Thirty to Forty U.S Army Apache Longbow helicopters, made their first large-scale strikes in the pre-dawn darkness deep inside Iraq against Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard's Medina Division around Karbala, south of Baghdad. The assault crippled four or five Iraqi tanks and several light vehicles. The American pilots said they were forced to abandon most of their targets because of a curtain of fire that rose from streets, roofs and back yards. Iraqi troops were using conventional anti-aircraft artillery, AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Pilots struggled as bullets whizzed past their heads and damaged some key components on their aircraft. One Army pilot recollected the gunfire hitting his aircraft. "As long as I live, I'll never forget that sound: tink-tink-tink."
This Apache pilot is wearing the new two-piece ABDU, Aviators Battle Dress Uniform, the latest for rotor pilots. The classic sage green flight suits are still issued and seen in service. He also wears the armored crewman boots which are very popular in Cavalry units. Army aviators joke that nowadays pilots look like tankers and tankers look like pilots
The pilot is wearing his glare shield in the down position, with his IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sub System) over his right eye. Target Acquisition and Designation Sight (TADS) giving the pilot and gunner the latest in computerized target and weapon information, and a Pilots Night Vision System (PNVS) with an integrated helmet and display sighting system which provides excellent night vision capabilities. The PNVS, when used with TADS, allows a crewmember to aim his weapon simply by looking at his target. |
