Production Standard AH-6i Flown

摘要

A production representative Boeing AH-6i close-air support/light attack/reconnaissance helicopter has begun air tests. Its first flight in late April lasted 20 minutes, during which company test pilots flew the helicopter (N306HX, c 06-X003) at low speeds in forward, rearward and sideward flight at low altitude. Over the next few months the flight envelope will be expanded. The AH-6i is the latest iteration of the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse and is an advanced variant of the AH-6M operated by US Army Special Operations Forces. It incorporates technologies used in the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian and is intended to provide close-air support for land-based forces and serve as an attack platform to destroy tanks, armoured vehicles and fortifications.