Arizona hosts National Guard helicopter shooting competition

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona is hosting a helicopter shooting competition this week involving National Guard pilots from seven states.

The main event in the Gunfighter Fly-in competition took place Wednesday with teams competed against each other in flying and target-shooting exercises from their AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.

The competitions include expertise in an Apache simulator, operations of unnamed aircraft flights and target shooting exercises with live ammunition in the remote Arizona desert.

Officials say it is the first-ever such event and teams will also share ideas about their tactics and procedures in hopes of learning from each other.

Competing states are Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Arizona.

The Arizona National Guard is hosting the event at the Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana.