Autopsy of a Near Disaster (2003)

[Hippikos]

The Apaches perform flawlessly doing what they were designed for.

The Apaches are described as attack-helicopter. Don't you expect incoming when attacking? When I think of light construction, I think of reconnaissance, stealth, high flying, not attacking.

Actually, the original Apache was designed to hid behind terrain and bushes (Iraq mostly don't have) and snipe Russian tanks. But then came the Product Managers and designed an attack helicopter behind their desks.

In Kosovo where much was expected from the Apaches, 2 immediately crashed during training and commanders decided not to send them into battle because they were too vulnerable to Serbian surface to air missiles.

Said that, the A-10 is a helluva plane and worth every penny of it.