Contact: Hal Klopper McDonnell Douglas (602) 891-5519

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

97-101

MESA, Ariz., May 5, 1997 -- The first class of the U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow aviators has completed its comprehensive flight training program at McDonnell Douglas (NYSE: MD) where the Army and McDonnell Douglas are teamed for this ongoing effort.

The class of 15 initial key personnel graduated May 2 after completing the entire training program at the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems facility in Mesa, Ariz. McDonnell Douglas is the prime contractor for the U.S. Army's Apache Longbow remanufacturing program, which is turning the Army's combat-proven AH-64A Apache into the next-generation version, the AH-64D Apache Longbow.

The student pilots began their training March 3. The group is the first of 20 classes of more than 200 Army Apache Longbow aviators, 60 instructor pilots and 30 maintenance test pilots who will be trained in Mesa over the next two years.

Additionally, 37 classes of more than 600 maintenance personnel will be trained at the McDonnell Douglas facilities over the next three years.

Subsequent classes will consist of students from the 1-227th Aviation Battalion from Fort Hood, Texas, the 2-101st Aviation Battalion from Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 1-2nd Aviation Battalion, Korea. The first U.S. Army Apache Longbow unit will be equipped in July 1998.

U.S. Army instructors receive academic and simulator training from McDonnell Douglas Training Systems and then move into actual aircraft under the guidance of pilots from McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems.

The first graduating class of pilots will form half of the cadre of U.S. Army personnel assigned to A/1-14th at Mesa under the command of Maj. Pat Garman. This group will conduct the flight training for the second half of the cadre scheduled to graduate in August. After that time, these pilots will conduct all flight training for operators in the first two Apache Longbow battalions. All academic and hands-on training for the maintainers will be conducted by McDonnell Douglas instructors.

During the first group's training exercises, student pilots logged approximately 20 hours of flight time during 13 missions. The students, experienced AH-64A Apache pilots and maintenance personnel, are receiving comprehensive training in the aircraft's multi-purpose displays, communication, navigation and weapons systems. Aviators will receive eight weeks of training while maintenance personnel will receive up to 11 weeks of specialized education. The first group of maintainers will begin instruction in June.

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