Apache Brown Out Landing; Oirschotse Heide, April 16 - 23, 2020

Apaches Train Personnel Recovery; Text, Videos & Photograph's by Alex van Noye

In April multiple AH-64D Apaches of the 301 Redskins Squadron made several brown out landings at the Oirschotse Heide in the Netherlands. It is quite rare to see Apaches performing these kinds of landings in the Netherlands. Normally the Apache are not landing at the heath, because they are generally protecting other helicopters such as the Chinook and the Cougar. Here the scenario of personnel recovery is simulated where the AH-64D Apache will make a landing to pick up a person. This technique will be used when no other transport helicopter is available for a quick personnel recovery. The light on these helicopters was during some landings phenomenal. The Apaches are based at Gilze-Rijen Air Base and belong to the Dutch Defense Helicopter Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The Oirschotse Heide is daily used by the helicopters of the air force to train low level activities. This area is also know as GLV-V (Low Flying Area 5).