The 285th Aviation Regiment is a parent aviation regiment of the United States Army. The lineage of the 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment began in 1971 with the formation of the 997th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) at Papago Army Airfield. Its Platoon D ("Delta") was equipped with UH-1M Huey gunships. On 30 September 1978 the unit was organized and federally recognized in the AZ ARNG in Phoenix as Detachment 1, Company D, 149th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 49th Armored Division. On 1 May 1982 it was designated as Company D, 149th Aviation Battalion and relocated to Marana, Arizona. On 14 April 1986 the unit transitioned to the AH-1S Cobra.