Brand new Taiwanese AH-64E helicopter gunship crashes; crew injured

This photo, posted by Weibo user @YaoChyi-Tsai, shows the scene of a Republic of China (Taiwan) Army Boeing AH-64E Apache crash on the morning of 25th April. The helicopter, which was only delivered to Taiwan in December last year, crashed onto the roof of a residential building in Taoyuan county at approximately 1027 local time during a training flight, according to Taiwanese news reports.

Both crew were injured but were said to be in stable condition, and there were no immediate reports of other injuries. The Taiwanese army has said the cause of the crash is being investigated.

All I can say is: Ouch!

UPDATE (0530 GMT): The serial number of the crashed AH-64E is 808. Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft was returning to base following a training flight when it crashed following "loss of power". Taiwan's remaining 17 Apaches have been grounded as a precautionary measure. Taiwan has ordered 30 AH-64Es, with twelve of the aircraft yet to be delivered.

The photo below shows the serial of the crashed Apache and a photo of the same aircraft with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou during the handover ceremony.

UPDATE (1130 GMT): The pilots of board have been named as Captain Chen Lung-chien and trainee pilot Liu Ming-hui. Captain Chen has been quoted as saying the crash happened during poor visibility. Vehicle dash-cam footage of the crash has also appeared on Youtube. Right place, right time.

© AFP/Sam Yeh

© AFP/Sam Yeh

PHOTOS: Taiwanese AH-64E Apache being "wrung out" after assembly

Couple of photos of a Republic of China (Taiwan) Army Boeing AH-64E Apache being test flown at Tainan in southern Taiwan after being assembled. Six of the 30 helicopter gunships on order were delivered by ship to Taiwan in disassembled form last week. Click on thumbnails for high-resolution.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 10 Sept 2013

Delayed by the grounding following a recent crash, two KAI-T-50 trainers are currently on a delivery flight to Indonesia. The two jets will make stopovers in Taiwan and the Philippines for refueling before landing on Indonesia's Iswahyudi Air Force base on Wednesday. Here's a photo of one of the Indonesian T-50s by South Korea's Yonhap news.

According to this AIP Supplement issued by Airservices Australia, Singapore's F-16s will be taking part in the upcoming Exercise Wallaby 2013 to be held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. A Singapore Armed Forces annual combined arms exercise, it will also involve Singapore Air Force Super Puma, Chinook and Apache helicopters.

My latest piece for The Diplomat Magazine is up online. Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific surveys the recent proliferation of through-deck helicopters carriers in the region and looks at their potential for operating fixed wing aircraft.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 03 Sept 2013

Is this a photo of China's new Z-20 medium utility helicopter being transported by road? It is expected to make it's first flight soon, and will be in the same class as the Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter.

Hopefully, this will end the silly brouhaha. The bombs jettisoned into the Coral Sea by Marine Harriers during Talisman Saber in late July have been disposed of.

An look into the possible reasons for Indonesia's choice of the AH-64E Apache helicopter gunship.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 28 Aug 2013

Wreckage of this afternoon's tragic RoKAF T-50 crash

Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots are flying the Arizona ANG's F-16s training with the RSAF's F-15SG detachment at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. It's pretty well known that the RSAF has aircraft based in CONUS for pilot training, but much less well known is the agreement for RSAF pilots to train on ANG F-16s.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that United States will sell 8 AH-64E Apaches to Indonesia. An interesting decision by the Indonesian military, to say the least.

Chinese State media has announced that Changhe WZ-10 attack helicopter has launched an air-to-air missile for the first time during exercises over the waters off China's Guangzhou Province last week.

Apparently, the South Korean Air Force is not happy with the F-15SE selection as carried out by the government procurement agency. Unsuprisingly, the RoKAF wants the F-35A. Some of the comments in the link are worth reading, too (which is the real surprise).

Still on South Korea, an RoKAF T-50 trainer has crashed this afternoon near the southwestern city of Gwangju while on a training flight, killing both pilots.

South Korea shortlists attack helicopter contenders

The Boeing AH-64D Apache, Bell AH-1Z Viper and AgustaWestland T-129 are the contenders shortlisted by South Korea for its upcoming attack helicopter competition. South Korea is expected to name the winner in October together with the winner of it's next generation fighter competition, in deals worth up to US$8 billion.

South Korea to buy attack helicopters, Apache Block III likely selection

Despite the lack of official announcements, it is believed that South Korea will purchase 36 AH-64 Apache Block III helicopters to replace it's AH-1 HueyCobra fleet, with a purchase expected in October 2012.

DSCA announces possible sale of Apache Block IIIs to India

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters with associated ordnance and spares. The complete package is worth approximately $1.4 billion.

400th Longbow radar delivered to US Army, but little used in war zone

Even as Northrop-Grumman and Lockheed-Martin delivers the 400th Longbow millimetre-wave radar to the US Army, Army commanders are admitting that their AH-64D Apaches rarely fly with the radar in the Afghan warzone to save weight in favour of fuel and/or ordnance.

Dutch Apaches leave Afghanistan

The Royal Netherlands Air Force's (RNLAF) Apache helicopters have ended six-year their mission in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. In the last six years, Dutch Apaches conducted reconnaissance, escorted air and ground transport, and provided combat support to ground troops.

UAE to buy Longbow Apache Block III

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of 60 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters. Half will be new build aircraft while the other half will be earlier aircraft remanufactured to Block III configuration.

Block III Apaches to get new fuselages

In addition to the planned power and electronic upgrades, the US Army has added new fuselages for the Block III version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow. Full-rate production is planned to start in fiscal year 2013.

Boeing receives AH-64D Apache Block III LRIP contract

Boeing has announced it has received a $247 million contract to begin Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the US Army’s AH-64D Apache Block III helicopter. The Apache Block III will deliver superior flight performance and dramatically increased networked communications capabilities.

US announces massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia

As expected, the United States has announced a US$60-billion arms package to Saudi Arabia. The sale will include 84 F-15SA Eagles (a derivative of the F-15E) , 70 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, 72 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 36 light helicopters. The sale also includes the upgrade of the existing F-15S to F-15SA standard.

Also see:
Sale of F-15SA Eagles to Saudi Arabia
Sale of AH-64D Longbow Apache to Saudi Arabia

Singapore Apache forced landing due to corroded valve

A corroded Anti-Ice Start Bleed Valve has been blamed for the emergency landing of the RSAF AH-64D Apache in late September. The defective component led to the loss of power and shut-down of both engines during flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing in an open field next to Sembawang Airbase in northern Singapore

Singapore AF in Australia for Ex Wallaby

Over the past few weeks several Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft have been flying into Rockhampton, Queensland in support of the annual Exercise Wallaby. On Friday the 15th of October, six F-16D Block 52+ from 145 (Hornet) Sqn arrived at Rockhampton via Darwin, supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130H Hercules. They were preceded by 2 CH-47SD Chinooks of 127 Sqn in early October which flew into Rockhampton via Darwin, Mount Isa and Longreach and supported by another C-130.

In addition four AH-64D Apaches of 120 Sqn are also in Rockhampton for the exercise, having flown in by a Volga-Dnepr Antonov 124 in early October. They are joined by AS332M Super Pumas from the RSAF detachment in nearby Oakey.

Air base evacuated after live rocket from Afghanistan arrives in mail

Talk about a surprise package. A hangar at Wattisham Airfield had to be evacuated in 2008 after workers opened a package sent by military mail and discovered a live 70mm Flechette rocket in a launcher. Engineers in Afghanistan had posted the launcher, used by Apache attack helicopters, back to Britain without noticing the rocket still inside.

Singapore suspends Seahawk, Apache training flights

The Defence Ministry in Singapore has announced that the Republic of Singapore Air Force has suspended training flights for it's fleet of AH-64D Apache and S-70 Seahawk helicopters after yesterdays crash landing of an RSAF Apache. Both types are powered the General Electric T700 series of engines.

See Related Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery: RSAF Apache crash landing

I have put up a photo gallery of yesterday's incident involving a Republic of Singapore Air Force Apache attack helicopter. The photos have been gathered from various news sources.

BREAKING NEWS: RSAF Apache crash lands

A Republic of Singapore Air Force AH-64D Apache has crash landed on an open field near its base in Sembawang in Singapore's north. Neither the crew or civilians on the ground were unhurt.

From photos at the site of the incident, the tail section has broken off. It looks like the aircraft is a write off.

The Singapore Ministry of Defence has issued a short statement regarding the incident.






Military personnel inspect a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AH-64 Apache helicopter as it sits in an open field after crash landing in the Woodlands area in northern Singapore September 30, 2010. Singapore's Ministry of Defence said the helicopter made a forced landing in the field, and the pilots appeared uninjured, local media reported. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SINGAPORE - Tags: TRANSPORT MILITARY DISASTER)

Location of crash site based on Mindef's statement. The site is to the left of Point A on the image. The forested area to the right is Sembawang Airbase.

(Click on image to view high res version)