NEW IRAQI AIRFORCE TO START WITH HELICOPTERS

Reuters ^ | 4/1/7/04

[areafiftyone]

BAGHDAD, April 17 (Reuters) - The first planes of Iraq's new air force, disbanded after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, will not include combat aircraft, the U.S.-led coalition said on Saturday.

It said a squadron of six UH-1H Iroquois helicopters, used for patrols or ferrying soldiers, would be operational in July and would be joined by two Hercules C-130B in October.

The helicopter force would be expanded to 16 by April next year, when the Hercules fleet would grow to six, a coalition statement said.

It said four light reconnaissance aircraft would be added later this year, in the northern summer.

More than 100 members of Saddam's old air force, overwhelmed in the lightning three-week campaign which ousted his regime a year ago, are being trained by the Jordanian Air Force in Amman, the statement said.

By October, the Iraqi Air Force will have 500 personnel and senior members will also be trained in the United States, it added.

[meenie]

The C-130 gunship will make a wonderful weapon for the use of whichever tribal faction has control of it. The Kurds will be happy if the Sunnis or Shias have control. The reverse will make the Sunnis or Shias happy. Oh, I forgot, Iraq will be one big happy family as soon as we get democracy established.

[Tijeras_Slim]

They can flee to Iran and keep all the Migs from GWI company.

[HerrKobes]

The C-130 gunship will make a wonderful weapon for the use of whichever tribal faction has control of it

The C-130 is strictly a tactical airlift aircraft - the C-130B variant of which first entered service in 1959.

You are thinking the AC-130A, AC-130H or AC-130U. We are the only country on earth that operates these aircraft.

Also, the article listed that Iraq will not receive any combat aircraft in the near future. It clearly outlined that Iraq will be receiving util helicopters, airlifters and late light recon aircraft.

[HerrKobes]

Oh, and to avoid hearing how ignorant I am, yes, the AC-130A was retired following Gulf War I and replaced by the AC-130U.

[mtbopfuyn]

Until some goat farmer who didn't get the memo shoots one down.

[cynicom]

We have a lot of "experts" here on FR. As a newbie, welcome to the club.