Wanting to fly the Apache for US Army?

Question

I work at a heli shop that services MD, really hard to get a ride but eh...
I work on a small airport, no airlines, only small craft, mainly rotor winged, helicopters, the osprey landed to get gas before going to luke afb the other day, i work at Falcon Field.

Anyways, i'm wanting to go to college idk 2-4 years in aeronautical science then join the army as a warrant officer.
2Years pf BCT WOFT and flight training, and testing etc.

I'm really wanting to fly the apache. Anyways my quesion is I have not flown in a helicopter yet, Only saw then experianced on flight simulator etc, love to fly it in Gran Theft Auto but anyways, where can i go near mesa that has a current model thats similar, or loud as the apache feels like one, and how much would it take?


Where can i go to get an hour or more tour, and how much is it?

Answer 1

As far as helicopter lessons are concerned, you can just look online or in the Yellow Pages for a school. There's really no civilian equivalent to an AH-64; certainly none that would be suitable as a trainer.
Not sure what you mean by "tour". Do you mean "lesson"? No you ain't gonna get a ride in AH64, until you're tracked to attack helos. Now, if there's an open house/airshow, there will almost certainly be an AH64 on display. You can talk with the crew and at least look in the cockpit.

Answer 2

I was an Apache mechanic for 6 years in the Army and was not allowed to fly. You HAVE to be a pilot, the only other way is to get a General's approval...which won't happen. Getting a tour of the Mesa plant is possible, but tough. I got one because I was a mechanic and had an "in".
As for similar aircraft to fly in, well, there isn't anything close. Although the EC-120 is a blast to fly so is the MD-500. If you go enlisted tell the recruiter you want to be a 15R (which is the occupation code for an Apache mechanic). Don't let them tell you, or try to give you ANY other code if thats what you want to do. Once you are in, then you can try to become a pilot. Although, they are always ooking for pilots and they might be in more need for them right now so you might have a better chance. College certainly helps that.

Answer 3

You could try the Boeing plant in Mesa, see if they do tours, I really don't know about that. Airshows would be a better bet. You won't fly in one, it requires 2 Apache qualified pilots. I fixed them for 7 years and was lucky enough to do some ground runs with my test pilot. You don't need college to be a WO, although it would look better and it helps later on to advance through the ranks. The Army does (did ?) have a high school to flight school deal, which enlisted recruiters won't tell you about because they don't get credit for that.All that was was skipping the enlisted time and doing BCT and going straight to flight school, but I only met one pilot that did that. Or you can enlist and submit a flight packet after you're in for a bit. Mostly what that is is a written test, physical, several letters of recommendation from officers in your chain of command and some other stuff, takes a little while to get together. After you finish flight school its a 6 year obligation. If you went that route ( enlisting ) go into aviation as a mechanic, that way you're around the people that can walk you through it and write your recommendations. Not everyone gets accepted, and only those towards the top of their class get to pick what they want to fly. Find a WO recruiter to get the best info. Don't let an enlisted recruiter doop you into some BS, they're out for a quota, not what you want. Don't sign crap unless the paper says what you want and you get orders sending you to flight school at Ft Rucker, AL. Good luck with whatever you choose.