April 2022 - Month of the Apache

Hi folks,

With the Apache going live, the journey to learn this deadly attack helicopter has just begun.

I've spent the last few days getting acquainted with the cockpit, start-up procedures and the relatively mundane aspects of flying the AH-64. So far, the visuals are simply mind-blowing. Just like they did with the recent Hind and Mosquito, Eagle Dynamics has really set a new standard for graphical fidelity. At first, the aircraft stares at you, cold and lifeless... until you hear the engines roar, the rotor blades flap and the gun blast any area back to the stone age. It truly is a spectacular helicopter to behold.

Once in the air, the AH-64 handles remarkably well. The basics of helicopter flight still apply, but once you get used to it, it becomes a surprisingly agile creature. I had a couple of flights in multiplayer to see new players in action, and lots of them seemed to get the hang of it pretty early on.

Speaking of multiplayer... seeing multiple Apaches work together to attack targets is something everyone should experience at least once. The servers being pretty much full during the first release week, you could see swarms of 10+ AH-64s hammering armored columns with rockets, cannon rounds and Hellfire missiles. Seeing the fireworks on the FLIR display shows how devastating a well-trained flight can be when left unchecked by the fighters.

The IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System) monocle adds an enormous amount of information available to you. I have begun to play with different sensors, and there will be an awful lot of work to do in order to clarify how to interact with what sensors and in what circumstances. In that regard, the AH-64 is an excruciatingly complex machine that is both very powerful in terms of capabilities but sometimes difficult when you don't have a deep understanding of how things work under the hood. The Sensors section will likely be one of the toughest chapters to write... ever.

The TADS (Target Acquisition and Designation Sight) and PNVS (Pilot Night Vision System) integration will prove to be a tough nut to crack. Flying at night with those is a real game-changer. I've played a bit with it, and seeing "through" the cockpit and seeing the outside world seems right out of a science fiction novel.

Overall, my first impressions of the module are good. You can tell that the AH-64 is still missing a number of more advanced functions like the FCR (Fire Control Radar), datalink and certain autopilot modes... but what we have so far is a solid platform that is quite capable of providing a solid base to work with and expand from. The number of weapons may seem small at first, but the strength of the Apache lies mainly in how flexible it is to perform its mission. From what I witnessed, its gameplay is something that should keep us flight sim nerds busy for years to come.

I think that the Apache Guide will either be my crowning achievement (or an epic fail to remember). The sheer amount of information is something that has to be dissected, understood and explained in terms that the average person can understand. I've drafted a few proofs of concept, and I'll keep iterating until I'm happy with the result (or I throw it all in the bin and start over). The process will likely take a few months, but I hope I can go through with it and bring you guys something to enjoy the madness of flying one of the deadliest attack helicopter of our time.