Tue, Feb 08, 2005
Troop Airlift Capability A Jordanian Donation
This week the Iraqi Air Force at Taji, Iraq, took delivery of
two freshly refurbished UH-1H Huey helicopters. The helicopters are
the first of sixteen that will equip two reconstituted IAF
squadrons. They have been donated by Iraq's neighbor, the Kingdom
of Jordan. These are among the first helicopters received by the
new Iraqi Air Force (the United Arab Emirates have also donated
some Bell 206 Jet Rangers).
The Hueys are painted in a desert sand color and marked with
serial numbers and the Iraqi flag. The legend "Iraqi Air Force" is
painted on them in English, and will probably be added in Arabic
before the helicopters begin operations.
The first eight helicopters will stand up No. 2 Squadron, and
the second batch of eight will become No. 4 Squadron. Each squadron
will have 24 pilots, who are undergoing training now; fourteen of
them were ready when the two Hueys arrived. Maintenance training is
just getting started.
The Hueys will give the Iraqi military, which is taking greater
responsibility for the nation's security, a welcome capability to
speed troops to unprepared locations. "It is an exciting time for
the Iraqi air force as they reenter the world of rotary wing
aviation," Wing Commander Rad Greene, RAF, said. Greene serves with
the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq at Taji.
Note: Aero-News's Kevin O'Brien is conducting an in-depth survey
of the new Iraqi AF for an upcoming article. There's plenty of news
for fans of military, helicopter, and general aviation there.
Readers are encouraged to send me their tips and suggestions.
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