You can download War Thunder for free from the link: wtplay.link/sameckholm! I think it’s pretty sick that you can actually play with an AH-64 Apache, and I had a blast flying around and blowing stuff up. Right now, they're giving away a lot of limited-time bonuses for all new players and those who haven’t entered War Thunder for six months or more, so go check it out!

17:52 The way the Blackhawk is turning while the Apache is flying over is absolutely amazing to watch.

as a retired Apache mechanic, there are three things you have to look out for in an aviation unit. the lieutenant that says, "follow me", the captain that says, "it's been my experience" and the warrant officer that says, "watch this!"

Aiming the Gun with the Helmet Display Unit is probably the coolest military tech I've seen so far.

There's a special place in my heart for the Apache. Back in 2001 my dad pulled the car over in front of Craig airfield in Jacksonville FL. We stopped so we could look at all the planes and helicopters through the fence. After about 5 minutes, a man dressed in a military uniform drove his golfcart right up to us and invited us inside for a closer look. Amongst other things, that day i ended up in the gunner seat of an Apache. I was just a kid, and it was an amazing experience. 🚁

Shout out to the crew of the UH-60. That was some very nice flying.

Now if there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that nothing is more powerful than a young boy's wish. Except an Apache helicopter. An Apache helicopter has machine guns AND missiles. It is an unbelievably impressive complement of weaponry, an absolute death machine.

My dad is an Apache pilot, and one time he did a flyover while me and my family watched, we were on a dirt road out in the country and he flew down very close to us, the power that the helicopter had on all the dirt and rocks and grass was greater than anything I’d ever seen, it literally picked up rocks and threw them like a tornado, it was insane

I worked at the Boeing plant where these are built for six years. My job, exclusively, was shooting and editing videos on the AH-64D. We traveled to several army posts and had the Apaches perform for us. One of the things we decided early on was NOT to use shutter on the video cameras. It gives the aircraft an artificial look, seeing the individual blades turning. 1/60th is what we always used and it gave the aircraft a nice, natural look. Sitting in the cockpit, I got to place small cameras on a couple of ships to capture great footage of them flying and firing. We watched and videoed live fire exercises and low level maneuvers frequently. I was once placed at a FARP, where they did the rearming during the exercises. That was super exciting. We also got to fly in chase aircraft, including Blackhawks, in order to get air-to-air footage. We even had our own flight suits. Man, did I become familiar with that aircraft and all that it can do! Greatest job in the world!

The AH-64 Apache has been one of my most requested videos ever. Big thanks to the U.S. Army for having me out! What video should I do next?

Stupendous work as always!👍

The fact that you have a CW5 casually give you a tour is amazing, these guys are the SMEs who advise Generals in their specialty area. You are a lucky guy! Wonderful Video!!

I think there's much more to be said about the radar dome and the way the heli with it can share its data with the other Apaches. If you have a squad of Apaches the commander with the dome can actually prioritize targets for the whole squad and when destroyed reassign priority target while missiles are already mid flight. And all of that from beyond visual range.

This video was honestly incredible. The camera work was amazing, and it was just overall an awsome watch. I really hope this video blows up, you deserve it.

My dad was with the Air Force weather squadron at Fort Rucker in the 60’s…we owned a farm 20 miles northwest and had an army homing beacon on the corner of a 100 acre corn field, so every few weeks about 50 to 100 Hueys and OW-1 scouts tore over our farm at “a safe low altitude” and we would scream with delight and wave, of course!

You know. I work on these things on a daily basis. Any maintainer on any airframe will tell you we usually develope a love hate (leaning more towards hate) relationship with our aircraft, but when we get to see this thing do its job. You also get a little bit of pride 😌

Those pilots were trained well! Flying that close to the ground at high speeds like that is always scary and difficult, but they did it, and looked badass while doing it!

Shout out to all the maintainers who have ever worked on an Apache going back almost 50 years. Thank you all for keeping these in the air.

That man in the beginning was not a 1LT, he's a CW5. Extremely rare to see in the wild 🦄

A couple years ago around this time my family friends and I were sitting in a cove on a lake, and out of nowhere, three Apache helicopters come flying into the cove and up into the air. We didn’t know they were there until we saw them because they were under the tree line and we couldn’t hear them. By far one of the best experiences I’ve had!!

I saw one of these fly up to the side of a mountain in Afghanistan real close face to face with Taliban and shoot rockets at them. It was one of the coolest things I saw on that deployment.

As a 15Y Apache Armament maintainer I'd say the AH64's weapon systems are some of my favorite things to work on when it comes to this airframe. The best part overall is being able to go to a FARP and do the job I signed up to do so the pilots can go rain hell on targets.

That was amazing, what a badass helicopter platform, used to dream of flying one one day growing up. Thanks to all of them for their service, and for being willing to take you in like that, super cool. Thank you to you as well for sharing these adventures, and props to War Thunder for sponsoring all of this, love that game.

6:10 I love the pilot's 25th Infantry Division "Tropic Lightning" patch. Schofield Barracks, Oahu Hawaii.

Hey Sam, can you please make a video on what you do in a normal day as an member of the Air Force? Like not on deployment or a mission, just what would a normal member of the Air Force do daily?

As an employee of Sikorsky Aircraft building 60’s for our Nation’s various military branches, I have much respect and admiration for these Apache’s. God bless all of our Nation’s war fighters and thank you all for your service. 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸

It's amazing how quiet it is. At the end when you're in the field, you don't hear it until it's almost on top of you. They must have been approaching from upwind so that the wind would help mask its sound.

Brings back memories of when I was stationed at Fort Rucker back in the day before the US ARMY had the Apache, I worked on the Cobra Helicopters. Just before I left Fort Rucker the Apaches were delivered to our Base. Thanks for posting this amazing video!

Im impressed, not only did you get to play around a 64, but you caught a CW5 on camera. Thats like a unicorn, and I swear that Captain was a young Dan Aykroyd at the mid point! lol awesome vid.

That instructor explaining weapons operation is an awesome instructor. Gave me my gunnery checkride and I learned a ton from him.

Big thanks and MUCH LOVE. To any and all Service members reading this. THANK YOU

Imagine you're a infantry soldier on the battlefield getting pinned down by the enemy, then you look behind and see this 17:52

Us Dutch are the second user of the Apache , seen them a few times. Now we have the E version. Most fierce beast on the battle field. Estimation 2050 phase out! With the newest version Chinook most impressive 💪🏻

There is nothing like an apache meet up and come over head your convoy when you are in a dangerous area...the relief you feel that you can take a quick breather knowing they are there is probably the best feeling you can have on a convoy.

Thanks for reminding me that these are cool. I mean I've been working on them for 37 years now and often don't even look up when one is landing. You can see the hanger I work out of several places in this video. And while the airframe has changed very little over the years the capabilities with better and better avionics has skyrocketed so to speak.

I applaud you for not saying "in the world" when describing the AH-64 as the most powerful attack helicopter. Whether it is or not, doesn't matter but there is a welcome humility in the way you put it that these types of channels rarely have.

I was a 67R before they reclassified the MOS as 15R. My aircraft was tail #485 at one point. Had my name, and those of the pilots assigned spray painted with a stencil on the side. One of the few fond memories I have of my time in the Army.

That shot of the Black Hawk flying behind the Apache was BADASS! Also, the way the 30mm sounds from the ground is sick too! Thanks for getting all the vantage points.

I don't see it talked about a ton but the Army's Warrant Officer Pilot program is such a great program. The other branches should try to emulate it.

With the war in Ukraine and Russia flying a lot of missions with the Ka-52, it's been interesting to see the number of videos about how "great" of a design that is and maybe better than the Apache. I can't say a whole lot about since I've never seen one in person. What I can say though is that I've seen Apaches through the year at different airshows and displays. Absolute amazing aircraft. I will always remember the demonstration where 2 of them took turns flying acrobatic passes. Then one stopped dead center of the demonstration area and got everyone's attention. The other one then snuck up on the side of the crowd. Such a powerful, but quiet machine. To me it's telling that all the videos of Russian attack helicopters are firing their unguided rockets in volleys of multiple units. Apaches on the other hand use 1 to 3 at most. Just like Russian fighter aircraft pulling cobra maneuvers at airshows, Russians like to show off the max ability of their designs. The US military on the other had is confident in the ability of their machines, crews, tactics, and training that they just have to let you know their competent and confident.

I remember going to a bombing range in Georgia with my brother back in the 90s. Got to see an Apache come in and do it's peek-a-boo from behind the trees. Also watched an F-16 do gun runs and a B-1 from Warner Robbins do a high altitude bomb drop on a target. The coolest part was watching those 1000lb practice bombs rebound about 300ft in the air after hitting Terra Firma. I'll never forget that day.

If you want to get deeper into what the Apache can do, there's a couple of really good memoirs from Ed Macy about his time as a UK Apache pilot in Afghanistan. The story of the 2007 rescue mission they performed was something straight out of an action movie.

My buddy and I stumbled across an Apache on a road trip passing through Tennessee. There was a torrential downpour and an Apache from a U.S. Army base in Kentucky made an emergency landing to wait out the storm in a mall parking lot. We were waiting out the storm in the same mall. Once the weather calmed we were making our way back to our car when in the corner or the parking lot all by itself surrounded by US Army soldiers was an Apache. We walked up and asked the closest soldier if we could get closer and take a look. He looked at us and said “what do you think?” Lol.

Incredible as always, Sam! Fort Rucker is an amazing place. Hard to describe how large it is and how many helicopters of every kind you can see on just a regular, normal day. Chinooks, sky cranes, Apaches, Kiowas - you name it. There are flight pads, runways, and war game areas everywhere! Civilians routinely witness amazing spectacles just driving around town and through the base.

Congrats on CW5, Drew! I haven't seen you since I was Ghostrider 36 in 2009! What a great surprise to see you on this video. - LTC N.

Drew!!! Kaylee and Cassie have such an amazing and inspirational father figure in their life!

My wife has worked for FLIR for over 25 years in Wilsonville, Oregon. She works for the military division. They outfit law enforcement aircraft also. They were the headquarters that designed the camera that found the last Boston Marathon bomber in the boat. Great company and products. Saves lives all over the world.

As a kid when we would say what our parents did for work, I got in trouble several times when I would tell the class my dad flies apache helicopters. It was always funny hearing the teacher apologize the next day. Love you pop. Flying Tigers, "Death from above".

Just saw them in Poland 🇵🇱 They're amazing!

Cool video, amazing footage 😎 You are so lucky to be able to do what you do Sam. My Dad was a US Army pilot who flew a Huey during his 3 tours in Vietnam, so I grew up loving everything that had wings. I believe he was stationed at Fort Rucker before I was born. This is the first time I have seen such an in-depth introduction of the Apache - thanks!

It was cool to hang out with you and chat with your crew during refuel. What they don't see is how cold some of you were going doors open, now go after that DAP ;)

That last part when they flew right over you standing with your hands up was insane. I can only imagine what it was like in person. My adrenaline would still be flowing!

I always wonder if the enemies of the US find these sorts of videos extremely useful 🤔🤫

Great surprise by the crews at the end, they sure know how to create some great content there. Im sure some future Army pilots will be inspired by this video !

That Apache pass was great, but that BH tail sliding in, Amazing!!!

Memories of Ft Rucker in the late 60s, and my CWO uncle who flew Hueys. He did not make it home. He was shot down near the DMZ during the Tet offensive.

Well, you met the first half of the original hunter/killer team....The other helicopter that complimented the Apache was the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. I had to say both the OH-58D and AH-64D Longbow were great when we had them in our sectors during our deployments to IRAQ ( I did four tours). Sadly the Kiowa Warrior was retired 15APR16 and made its last flight that day. That helicopter flew for 33 years and now the Apache has assumed its role in the recon department. Im surprised that War thunder has not implemented the OH-58D Kiowa warrior in the game. I love when they conduct their hellfire shoot and then push whats called map of the earth maneuvers. I know the highlight of your day was them flying a few feet above you. Its great when they can pass over you while youre on top of the tank moving along a route and they greeting each other is hilarious.

As a former AH-64A crew chief from the 1990s, this is a very well produced and informative video. They have changed from the Alpha models quite a bit, but so much more hasn't changed, and it's cool to see. 5/501st, 1/229th, 2ID. The ALSE doesn't look like it's changed all that much.

When I was about 12 my dad bought me a game for my commodore 64. Yes - that's going back quite a few years now. It was called Gunship! And the to spite many of the design aspects being classified the game makers (MicroProse) had actually engaged with the military to gather as much information as they could for this AH64 Apache simulation. Yes, the Graphics were by current standards, a bit simple, but the game at the time was an all round winner from my perspective. It was super complex with multiple levels of challenge. I played that disk for years on end until I actually sold my computer to upgrade. I imagined what video games might look like in the future. What they "could" look like if computers got better. I've seem some pretty good sims but nothing brings me back like looking at vids of the old original simulation. Even the manual was packed with information on all the weapons, & dynamics. I learned every single page of that manual back then and even now a lot of the details still stick in my mind!

The base isn't called Ft Rucker anymore, it was changed about a month ago. It is now known as Ft Novosel.

As a mechanic for these, they're amazing... When they work

This was actually better than any military documentary I have ever seen. Amazing production. Can't beleve you have only 300k subs - now you've got one more.

I’ve got a bit of front seat time in an Apache. I was a crew chief and I had a pilot or two take me for a ride. Good times.

Had something like that fly across a field straight towards me really low while I was driving the other day, absolutely bricked it.

that vision oriented turret is one of the coolest things ive seen in a long time.

I've loved the apache ever since the 1990+1 gulf war; I joined the uk army to train as helicopter avionics tech because late 90s we'd ordered 50 or so to be built on license - however we got rolls royce to redesign the engines, which produce 20% more power, even Vs the e version upgrade. Absolutely lethal machine

Flying choppers is one of the most Amazing thing u can feel inside any contested area.. where everyth on the field gonna take your helo down if u don't pay attention ...if u don't fly extremely low ...if u don't use speed at your advantage ...trust me. It's so much stressful to stay alive and complete the mission u Would ever never Seen the Battlefield as previously...apache with his fcr is one of my favourite Platform to fly with

Back in the early '80's I was in a canoe in the middle of White Western Lake just outside of Panama City. A cobra gunship out of Eglin came out of Eglin AFB popped on the horizon and then right over me. No Apache... but powerful, scary and very intimidating, especially when I thought, "Was I in their targeting system?"

You interacted with a CW5?? I'd always heard they were mythical creatures that arrive on flying unicorns!

Awesome video Sam you have one of the best jobs in the world I would die for a chance to do any of the things you have accomplished keep up the good work Buddy

what an honor that must have been to receive a highspeed low drag salute like that from the pilots!

The helmet turning where the pilot looks and fires at it is awesome!

As a former 15R, I miss tearing these aircraft apart and putting them back together during 500hr phase. That first engine start during MOC’s is like a growl that you can feel in your chest. Warms the soul.

I’ve seen and been on an ah 64 (on the ground ofc) for the first time today. It was a d model and it was so cool. It had the rails for agm 114s hydras, and the auto cannon. Got to talk to the pilot. That same day, I saw a recon drone, and a uh 60 with m240 mount. Those things are so cool! Also, the pilot flew in both front and back.

Wow, the AH-64 Apache is an absolute beast! It's incredible to witness the power and capabilities of this helicopter platform. As a kid, I used to daydream about flying one too. Major respect to the brave individuals who serve and operate these machines. The adrenaline rush must be unimaginable. Thanks for sharing these epic adventures, and a shoutout to War Thunder for making it all possible. 🚁💥🔥

Dude your videographer's skills are on point! Love it!!!

Sam, the footage you get is INSANE 🔥 Thanks for another banger 👍

Goosebumps on that flyover! Awesome video, Sam. 😊

Oh man you are so lucky. I’ve been in love with the AH-64 ever since before you were probably born. When Microprose brought out a game for the PC among other platforms (like the Amiga and Atari ST) in 1986 called “Gunship”. Since then I’ve been lucky enough to see these things up close when I lived in Dorset in the UK. I took a drive to the Augusta Westland HQ in Yeovil and just sat outside the perimeter fence just awestruck. The noise these thing make is simply beautiful

That Chief knows his stuff, junior officers would be fortunate to work with him

I remember seeing the low level flights in the late 80's on the Salt River during flight testing...low enough to leave a wake in the river. Now that was impressive.

As a former 11B in the Army; watching these birds do live fire at night was incredible. Lots of firepower.

That shot in the beginning is amazing! you don't know it's there until it's right above you!!

What a video, one of the best I've watched this year. New sub

So excited to see this video. Gave me insight and makes me proud of my kiddo who flies these. Great presentation. You’ve earned another subscriber.

Just watching gave me goosebumps, can't imagine how great the real experience must have been. Awesome.

Its so awesome to see a beast of a machine like the AH-64 in action , truly amazing to see it in action.

God bless all engineers and technicians who built this helicopter. Only they know the amount of challenges, pressure that they had to overcome to make this a reality.

I flew these for over 10 years. Definitely not as intuitive as a video game, and if you like studying like it's a full time job, Army aviation is a great way to do it. Great video. And that is a young Chief Warrant officer 5. Really knows his stuff.

Incredible skill on both pilots and gunners. Thanks for sharing 😊

Gosh i had goosebumps all over watching this especially that final moment they decide to surprise you

great video again. 'the secondary rotor is to counteract the torque' giving me flashbacks to my uni days

You got me back into aviation thanks for the awesome videos 👊🏼

Those flyovers would’ve been so cool to experience in person!

*_AH stands for "Attack Helicopter"...._* Both Cobra and Apache are Rotary Wing Attack Helicopters. The Black Hawk replaced the Huey and the Apache replaced the Cobra. The Marines are still using the latest version for Huey. It is still an awesome attack platform for CAS (close attack support). I saw a live fire exercise in 1971 at a local military training facility. From that day on I wanted to fly one. Right out of high school in 1972 I went to enlist in the Marines and fly Cobra. I wanted to saving my buddies on the ground. If the A-10 was released a bit sooner, I might have been in Air Force. They didn't share A-10 to other Branches in Military. A-10 is faster and it's GAH-8 auto cannon shoots bigger rounds than Apache. Both use a 30mm diameter, Apache's rounds are 30mm x 130, while the A-10 uses 30mm x 173mm. A-10 can fire up to 4,000 - 6,000 rounds per minute. Apache's chain gun can fire 600 - 625 rounds per minute. Although the A-10 has faster guns and bigger rounds, the Apache is far more accurate. A-10 has to begin firing before arriving to target. They will lay down an assortment of deadly rounds while travel several hundred miles per hour. Apache can 'Hover' and stay in 1 spot for long time. With the targeting radar on top of Apache, they can 'see' and not be seen by enemy. *_The Apache is Cobra on steroids. What an awesome bird..._*

Went to school near an air force base. One day a couple of these flew over campus. They shook the ground. These things are incredible.

That was awesome. Thanks to you, that is as close to flying an apache helicopter that I will ever have. It's a dream of mine to fly, but I have physical challenges that prevented me from having a pilots license, and career in aviation. Thank you very much for sharing this video. I really appreciate it.

My dad flew blackhawks in both Iraq and Afghanistan, so the AH-64 and the pilots that flew them were essentially working together like bread and butter.

I honestly wouldn't mind having both AH64 and the Black Hawk flying over me... That looks so good.

The flyby's at the end were epic!