Apaches fire first shots at STANTA

Soldiers who fly and maintain the Apache attack helicopter have trained closer to home as they prepare to deploy on operations in Afghanistan. Exercise Pashtun Sword saw 654 Squadron, 4 Regiment Army Air Corps carry out the first live firing of the Apache’s 30mm cannon at STANTA (Stanford Training Area), in Norfolk. Ground crew were tested at rearming and refuelling the Apache at a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) - the military equivalent of a Formula 1 pit stop. The unit, based at nearby Wattisham Flying Station, in Suffolk, leave for a four month tour of Helmand