Posted on 05/21/2008 5:16:57 PM PDT by SandRat
5/21/2008 - SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Iraqi air force members are making their mark in history. The fledging air power has proven its effectiveness through the execution of combat missions in Basrah, Mosul and Sadr City, and the year-to-date tally marks for aircraft sorties broke 5,000 last week.
The IQAF has roughly 100 pilots assigned to its eight rotary and fixed-wing flying units, making their achievements even more impressive, officials said.
"We are now seeing concrete evidence that (the IQAF) have returned to the (sky) and are proving themselves a credible force for safety, security and sovereignty," said Col. David Penny, the 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander. "The Iraqis' sortie production rate is already 80 percent higher than it was last year. That's auspicious for any nation's air force."
The drastic increase in missions is a result of the Iraqi government recognizing their air force's value in a joint effort to defeat terrorists, Colonel Penny said.
"Last year, we were building an air force together. We helped the Iraqis build some basic infrastructure, acquire aircraft, recruit personnel and redevelop the processes required to get their air force airborne again," he said. "This year, they have taken the reins in operations. They're working very hard, and their efforts are working to dissolve terrorist cells in Iraq."
An IQAF CH-2000 unit in Basrah has been in the forefront of integrating with the Iraqi army and special forces, with more than 518 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and more than 700 training sorties.
Last year, the IQAF flew 7,663 sorties. "At this rate, we can expect to break last year's record by July," Colonel Penny said.
In addition to the eight flying squadrons, trained IQAF pilots are also located at the Iraqi Air Operations Center, the Air Staff and a training college.
In order to maintain their current numbers, the IQAF trains Iraqi pilots at the Air Force Training College at Taji Air Base, Iraq, and a one year satellite officer commissioning school at Ar Rustamayah. Currently, more than 200 trainees are enrolled in the colleges, and more than 300 have already graduated since the coalition and Iraqi team opened the doors in late spring of 2007.
But what are they flying Euro / Russian junk or our stuff?
That I can’t answer.
But what are they flying Euro / Russian junk or our stuff?As much as I dislike wiki, here's a partial list: wiki for Iraqi AF
Sorry to double post (can’t edit), to answer your question, from the knowledge given from a search, the combat aircraft are Chinese and french.
Wiki is slightly out of date. I have just returned from serving under Col. Penny and training the Iraqi Air Force aircrews, here is what they are flying.
Rotary Wing;
UH-1HP - Transport, Medivac, ISR
Mi-17/171 - Transport, ISR, Medivac
Bell 206B Jetranger - rotary wing pilot trainer
Fixed Wing;
Cessna 208 Caravans - ISR, Transport
CH2000 - ISR
C-130E - Transport, Medivac
King Air - ISR, Transport
Cessna 172 - Basic Pilot Training
All aircraft owned by the IqAF Prior to 2003 for the most part were either destroyed by us on the ground or they were flown to Iran prior to the invasion and Iran has confiscated them.
Thank you for the update ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.