrator: THE APACHE'S SIZE IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

FLYING A MODERN NEW GUNSHIP OUT OF A TINY AIRBASE

PROVES PROBLEMATIC.

Cody: THE AIRFIELD WASN'T READY.

WE HAD A HUGE AMOUNT OF RAIN.

AND THE PLACE WAS JUST MUDDY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE WERE BRINGING IN SUPPLIES,

AND THE AIRFIELD ITSELF WASN'T READY TO ACCEPT THE APACHES.

Narrator: THE ARMY WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK FOR DAYS,

BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT STURDY ENOUGH

FOR THE 24 GUNSHIPS.

Cody: THIS WAS NOT A NATO AIRBASE AT ALL,

AND SO GETTING THAT AIRBASE SET

SO THAT YOU COULD LAUNCH NIGHT ATTACKS WITH APACHES

TOOK SOME TIME.

Narrator: GROUND TROOPS BRING IN

667,000 SQUARE METERS OF ROCK FILL.

ARMY ENGINEERS CONSTRUCT 58 SPECIALLY DESIGNED LANDING PADS

FOR THE APACHE BASE.

Cody: WE HAD TO GET THE HELIPADS RIGHT,

WE HAD TO GET THE ARMING PADS RIGHT,

THE FUEL SYSTEM RIGHT, AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

ONCE IT WAS READY, WE BROUGHT THEM IN.

Narrator: THE APACHES' ARRIVAL

SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE TURNING POINT IN THE WAR.

YET, WITHIN DAYS,

IT WOULD PROVE TO BE ONE OF THE CONFLICT'S

MOST REGRETTED AND DEADLY DECISIONS.

MAY 4, 1999.

45 MILES NORTH OF TIRANA-RINAS AIRFIELD IN ALBANIA.

AN APACHE CREW GETS READY TO TRAIN WITH GROUND TROOPS

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

THE APACHE TAKES OFF,

PLANNING TO MEET UP WITH THE TROOPS ON THE NEXT RIDGE.

SUDDENLY, THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.

THIS IS ACTUAL FOOTAGE FROM THAT NIGHT.

AS THE GROUND CREW LOOKS ON,

THE APACHE DROPS OUT OF SIGHT.

THEN...

[EXPLOSION]

Cody: WE HAD ONE CRASH EARLY ON.

IT WAS A YOUNG CREW,

AND FORTUNATELY, THEY HIT, ROLLED OVER,

THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT ON FIRE,

BOTH PILOTS ESCAPED.

Soldier: WE GOT THE GUYS! LET'S GO!

Narrator: TWO WEEKS LATER,

ANOTHER APACHE CREW IS NOT SO LUCKY.

Cody: IT WAS TWO GREAT PILOTS.

AND IT WAS FLYING ON ONE OF OUR LAST MISSION REHEARSALS.

AND THEY HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THEIR FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

THAT BASICALLY RENDERED THE AIRCRAFT UNCONTROLLABLE

AND THEY CRASHED IT.

AND BOTH OF THEM DIED.

Narrator: IN ANOTHER SETTING,

A PILOT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADJUST QUICKLY IF THINGS GO WRONG.

BUT IN ALBANIA'S UNFORGIVING TERRAIN,

EVEN THE SMALLEST PROBLEM BECOMES MAGNIFIED.

Cody: UNDULATING SHARP MOUNTAIN RIDGES, VALLEYS,

THE VENTURI EFFECT OF WINDS CHANGING INSIDE THESE CANYONS...

WHEN YOU'RE FLYING NAP-OF-THE-EARTH FULLY LOADED

AND IT'S DARK AND YOU'VE GOT TO MANEUVER IN AND OUT...

IT'S A WORKLOAD.

Narrator: THE APACHE PILOTS IN TASK FORCE HAWK

CONTINUE TO TRAIN FOR WEEKS,

BUT NOT A SINGLE ONE EVER SEES ACTION.

Cody: WE NEVER LAUNCHED THE AIRCRAFT ACROSS,

BUT THE APACHE COMMUNITY LEARNED A LOT FROM TASK FORCE HAWK.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY KNOW YOUR AIRCRAFT

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT 50 FEET OR 100 FEET,

THINGS HAPPEN VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE ON YOUR GAME THE WHOLE TIME.

IT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: TODAY,

PILOTS AND MAINTAINERS WORK TIRELESSLY

TO SUPPORT THE APACHE AND ITS REPUTATION.

Donald Coleman: THERE'S NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW

EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS ABOUT THIS AIRCRAFT.

BUT THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE BETTER THAT WE ARE

BECAUSE IN THE AVIATION WORLD, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Narrator: COORDINATION BETWEEN PILOTS AND MAINTAINERS

IS BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE.

Coleman: THERE HAS TO BE THIS LEVEL OF TRUST

IN BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE CREW CHIEF

SO THE PILOT CAN TRUST HIM TO KNOW

THAT THIS AIRCRAFT IS GONNA BE SAFE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TRUST

BECAUSE IT IS A GROUND SUPPORT AIRCRAFT,

AND WHEN TROOPS ARE IN CONTACT IN A DEPLOYMENT SITUATION,

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS AIRCRAFT

AND FLY IT RIGHT AWAY.

WHEN THE GROUND TROOP CALL FOR AIR SUPPORT,

THEY DON'T WANT IT 10 MINUTES,

THEY DON'T WANT IT 20 MINUTES FROM NOW;

THEY WANT IT RIGHT AWAY.

Narrator: FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER TASK FORCE HAWK,

THE APACHE HAS WORKED OUT MOST OF ITS KINKS.

IT'S BEEN USED IN ALMOST EVERY COMBAT ENVIRONMENT.

AND IN ALMOST EVERY ONE, IT'S PROVEN A STAR.

Connor: THE APACHE HAS PROVEN EXTREMELY ADAPTABLE

TO THE NATURE OF THIS MODERN WARFARE.

THE COMBINATION OF SOPHISTICATED SENSORS,

THE HELLFIRE MISSILE

ARE WHAT IS SHAPING MODERN WARFARE TODAY.

Narrator: AS THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ATTACK HELICOPTER,

IT'S NO WONDER OTHER COUNTRIES WANT IT, TOO.

BOEING SELLS APACHES TO ALLIES IN FIFTEEN OTHER COUNTRIES,

INCLUDING SOUTH KOREA, THE NETHERLANDS,

EGYPT, AND ISRAEL.

PILOTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

HAVE AN ESPECIALLY LOYAL ASSOCIATION AND APPRECIATION.

Mike Neville: THIS AIRCRAFT, THE APACHE,

IS DESIGNED TO TAKE YOU TO A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S DESIGNED TO LOOK AFTER YOU WHILE YOU'RE THERE,

GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME AND SPACE AND PROTECTION TO DO YOUR JOB.

Jason Etherington: YOU SEE PEOPLE PUT DOWN WEAPONS,

YOU SEE PEOPLE GO BACK INTO THEIR HOUSES.

IT'S A BRANDING.

PEOPLE KNOW HOW GOOD THIS MACHINE IS,

AND THEY'RE FEARFUL OF IT.

Narrator: THE U.S. ARMY APACHE FLEET

HAS ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 3 MILLION FLIGHT HOURS

SINCE IT FIRST TOOK TO THE SKIES.

SOME SAY IT'S JUST GETTING WARMED UP.

IN FEBRUARY 2013,

BOEING DEBUTED AN EVEN DEADLIER VERSION OF THE AIRCRAFT...

THE AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN.

Connor: THE LATEST APACHE, THE AH-64E GUARDIAN,

IS THE APACHE FOR THE INTERNET AGE.

IT ALLOWS THE CO-PILOT GUNNER

TO ACTUALLY OPERATE THE SENSORS ON UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES,

AND THE APACHE CREWS

CAN ACTUALLY PICK OUT TARGETS FROM BEHIND A HILL

USING THOSE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

WITHOUT ANY RISK TO THEMSELVES.

Narrator: IN OTHER WORDS, THE BRAND-NEW APACHE GUARDIAN

FLIES WITH ITS OWN MINI-APACHE DRONE.

Winn: THE CREW CONTROLS THAT UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE,

AND IT'S OUT FLYING AHEAD OF THE APACHE,

IDENTIFYING WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE,

WHAT THREAT SYSTEMS THERE ARE.

SO THEY CAN BE FLYING ALONG

AND BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING

IN THE NEXT VALLEY OVER, 30 KILOMETERS AWAY.

Narrator: WILL APACHE PILOTS

BE ABLE TO MASTER YET ANOTHER COMPLICATED PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY?

ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

Connor: THE BIGGEST DANGER FOR APACHE CREWS TODAY

IS INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE TO FLY AND FIGHT THEIR AIRCRAFT,

BUT THEY HAVE TO MANAGE A VERY COMPLEX SET OF DATA

THAT IS COMING INTO THEM VIA ALL THE SENSORS

AND OTHER DATA LINKS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN TO THE AIRCRAFT

BY OUTSIDE SOURCES.

Narrator: IN NOVEMBER 2013,

THE 1-229th ATTACK RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION

AT JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD

COMPLETED 6,000 HOURS OF TRAINING ON THE NEW APACHE.

THEY'RE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT.

THE COMBAT-PROVEN APACHE HELICOPTER

IS THE U.S. ARMY'S MOST LETHAL AIRCRAFT.

Inbody: THE WAY WE OPERATE,

THE LETHALITY THAT WE BRING,

AND THE INTEGRATION TO GROUND FORCES

IS INCOMPARABLE.

THERE IS NO OTHER HELICOPTER OR EVEN AIRFRAME THAT'S LIKE US.

NOT AT ALL. NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE.

EVERYBODY IS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR STEPS BELOW US

IN OUR TRAINING LEVEL AND WHAT WE BRING TO THE FIGHT.

Narrator: IT'S PERSEVERED IN THE FACE OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES,

TRIUMPHED OVER WEAKNESSES,

AND BECOME THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ATTACK HELICOPTERS TODAY.

Cody: THERE'S OTHER WEAPON SYSTEMS OUT THERE,

BUT IF YOU WANT 100% SUCCESS

AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHUT THAT STUFF DOWN IMMEDIATELY,

THAT'S THE AIRCRAFT TO DO IT IN.

Narrator: HIGHLY MANEUVERABLE AND HEAVILY ARMED,

THE AH-64 APACHE IS UNIQUE IN ITS CLASS.

BOLD, BRAVE,

DEVASTATINGLY POWERFUL.

AND IT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF STOPPING.