ASHEBORO N.C. – Last week several residents across Randolph County witnessed the North Carolina National Guard’s newest Apache Attack Helicopter as it flew over parts of Randolph County as part of a routine training flight.
According to aircraft tracking data, just after 8 p.m., on Thursday, October 19th, 2023, a Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian took off from RDU and flew to Randolph County. Once here, the aircraft flew around an area between Seagrove and Asheboro near Old State Highway 13 at between 1,200 and 2,000 feet, before flying around New Hope Church Rd and Denton areas before returning to RDU.
The helicopter is one of several new AH-64E Version 6 attack helicopters delivered in May of this year to the 1st Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment, Attack Battalion located in Morrisville, North Carolina. Version 6 is the latest and most advanced of the AH-64 platform and is equipped with the latest communications equipment, sensors, navigation equipment, and weapon systems.
The 1st Battalion, 130th Aviation Regiment, was the second Army National Guard unit to fly the 6th version of the Apache Helicopter, and at the time, one of only six attack battalions in the U.S. Army, including active and national guard units to fly the new model of the aircraft.
“The NCNG conducts regular flight training to maintain pilot flight hours and proficiency. This way we are ready to answer the call in fulfilling our mission of defending the state and nation,” said Captain Montandon, Media Relations Officer with the North Carolina National Guard in an email.
Randolph County is no stranger to military helicopter traffic. The U.S. Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, based out of Fort Bragg organizes Robin Sage, a final test/exercise that is part of the Special Forces Qualification Course training.
South of Randolph County is also Alert Area 531, a large special use air space, specifically designated for military training south of Asheboro, directly east of Stanley County and Baden Lake.
You can learn more about the NC National Guard online at https://ng.nc.gov/