Svět Virtuálních Křídel (IL-2 Sturmovik 1946, Cliffs of Dover, Rise of Flight)

In this DCS: AH-64D video, I will begin our video tutorial series with an introduction to this powerful attack helicopter. We are simulating the AH-64D as operated by the US Army between 2005 and 2010, which makes it a mid-Block II with the associated systems and paint schemes. The AH-64D proved itself to be a formidable force multiplayer over Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Mali, and it will be a fantastic addition to the DCS battlefields.

Initially fielded to the US Army in 1997 and serving as the backbone attack helicopter operations in combat since 2003, the “Delta” is crewed by a pilot in the back seat and a co-pilot gunner, or CPG, in the front seat. Both pilots can fly the aircraft, but only the CPG can operate the Target Acquisition and Designation Sight, or TADS, which includes the Laser Range Finder Designator and the Laser Spot Tracker. They very much work as a coordinated team. You’ll be able to do this in both single player using our new “George” AI or online with friends.

The tail-wheel style landing gear allows the helicopter ground taxi operations, and it is designed to collapse into the aircraft in case of a crash to attenuate the vertical impact.

The AH-64 is armed with a 30mm chain gun below the front of the aircraft that can be slaved to the line of sight of either crewmember's helmet display unit or to the TADS. Mounted on articulating pylons below the two stub wings are the M261 Rocket Pods capable of loading nineteen 2.75” Hydra un-guided rockets and the M299 Hellfire Launchers capable of carrying up to four AGM-114 Hellfire guided-missiles. The aircraft can also be loaded with external fuel tanks.

Powered by two T700-GE-701C engines and four main rotor blades, the AH-64D is a fast and agile attack helicopter that is easy to fly and ideal for nap of the earth flying. The AH-64D uses a traditional anti-torque tail rotor and chaff and flare dispensers are mounted along the tail boom. Sitting atop the main rotor hub, the optional fire control radar sits.

The front of the aircraft is dominated by the lower sensor turret that consists of the TADS optics and laser designator, and the upper sensor turret mounts the Pilot Night Vision System, or PNVS.

Let’s move into the cockpits now.

Here in the back seat, we are looking through the Helmet Display Unit, a component of the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System, or IHADSS. Within this display flight, sensor, and weapon information is presented to the pilot’s right eye. The PNVS and the TADS can also be projected to the to the HDU for night operations.

Dominating the instrument panel are two multi-purpose displays, or MPDs, that can display a wealth of information. Above is the Enhanced Up-Front Display, or EUFD, with the fire panel to the left. To the left is the Keyboard Unit, or KU, and to the right are the backup flight instruments. Below are the anti-torque pedals, between your knees is the cyclic, and to our left is the collective. On the right canopy frame is the bolt-on Common Missile Warning System, or CMWS ("see-moss").

On the left console are the lighting controls, the selective jettison panel, the engine power lever quadrant, the emergency panel, and the Night Vision select switch and tail wheel unlock light. On the right console we just have the communications panel volume knobs and squelch switches.

We’ll come back to the functionality of these systems in later instruction videos.

Let’s jump to the CPG or “Front Seat” now.

As with the “back seat”, we have two, large MPDs in the crewstation that can mirror the same functions as the pilot’s displays. Between them is the TADS Electronic Display and Control, or TEDAC. The 5 x 5-inch screen displays imagery from the TADS in both TV and infrared modes, or PNVS. It has hand grips on either side to work the sensors to locate, identify, target, and engage hostiles. Only the CPG can work the TADS in this manner.

As with the pilot cockpit, we have the fire control panel and the EUFD on the instrument panel. Below the instrument panel is the cyclic, which can be folded away.

Along the left console is the selective jettison panel, the lighting panel, NVS and tail wheel unlock light panel, the engine power levers, and the emergency panel. Further up is the KU, and inboard is the collective. Along the right console are the communications panel volume knobs and squelch switches, windshield wiper control panel, and the processor control panel.

This concludes this introduction to our AH-64D, and next, we’ll start digging into instruction. Thank you for watching.