By CATRINA FRANCIS

Staff photo by Maureen Rose THE APACHE PILOTS OF THE 11TH AVIATION COMMAND have enjoyed the extra “decoration” of their aircraft. Staff photo by Maureen Rose Staff photo by Gavin LaPaille THE APACHE HELICOPTERS FLIES LOW and slow over Fort Knox’s Brooks Field Aug. 25 in its final flight before reassignment. Photo by Mike Borger/11th Aviation Command THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE TWO APACHE HELICOPTERS ASSIGNED to Fort Knox’s 11th Aviation Command—the parent unit to the 8-229th—began with liftoff from Godman Army Airfield as receiving clearance from the control tower which displays the command’s unit crest. Staff photo by Maureen Rose THE FLYING TIGER IS A HERITAGE LOGO that the 8th Battalion of the 229th Aviation Regiment has inherited and was painted on the side of the Apache. The logo will not transfer to the receiving unit as the Flyer Tigers are the historical predecessors of the 8-229th.

Gold Standard Senior Staff Writer

catrina.s.francis2.civ@mail.mil

In the past few months Fort Knox has undergone a few changes, from the inactivation of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division to the addition of more than 8,000 cadets this summer who attended U.S. Army Cadet Command’s newly-consolidated cadet summer training program. Last week the installation underwent one more change when the 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment’s AH-64 Apaches flew their final circle around the installation head-quarters building and Brooks Parade Field.

The Army Reserve has been using the Apache since the 1990s and the 8-229th Aviation Regiment has been using the helicopter since 1992, said Col. Charles Durr, the 8-229th’s former battalion commander. He added that the Apache is being replaced by the UH-60 Black Hawk.

“(The Apache) is an attack aircraft (which) provides support for ground troops,” explained Durr. “(The Apache) is very prestigious, very complicated (and) difficult to fly. It’s also expensive.”

Durr pointed out that the Black Hawk isn’t an attack helicopter, it’s used to perform a variety of missions ranging from carrying cargo to troops. He also said the Black Hawk is easier to maintain and pilots have fewer flying hours when compared to the Apache.

Changing aircraft also meant having pilots attend school to fly the Black Hawk. Durr said having the Black Hawk means less training because the training that was required to fly the Apache was quite extensive.

“The Apache course was four months and the Black Hawk course is six weeks,” said Durr. “(In the) Apache (course, pilots) learned how to employ guns, rockets and missiles.”

Since the change was announced, Durr said 40 pilots have attended the UH-60 Black Hawk qualification course. He added that additional training is needed because enlisted Soldiers had to qualify as crew chiefs and they were refreshed on the aircraft’s characteristics.

“(They) learned to be a functioning part of a crew of a Black Hawk,” Durr said. “The burden on pilots and crew chiefs has lessened. The crew chief is excited. Now they get to ride along (and they are) more involved. They don’t just perform maintenance, they are part of the crew (and) they are having a good time at it.”

Durr also admitted to the unit enduring a few growing pains as it transitioned from an attack aircraft to one with a different mission. But, he said, the unit has adjusted quite well and having the Black Hawk means the unit could possibly expand its mission on the installation. The airfield has two 660-gallon water buckets and the Black Hawks could possibly be used to fight fires if called upon by the installation. While the unit doesn’t have a full-time Soldier available for this mission, it does have aircraft available for this mission.

Although Durr has moved on from being the unit’s commander, he enjoyed his time and admitted to having a little bit of melancholy as he prepared to leave.

“I have no regrets (flying an Apache),” he said. “All good things must come to an end. I enjoyed my time flying an Apache and being commander. This unit will be fine flying Black Hawks. The change is good and the Black Hawk adds a level of versatility that Apaches don’t have.”