Operation Maxwell (LZ Ardvarc 2) AH64 FLIR 1-2 Approach.

Operation Maxwell (LZ Ardvarc 2). Approach to Landing Zone Ardvarc. American AH-64 Apache FLIR (Forward-looking Infrared camera) footage of Australian Army CH-47D Chinook A15-106, 5th Aviation Regiment (5 Avn Regt) nearing its first mission objective, LZ Ardvarc. Captain Jason Otter later wrote: "The mission was a Night patrol insertion including a 13000 lb vehicle carried as an internal load. The LZ was mountainous terrain north of the Chora Valley at an elevation of 6500’ AMSL [above mean sea level] with a corresponding Density Altitude (DA) of approx. 9000 feet. The footage shows the flight’s approach to landing in what turned out to be quite challenging conditions due to the high all up weight, High Density Altitude and dust on the unprepared Landing Zone. Our supporting Apache crew provided the footage which showed the dust landing technique we were using. You can see the dust cloud generated by the downwash of the CH47 and clearly seen on the Apache FLIR which senses infrared radiation. I recall you could see the glow of the two engine exhaust and the scintillation generated by the tips of the rotor blades. The final landing is captured just as the aircraft is engulfed by the dust cloud. It was a 4.1 hour mission that night with Major Jason (Jase) Duggan, the Sqn OC, as the Aircraft captain in A15-106". See more Apache footage capturing the first objective landing at AWM2019.311.8.108 and AWM2019.311.8.111. Further footage capturing the second objective landing at LZ Hornet can be seen at AWM2019.311.8.110 and AWM2019.311.8.66.