Darwin’s 1st Aviation Regiment pilots training on AH-64E Apache

Ahead of the Australian Army receiving new attack helicopters, five Darwin-based pilots are racking up hundreds of training hours abroad, familiarising themselves with one of the world’s most lethal choppers. Read how they are finding the experience so far.

A Darwin-based Australian Army pilot training on the Apache helicopter (background). Picture: Supplied.

Ahead of the Australian Army receiving new attack helicopters, five Darwin-based pilots are racking up hundreds of training hours abroad, familiarising themselves with one of the world’s most lethal choppers.

Pilots from Darwin’s 1st Aviation Regiment have been embedded in the United States to learn first-hand in how to fly the AH-64E Apache, expected to arrive on Australian shores next year.

Training across locations in Alabama, Hawaii, Washington and Kentucky, the pilots were hand-picked to make the conversion from the ARH Tiger, the Army’s current attack chopper.

Darwin’s 1st Aviation Regiment are converting from the ARH Tiger (pictured) to the Apache. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.

However, the Tiger’s weapons, protection and size pales in comparison to the Apache, which boasts 16 Hellfire missiles – twice the number of the Tiger.

One pilot, who cannot be named for security purposes, said the Apache’s flying experience tested the Aussie aviators.

“Apache has a max all-up weight of about 10 tonnes, so you need to be a little bit more accurate with your flying,” he said.

“There’s more armaments and armour on board, so there’s more momentum that you’re dealing with.”

Darwin-based Australian Army pilots are learning how to fly the Apache AH-64E, due to arrive in Australia in the near future.

The pilots have also enjoyed the superior firepower of the Apache, which can be fitted with wing mounted 70mm rockets and a 30mm automatic cannon, enhanced by a suite of advanced sensors and communication technology.

“It’s an adrenaline rush to be in a four-ship formation with four aircraft firing simultaneously,” the pilot said.

“Everyone’s focused on accuracy to make sure we’re doing it effectively to achieve the mission.”

Darwin-based Australian Army pilots are learning how to fly the Apache AH-64E, due to arrive in Australia in the near future.

Further, half a dozen technicians have been sent to the United Kingdom to train on the platforms for the next 18 months, understudying their British counterparts in how to service the aircraft.

Having been based in Darwin for almost 20 years, members of 1st Aviation Regiment are enjoying their last remaining months in the Top End, with the entire regiment relocating to RAAF Base Townsville from 2025.

However, with military training in the Top End ramping up, it is expected that personnel from 1st Aviation Regiment will revisit the Territory for exercises should their expertise be desired.