CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
The Apache Helicopter is a revolutionary development in the
history of war. It is essentially a flying tank a helicopter designed to survive
heavy attack and inflict massive damage. As a whole, it is a terrifying
machine to ground forces.

The Apache is the primary attack helicopter in the U.S.Arsenal.
ther countries, including the United !ingdom, Israel and Saudi Ara"ia,
have also added Apaches to their fleet.

In this topic, we#ll look at the Apache#s ama$ing flight systems,
weapon systems, engines, sensor systems and amour systems. Individually,
these components are remarka"le pieces of technology. %om"ined together,
they make up an un"elieva"le fighting machine the most lethal helicopter
ever created.
CHAPTER II
HISTORY
The first series of Apaches, developed "y Hughes Helicopters in
the &'()s, went into active service in &'*+. The U.S military is gradually
replacing this original design, known as the AH,-.A Apache, with the more
advanced AH,-./ Apache 0ong"ow. In &'*., 1c /onnell /ouglas
purchased Hughes Helicopters, and in &''(, 2oeing manufactures Apache
helicopters, and the U!,"ased 3!4 5estland helicopters manufacturers the
6nglish versions of the Apache, the 5AH,-..
CHAPTER III
AERODYNAMIC FORCES
The four "asic aerodynamic forces are /rag, Thrust, 5eight and
0ift.
/7A38 /rag is an aerodynamic force that resists the motion of an o"9ect
moving through a fluid. The amount of drag depends on a few factors, such
as the si$e of the o"9ect, the speed of the car and the density of the air.
TH7UST8 Thrust is an aerodynamic force that must "e created "y an airplane
in order to overcome the drag. Airplanes create thrust using propellers, 9et
engines or rockets.
56I3HT8 This is the force acting downwards or the gravitational force.
0I:T8 0ift is the aerodynamic force that holds an airplane in the air, and is
pro"a"ly the important of the four aerodynamic forces. 0ift is created "y the
wings of the airplane.
LIFT
WEIGHT
THRUST
DRAG
0ift is a force on a wing immersed in a moving fluid, and it acts
perpendicular to the flow of the fluid "ut drag is the same thing, "ut acts
parallel to the direction of the fluid flow.
&. Air approaching the top surface of the wing is compressed into the air
a"ove it as it moves upward. Then, as the top surface curves downward
and away from the air stream, a low pressure area is developed and the air
a"ove is pulled downward toward the "ack of the wing.
;. Air approaching the "ottom surface of the wing is slowed, compressed
and redirected in a downward path. As the air nears the rear of the wing,
its sped and pressure gradually match that of the air coming over the top.
The overall pressure effects encountered on the "ottom of the wing are
generally less pronounced than those on the top of the wing.
3.1 FOR STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT
The following relationships must "e true8
TH7UST < /7A3
56I3HT < 0I:T

If for any reason, the amount of drag "ecomes larger then the
amount of thrust, the plane will slow down. If the thrust is increased so that it
is greater than drag, the plane will speed up.
If the amount of lift drops "elow the weight of the airplane, the
plane will descend. 2y increasing the lift, the pilot can make the airplane
clim".

CHAPTER IV
WORKING OF A HELICOPTER
Helicopters are the most versatile flying machines in e=istence
today. This versatility gives the pilot complete access to three dimensional
space in a way that no airplane can.
The ama$ing fle=i"ility of helicopters means that they can fly
almost anywhere. However, it also means that flying the machines is
complicated.
A plane can move forward and turn left or right. It also adds the
a"ility to go up and down. The helicopter can do three things that an airplane
cannot8
a. A helicopter can fly "ackwards.
". The entire aircraft can rotate in the air.
c. A helicopter can hover motionless in the air.
A rotary motion is the easiest way to keep a wing in continuous
motion. The rotating wings of a helicopter are shaped 9ust like the airfoils of
an airplane wing, "ut generally the wings on a helicopter#s rotor are narrow
and thin "ecause they must spin so >uickly. The helicopter#s rotating wing
assem"ly is normally called the 1ain 7otor. If you give the main rotor wings
a slight angle of attack on the shaft and spin the shaft, the wings start to
develop lift.
In order to spin the shaft with enough force to lift the vehicle,
engine of great power is re>uired. 7eciprocating gasoline engines and gas
tur"ine engines are the most common types. The engine#s driveshaft can
connect through a transmission to the main rotor shaft. The arrangement
works really well until the moment the vehicle leaves the ground. At that
moment, there is nothing to keep the engine from spinning 9ust like the main
rotor does. So, in the a"sence of anything to stop it, the "ody will spin in the
direction opposite to the main rotor. To keep the "ody from spinning, a force
is needed to apply on it. The usual way to provide a force to the "ody of the
vehicle is to attach another set of rotating wings to a long "oom. These wings
are known as the Tail 7otor. The tail rotor produces thrust 9ust like an
airplane#s propeller does. 2y producing thrust in a sideways direction,
counteracting the engine#s desire to spin the "ody, the tail rotor keeps the
"ody of the helicopter from spinning. 4ormally, the tail rotor is driven "y a
long drive shaft that runs from the main rotor#s transmission "ack through the
tail "oom to a small transmission at the tail rotor.
CHAPTER V
MAIN PARTS OF AN APACHE
Apache works in the same way as any other helicopter. It has two
rotors that spin several "lades. A "lade is a tilted airfoil, 9ust like an air plane
wing. As it speeds up through the air, each "lade generates the lift

The main roor, attached to the top of the helicopter, spins si=
meter "lades. As the main rotor spins, it e=erts a rotation force on the entire
helicopter. The ai! roor "lades work against this force,they push the tail
"oom in the opposite direction. An Apache has dou"le tail rotors, each with
two "lades.
The pilot maneuvers the helicopter "y ad9usting a "#a"$ %!a&
m&'$ani"m. The swash plate changes each "lade#s pitch to increase lift.
Ad9usting the pitch e>ually for all "lades lifts the helicopter straight up and
down. %hanging the pitch as the "lades make their way around to the rotation
cycle creates uneven lift, causing the helicopter to tilt and fly in a particular
direction.

:ig8 The rotor assem"ly on an AH ,-.A Apache
The swash plate mechanism has two primary roles8
Under the direction of the collective control, the swash plate can change
the angle of "oth "lades simultaneously. /oing this increases or decreases
the lift that the main rotor supplies to the vehicle, allowing the helicopter
to gain or lose altitude.
Under the direction of the cyclic control, the swash plate can change the
angle of "oth "lades individually as they revolve. This allows the
helicopter to move in any direction around a ?-)
o
circle, including
forward, "ackward, and left and right.
The core structure of each "lade consists of five stainless steel
arms, called "%ar", which are surrounded "y a fi"erglass skeleton. The
trailing edge of each "lade is covered with a sturdy graphite composite
material, while the leading edge is made of titanium. The titanium is strong
enough to withstand "rushes with trees and other minor o"stacles, which is
helpful in @nap,of,the,earth@ flying A$ipping along 9ust a"ove the contours of
the groundB. Apaches need to fly this way to sneak up on targets and to avoid
attack. The rear tail wing helps sta"ili$e the helicopter during nap,of,the,
earth flight as well as during hovering
(.1 A%a'$& En)in& an* i" Wor+in)
The Apache Helicopters use tur"o shaft 9et engines to power
their rotors. Some older or smaller helicopters use @reciprocating@ ACistonB
engines for their power source, "ut most of the helicopters in use today use
gas,tur"ine engines. They are light, very powerful and economical. The "est
part is that they are very relia"le as well. :ailure rates for gas,tur"ine engines
are very low "ecause there are not as many internal moving parts as there are
in a reciprocating engine.
A 9et engine works on four very simple principles8 ,S-'+. S/-&&0&,
1-rn an* 1!o#,. The picture posted here shows a simple gas,tur"ine
engine cross section. In the front of the engine is the compressor section
which @Sucks@ in air and @S>uee$es@ it to make it denser and "etter for
com"ustion. Air is "rought into the compressor "y the turning compressor
"lades that are shaped like little airfoils. It works like a "ig fan to move air
into the engine. In "etween the moving rows of compressor "lades are
stationary "lade sets called @stators@. The stators change the direction of the
airflow and help in the compression process. The area that the air can occupy
gets smaller as the air travels through the compressor. The air then goes
through the diffuser section which transports the air neatly into the
com"ustion cham"ers, which are in the com"ustion section. There the air is
mi=ed with fuel and is ignited to create a powerful reaction. AThe @2urn@
partB The e=plosive "urned fuel and air mi=ture then travels into the tur"ine
section where the force is turned into a com"ination of drive power and thrust
Aor e=haustB. If the force is converted mainly into drive power to drive a
transmission, as in most helicopters, then it is referred to as a tur"o shaft
engine. If the force is only converted to enough power to drive the
compressor, and the rest is used as thrust, then it is considered to "e a tur"o9et
Aor thrust producingB engine. AThat is the @2low@ partB.
:ig An e=ample of an Apache helicopter tur"o shaft engine.
(.2 Ho# *o&" $& %o#&r )& 3rom $& En)in& o $& Roor"4
The newest Apache sports twin 3eneral 6lectric T()),36,()&%
tur"o shaft engines, "oasting a"out &,()) horsepower each. The power is
transferred from the engine using a main gear"o= which changes the power
from the engine and sends it to the transmission. In the transmission 7C1 is
reduced from thousands of 7C1 to hundreds of 7C1. 2y doing this the
tor>ue is increased and the rotation is slowed to an accepta"le level for the
rotor system. The transmission drives the mast which gives direct rotation to
the rotors. ften another shaft will come out of the transmission to directly
drive the tail rotor as well.
An accessory gear"o= mounted on the engine draws little engine
power to drive things like the oil pump, the generator and the fuel control for
the engine itself.

CHAPTER VI
HELLFIRE MISSILES
The ApacheDs chief function is to take out heavily armored
ground targets, such as tanks and "unkers. To inflict this kind of damage, you
need some heavy fire power, and to do it from a helicopter, you need an
e=tremely sophisticated targeting system.
The ApacheDs primary weapon, the H&!!3ir& mi""i!&, meets these
demands. 6ach missile is a miniature aircraft, complete with its own
guidance computer, steering control and propulsion system. The payload is a
high,e=plosive, copper,lined,charge warhead powerful enough to "urn
through the heaviest tank armor in e=istence.
:ig Hellfire 1issiles attached in rails
The Apache carries the missiles on four 3irin) rai!" attached to
%5!on" mounted to its wings. There are two pylons on each wing, and each
pylon can support four missiles, so the Apache can carry as many as &-
missiles at a time. 2efore launching, each missile receives instructions
directly from the helicopterDs computer. 5hen the computer transmits the fire
signal, the missile sets off the propellant. nce the "urning propellant
generates a"out +)) pounds of force, the missile "reaks free of the rail. As
the missile speeds up, the force of acceleration triggers the arming
mechanism. 5hen the missile makes contact with the target, an impact
sensor sets off the warhead.
The original Hellfire design uses a laser guidance system to hit
its mark. In this system, the Apache gunner aims a high,intensity laser "eam
at the target Ain some situations, ground forces might operate the laser
insteadB. The laser pulses on and off in a particular coded pattern.
2efore giving the firing signal, the Apache computer tells the
missileDs control system the specific pulse pattern of the laser. The missile has
a !a"&r "&&+&r on its nose that detects the laser light reflecting off the target.
In this way, the missile can see where the target is. The guidance system
calculates which way the missile needs to turn in order to head straight for
the reflected laser light. To change course, the guidance system moves the
missileDs flight fins. This is "asically the same way an airplane steers.
The laser,guided Hellfire system is highly effective, "ut it has
some draw"acks8
%loud cover can "lock the laser "eam so it never makes it to the target.
If the missile passes through a cloud, it can lose sight of the target.
The helicopter Aor a ground targeting crewB has to keep the laser fi=ed on
the target until the missile makes contact. This means the helicopter has to
"e out in the open, vulnera"le to attack.
The H&!!3ir& II, used in Apache 0ong"ow helicopters, corrects
these flaws. Instead of a laser,seeking system, the missile has a radar seeker.
The helicopterDs radar locates the target, and the missiles $ero in on it. Since
radio waves arenDt o"scured "y clouds or o"stacles, the missile is more likely
to find its target. Since it doesnDt have to keep the laser focused on the target,
the helicopter can fire the missile and immediately find cover.
CHAPTER VII
CONTROLS AND SENSORS
The Apache cockpit is divided into two sections, one directly "ehind the
other. The pilot sits in the rear section, and the co,pilotEgunner sits in the
front section. The pilot maneuvers the helicopter and the gunner aims
and fires the weapons. 2oth sections of the cockpit include flight and
firing controls in case one pilot needs to take over full operation.

:ig Apache cockpit sections
The pilot flies the Apache using collective and cyclic controls,
similar to ones you would find in any other helicopter. The controls
manipulate the rotors using "oth a mechanical hydraulic system and a *i)ia!
"a6i!i0aion "5"&m. The digital sta"ili$ation system fine,tunes the powerful
hydraulic system to keep the helicopter flying smoothly. The sta"ili$ation
system can also keep the helicopter in an automatic $o7&rin) position for
short periods of time.
n the 0ong"ow Apache, three display panels provide the pilot
with most navigation and flight information. These digital displays are much
easier to read than traditional instrument dials. The pilot simply presses
"uttons on the side of the display to find the information he or she needs.
:ig Inside the Apache cockpit
ne of the coolest things a"out the Apache is its sophisticated
"&n"or &/-i%m&n. The 0ong"ow Apache detects surrounding ground forces,
aircraft and "uildings using a ra*ar *om& mounted to the mast. The radar
dome uses millimeter radio waves that can make out the shape of anything in
range. The ra*ar "i)na! %ro'&""or compares these shapes to a data"ase of
tanks, trucks, other aircraft and e>uipment to identify the general class of
each potential target. The computer pinpoints these targets on the pilotDs and
gunnerDs display panels.

:ig Apache 0ong"ow with 7adar /ome mounted to its mast
The pilot and the gunner "oth use night vision sensors for night
operations. The night vision sensors work on the 3or#ar* !oo+in) in3rar&*
A:0I7B system, which detects the infrared light released "y heated o"9ects.
The pilotDs night vision sensor is attached to a rotating turret on top of the
ApacheDs nose. The gunnerDs night vision sensor is attached to a separate
turret on the underside of the nose. The lower turret also supports a normal
video camera and a telescope, which the gunner uses during the day.
:ig The sensor array on an Apache helicopter
CHAPTER VIII
EVASION AND ARMOUR
The ApacheDs first line of defense against attack is keeping out of
range. The helicopter is specifically designed to fly low to the ground, hiding
"ehind cover whenever possi"le. The Apache is also designed to evade
enemy radar scanning. If the pilots pick up radar signals with the on"oard
scanner, they can activate radar 9ammer to confuse the enemy.
The Apache is also designed to evade heat,seeking missiles "y
reducing its infrared signature Athe heat energy it releasesB. The 1!a'+ Ho!&
in3rar&* "-%%r&""ion "5"&m dissipates the heat of the engine e=haust "y
mi=ing it with air flowing around the helicopter. The cooled e=haust then
passes through a special filter, which a"sor"s more heat. The 0ong"ow also
has an infrared 9ammer, which generates infrared energy of varying
fre>uencies to confuse heat,seeking missiles.
The Apache is heavily armored on all sides. Some areas are also
surrounded "y !evlar soft armor for e=tra protection. The cockpit is
protected "y layers of reinforced armor and "ulletproof glass. According to
2oeing, every part of the helicopter can survive &;.(,mm rounds, and vital
engine and rotor components can withstand ;?,mm fire.
The area surrounding the cockpit is designed to deform during
collision, "ut the cockpit canopy is e=tremely rigid. In a crash, the
deformation areas work like the crumple $ones in a car ,, they a"sor" a lot of
the impact force, so the collision isnDt as hard on the crew. The pilot and
gunner seats are outfitted with heavy !evlar armor, which also a"sor"s the
force of impact. 5ith these advanced systems, the crew has an e=cellent
chance of surviving a crash.
CHAPTER I8
CONCLUSION
:lying an Apache into "attle is e=tremely dangerous, to "e sure,
"ut with all its weapons, armours and sensor e>uipment, it is a formida"le
opponent to almost everything else on the "attlefield. It is a deadly
com"ination of strength, agility and fire power.
The U.S is now developing a new revolutionary helicopter called
F%1A4%H6#, which has several superior techni>ues. 2ut it is still under
construction. So, at present the ACA%H6 holds the no.& position among the
revolutionary helicopters.
CHAPTER 8
REFERENCES
&. !roes, GAircraft,2asic ScienceH.
;. !roes, 5atkins, /elp, GAircraft,3as Tur"ine 6ngine TechnologyH.
?. www.howstuffworks.com
A1STRACT
The Apache Helicopter is a revolutionary development in the
history of war. It is essentially a flying tank, a helicopter designed to survive
heavy attack and inflict massive damage. It can $ero in on specific targets,
day or night, even in terri"le weather. As you might e=pect, it is a terrifying
machine to ground forces.
In this topic, we look at the Apache#s ama$ing flight systems,
engines, weapon systems, sensor systems and armour systems. Individually
these components are remarka"le pieces of technology. %om"ined together
they make up an un"elieva"le fighting machine the most lethal helicopter
ever created.
CONTENTS
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