The last Army Air Corps Apache AH1 squadron performed a farewell flight for this type on Monday 25 March 2024.

 

This event took place immediately after the last overseas deployment of 656 squadron.

A pair of Apaches arrived at Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen (The Netherlands) for a weekend stop on Friday 22 March 2024. They departed on Monday morning and were joined by a flight of new AH-64E Apaches for the farewell tour across the United Kingdom.

 

The flight commenced over the river Thames, just east of the British capital London. From there on several locations were visited which had ties to the Apache AH1 in some form.

 

01. London Heli Lanes
02. Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) at Northwood
03. 3 (UK) DIV HQ Bulford
04. Tidworth Garrison
05. Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) & Army HQ at Marlborough Lines
06. Army Air Corps Center Middle Wallop (fuel stop)
07. RNAS Yeovilton
08. RSEME Lyneham
09. MoD Abbey Wood
10. RAF Shawbury (fuel stop)
11. National Memorial Aboretum
12. Merville Barracks, Colchester
13. Wattisham

 

After this farewell, the last Apache AH1 flight will take place in the near future after which the remaining helicopters will be withdrawn from use. Also 656 squadron is slated to convert to the more modern AH-64E Apache.