[fourdeuce82d]

What the hell is the deal with this program? I'm pretty sure I recall reading about the Commanche back in 84-85 when I had just ETS'd. They've been working on this for what, eighteen years?

Side-note- what have you heard about the Longbow program? Eric Umansky (lefty journalist) had some blurb in Mother Jones re: AH64 missing some performance requirements,(climb rate, hover height) but being fielded anyway.

Thoughts?

[Aaron_A]

IIRC, the Longbow upgrade for the AH-64s only involves upgraded radar, FCS, and other electronics/sensors. I don't know if that should cause major performance issues and whether uprated engines are in the works. Will have to check.

[TADSLOS]

Eric Umansky (lefty journalist) had some blurb in Mother Jones re: AH64 missing some performance requirements,(climb rate, hover height) but being fielded anyway

Pure B.S. The AH-64D's are all outfitted with the newer and better performing GE 701C engines. Hover height is more of an equation of ambient conditions (PA/DA/wind speed and direction with relation to the aircraft heading) and gross weight of the aircraft. Bottom line: the AH-64D has all the power it needs to maintain a steady hover Out of Ground Effect (OGE), carrying a standard weapons load, for all but the most severe conditions.