With an emphasis on outfitting the units with E models first, the Apache Project Manager Office introduced equipment to units with the D and E model helicopters
At McEntire Joint National Guard Base (JNGB) on April 4-5, 2017, South Carolina National Guard personnel received instruction on a new blade folding kit for the AH-64 Apache.
According to Bill Siegman, Apache Project Manager (PM) Office transportability manager, the new kit decreases the time, manpower, and resources required to fold the helicopter’s blades in order to facilitate transport in a cargo aircraft, as stated in the article Soldiers conduct new Apache blade folding kit training written by Capt. Jessica Donnelly, 59th Aviation Troop Command. In contrast to the present kit, which takes 10–11 soldiers and a hoist to operate, the new kit only needs 4-5 soldiers and no other equipment.
“We’re trying to improve on a system and make it easier on the Soldiers,” pointed out Siegman. “Once the Soldiers are fully trained on the new kit, it will reduce the time to fold the blades even more.”
The kit had its fourth and final test at McEntire JNGB before going into production and being distributed to Apache units across the United States. It was the first time that soldiers from the Army underwent training outside of the Hunstville, Alabama, testing site. Siegman said that the 1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB), which tested the current kit’s blade folding initially for the South Carolina National Guard, had to return to test the updated kit.
Being able to fold the helicopter’s blades is noteworthy since it makes cargo aircraft transportation quicker and easier because the blades don’t have to be completely removed and transported separately from the aircraft. Extending the blades and being prepared to fly, speeds up the process of having a functioning helicopter after the transfer, according to the U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Church, the Apache crew chief for Bravo Company of the 1-151st ARB.
The training involved repeatedly folding and unfolding the blades to get accustomed to the new equipment before loading the helicopter into a C-17 Globemaster III from the United States. Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, is home to the Air Force Reserve’s 437th Airlift Wing. At North Auxiliary Airfield in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the C-17 carried out a number of touch-and-go maneuvers before returning to McEntire JNGB to unload the helicopter.
With a focus on outfitting the units with E model helicopters first, the Apache PM Office introduced the new equipment to units with D and E model helicopters.
“The new kit facilitates the ease of folding capabilities,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Sullivan, Jr., 59th Aviation Troop Command command sergeant major. “These Soldiers are seeing this kit for the first time and they are doing a great job.”
Photo by Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine / U.S. Army National Guard