Air Warriors (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Apache - full transcript

Narrator: IT'S THE WEAPON
AMERICA'S ENEMIES

CALL "THE BLACK DEATH."

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.

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.

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.

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.

Narrator: 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.

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.

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.

Narrator: 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.

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.

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.

Narrator: 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.

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: 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.

Narrator: 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 AATION 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.

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: THE COMBAT-PROVEN
APACHE HELICOPTER

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

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.