First British civilian to fly supersonic in an F-16 pushes things even further with wild AH-64 Apache ride

The first British civilian to fly supersonic in an F-16 airplane has now taken on an experience that was completely different, but just as wild, and it involved an Apache attack helicopter.

After reaching around 1,300mph in an F-16, Louis Skupien headed to South Carolina to get up close with the legendary AH-64 Apache.

But this time, his most memorable experience wasn’t inside the Apache itself – it was sitting on the open rear ramp of a CH-47 Chinook as the aircraft flew low over the terrain with an Apache alongside it.

And according to Louis, the experience was every bit as insane as it sounds.

1,300mph wasn’t as wild as this

Louis Skupien previously made history as the first British civilian to fly supersonic in an F-16, reaching around 1,300mph during the experience.

While that was more physically extreme because of the G-forces, he said the low-level Chinook flight felt much more raw.

“At 1,300mph you’re enclosed inside a fighter cockpit; in the Chinook, there’s a massive hole behind you, the aircraft is being thrown around, the terrain is rushing underneath you, and there’s an Apache flying alongside,” Skupien told Supercar Blondie.

“You feel completely immersed in it.”

With the rear ramp wide open, there was nothing separating him from the outside world as the enormous helicopter moved through the landscape.

“It was hilarious watching the footage back,” he said.

“At one point the Chinook banks so ridiculously hard that you can actually see the moment I give up trying to film, grab hold of the side and just hang on for dear life!”

The Chinook completely changed his perception of the Apache

The Apache might have been the star of the trip, but Louis said the Chinook ended up stealing the show.

“The Chinook was the unsung hero of the whole thing,” he said.

“Everyone looks at the Apaches – understandably – but the truth is, at points the Apaches were working hard to keep up with us!”

He was also surprised by just how agile the huge helicopter felt once the crew started manoeuvring it at low level.

“You think of the Chinook as this enormous transport helicopter, then the crew starts throwing it around down low and that perception disappears very quickly,” he said.

“It’s an absolute beast.”

Meanwhile, seeing the Apache from the open ramp gave him an entirely different appreciation for the aircraft.

“There’s something wonderfully ridiculous about sitting on the open ramp of a Chinook, flying low-level, looking straight out at an Apache flying alongside you,” Skupien said.

“You almost have to remind yourself that this is actually happening.”

Louis also got to climb into the Apache itself and try his hand at flying it in a simulator.

And, surprisingly, he reckons he did pretty well.

“Weirdly, I could actually fly the Apache pretty well!” he said.

“Landing was a different story. I absolutely buried it.”

So while he might not be ready to land one just yet, Skupien has now gone from flying at 1,300mph in a fighter jet to hanging onto the back of a Chinook while an attack helicopter races alongside.

And after both experiences, he’s apparently ready for even more.

“I came away thinking: right, we need to do a LOT more of this.”