http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iraqiairforce/ en-us Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:16:35 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127371/posts A new Russian-made MI17 helicopter sits on Camp Taji, Oct. 31, 2008. The IAF received four new helicopters to add to their fleet of more than 50 rotary winged aircraft throughout Iraq. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs. CAMP TAJI — The Iraqi Air Force (IAF) received four new MI17 helicopters Oct. 31, adding to its fleet of more than 50 rotary wing aircraft throughout the country. The IAF has begun beefing-up its fleet of Huey and MI17 helicopters; in the past eight months, the IAF has grown in capabilities, starting... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127371/posts#comment Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:16:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2114546/posts NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE — The Iraqi Air Force reached another milestone Oct. 22 when an all-Iraqi flight crew took to the air in the King Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for the first time in support of an Iraqi special operations forces training exercise. The air crew, connected via radio link to the special operations forces on the ground, provided reconnaissance and over-watch surveillance for convoy operations as the special operations forces conducted their training. The Iraqi Air Force also provides ISR support to the Iraqi Army, intelligence services, the directorate of border enforcement and the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2114546/posts#comment Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:35:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094406/posts TAJI — The Iraqi Air Force training school held a combined Warrant Officer graduation ceremony on Sept. 29, 2008. 291 Airmen completed courses in Basic Military Training and Basic Technical Training at the Air Force Training School, and Communications Training from the Iraqi Army signal school. Iraqi Air Force Commander Gen. Kamal and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. (S) Bash, Coalition Air Force Transition Team commanding general, were in attendance. “This is your first step to a brighter future,” said Kamal in a speech to the new graduates. “You are now part of the Iraqi Air Force family.” The courses... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094406/posts#comment Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:48:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2088152/posts TAJI AIR BASE — The vaguely comforting scent of oil and mechanical parts drifted through the air as an Mi-17 Hip helicopter sat in the shade of a hangar here, Sept. 11. Its rear door lay open, and panels along its tail boom were lifted away and stowed as Iraqi Airmen crawled through the vehicle's innards. Two Airmen straddled the tail, about a meter from the tail blade, while a third had shimmied inside the tail boom, inspecting the inside. On a nearby table sat an Mi-17 technical order -- a step-by-step repair and maintenance manual that is just one... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2088152/posts#comment Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:08:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2068651/posts TAJI, Iraq– Soon a group of Iowa National Guardsmen will be leaving Iraq and leaving behind a legacy of training and friendship with their Iraqi Air Force partners.“This day I would like to say goodbye to our dear friends who gave serious assistance and backup for our air force,” said Lt. Gen. Kamal, IqAF commander. “They did a major job to build our new Air Force.”“We would like to thank their families, said Kamal. “Because they were so patient waiting for them to do their duties here. Our salute to their families to wish them all the best happiness and... MNF-Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2068651/posts#comment Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:08:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044219/posts 7/11/2008 - NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force July 9 during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, signed over eight Cessna 172s and three Cessna Caravan 208s worth more than $9 million to Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji. Brig. Gen. Brooks Bash said the aircraft would be part of the Iraqi air force's training program at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in northern Iraq. Similar to the way the U.S. Air Force... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044219/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:22:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043161/posts BAGHDAD, July 9, 2008 – U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force today during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base here. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick (left), commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, and Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji sign documents transferring ownership of 11 Cessnas from U.S. forces to the Iraqi air force during a ceremony July 9, 2008, at New Al Muthana Air Base in Baghdad. Defense Dept. photo by Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043161/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:12:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033083/posts WASHINGTON, June 18, 2008 – The Iraqi air force is making great strides as it continues to train and begins supporting Iraqi army and police forces, the U.S. advisor to the force said today. During a news conference in Baghdad, Air Force Brig. Gen. Brooks L. Bash spoke said the security situation in Iraq is improving each day, thanks to the investments the citizens have made in their country’s future and to coalition training efforts. Bash, commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team in Iraq, said the Iraqi air force, though small and still developing, is providing important capabilities... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033083/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:35:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020503/posts The Iraqi Air Force flew its first, ever, medical evacuation (Medevac) mission on May 14th. While the Iraqi pilots and medics successfully evacuated an Iraqi casualty, it was also a training mission. U.S. instructors were on board to observe, and later advise on any areas that still needed work. An Iraqi UH-1 helicopter was used. As more Iraqi Medevac crews begin operating, they will eventually serve as instructors, to train thousands of Iraqis for military and civilian Medevac missions. Iraqis have been impressed with the American use of Medevac techniques, and everyone wants this capability once the Americans are gone. Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020503/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 00:11:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019441/posts 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... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019441/posts#comment Thu, 22 May 2008 00:16:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017171/posts 5/16/2008 - SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Members of the Iraqi air force integrated and synchronized with Iraqi special forces in an effort to dissolve the al-Qaida in Iraq influence since early May in Mosul, Iraq. In less than two weeks, the Iraqi air force members have moved more than 3 tons of cargo and 251 passengers into Mosul using both fixed-wing and helicopter operations. "It's a new thing for Iraq's air force to back the forces in the Mosul's operations," said General Mohammed al-Askari, a spokesman for Iraq's ministry of defense. In addition to "bullets and beans" to... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017171/posts#comment Sat, 17 May 2008 01:28:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016600/posts 5/15/2008 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- May 14 marked another significant event when members of the Iraqi air force flew its first medical evacuation mission since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The crew consisted of an Iraqi pilot, flight medic and aerial gunner -- each with a U.S. military counterpart -- as they transported their first patient, an Iraqi man, from the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base to the U.S. Army's 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. "This is the first (medevac) mission in the history of the Iraqi air force," said Iraqi Lt.... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016600/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 00:22:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987320/posts WASHINGTON, March 17, 2008 – Iraq’s air force, with help from a U.S. transition team, attained a tenfold increase in its number of weekly sorties and doubled the size of its fleet over the past year, a military official said today. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert R. Allardice, commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, said the Iraqi air force in 2007 evolved from flying about 30 sorties a week to 300 by the end of the year. At the same time, the force’s fleet grew from 28 airplanes to 56. “The Iraqi air force began the movement from... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987320/posts#comment Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:51:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1967358/posts KIRKUK — Iraqi Muslims making their annual pilgrimage to Mecca in December were being watched. Their every movement was being carefully scrutinized and recorded by unseen men. The watchers plotted prime ambush points that would be the most dangerous to the pilgrims and made sure to note and analyze them. The “watchers” were Iraq’s own Air Force keeping a vigilant watch over their fellow countrymen. Flying over a mile above their heads, the crowd probably didn’t even notice the Cessna Caravan circling or the impact it had on their pilgrimage. Onboard the aircraft was an aircrew made up of pilots... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1967358/posts#comment Fri, 8 Feb 2008 23:23:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1964987/posts KIRKUK — Pull back and the trees get smaller; push forward and the trees get bigger. It’s a simple explanation for flying that pilots give when talking about the similarities between flying different airplanes. It’s also a foundation that former Iraqi pilots work from since returning to the Iraqi Air Force as flight instructors in the country’s first flight school since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. The Iraqi Flight Training School, located in Kirkuk, is training officers to fly fixed and rotary wing aircraft, producing the future pilots of the Iraqi Air Force. “After the war, I felt sad for my... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1964987/posts#comment Mon, 4 Feb 2008 23:43:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954294/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2008 – Iraq’s new air force passed its infancy in 2007 and will continue to build and grow over the next few years, a U.S. unit commander in Iraq said yesterday. Air Force Lt. Col. Cy Bartlett, commander of 770th Air Expeditionary Squadron, is finishing a 12-month deployment at Taji Air Base, Iraq, and said he witnessed the Iraqi air force “getting off the ground” over the past year. “The Iraqi air force is coming on strong. They have limited resources right now, but they’re building and they’re growing, and this is going to be the case... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1954294/posts#comment Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:46:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946511/posts More than 65 Iraqi Police recruits line up to board an Iraqi C-130 Hercules set to transport the men to the Iraqi National Police Training Academy in Sulamaniya, Iraq. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey. NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE — The Iraqi Air Force provided airlift support to more than 360 National Police recruits bound for the Iraqi National Police Training Academy in Sulamaniya, Dec. 26. The Ministries of Defense and Interior executed a very smooth operation consisting of six airlift sorties by the Iraqi Air Force and administrative and logistical command and control by the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946511/posts#comment Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:37:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945676/posts BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Air Force received a new, technologically advanced aircraft in a ceremony here Dec. 28. The Beechcraft KingAir 350 was delivered to the Iraqi Air Force through Foreign Military Sales, a process that allows the Iraqi government to purchase military equipment and supplies from other countries, including the United States, with its own money. Additional KingAir aircraft, which are fitted with intelligence gathering sensors, will be delivered throughout next year, said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bob Allardice, Coalition Air Force Transition Team commander. “These aircraft will fly critical training, airlift and surveillance support for the government... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945676/posts#comment Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:38:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944355/posts 12/26/2007 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- Four Officer Training School instructors returned here recently after spending the past several months in Iraq building the country's air force officer training program from the ground up. Maj. Scott Bergren and Capt. Michael Powell worked at Taji Air Base, Iraq, to establish a stand-alone officer training program modeled after Air University's OTS, and Capt. John Blackman carved an air force course into the curriculum at the Iraq military academy in Rustamiyah, Iraq. American Airmen are currently working to establish an "accession pipeline" in Iraq to help that country establish a... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944355/posts#comment Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:55:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921228/posts WASHINGTON — A congressional probe found that a major U.S. security contractor stole at least two Iraqi Air Force planes. House Oversight and Government Reform Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Rep. Henry Waxman has demanded that Blackwater provide his panel with documents on the shipment of the Iraqi aircraft abroad. Waxman also wanted to know the current location of the air platforms. The investigation determined that Blackwater USA sought to fly at least two Iraqi military aircraft out of the country in 2005. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee stated that Blackwater, the leading security contractor of the... World Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921228/posts#comment Mon, 5 Nov 2007 17:55:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1920871/posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2007 – The coalition air component in Iraq “remains strong,” airlifting supplies and troops, providing surveillance and assisting ground forces with kinetic support, a senior air force officer in Iraq said today. During a news conference with reporters in Baghdad, Air Force Maj. Gen. David M. Edgington, director of Multinational Force Iraq’s Air Component Coordination Element, referred to air lift forces as “the backbone of the air component.” “The number of pallets that we bring into this country keep at least 100 vehicles off the roads every day that would otherwise be delivered via convoys,” he said.... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1920871/posts#comment Sun, 4 Nov 2007 20:01:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918673/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2007 – Recruiting experienced pilots and implementing unprecedented training methods are the best ways to fast-track Iraq’s infant air force, a coalition commander said today. Members of 52nd Flying Training Squadron stand in formation as the first students arrive to the Iraqi air force flying training school at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. This flight was officially the first sortie flown by the school as the four Iraqi air force students took control of the aircraft for a few minutes in transit to see what it is they are working toward. The school will instruct the students... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918673/posts#comment Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:29:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910002/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 – Building an Iraqi air force will take years, but the service already is contributing to the counterinsurgency effort in the country, the chief of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team said today. The Iraqi air force has made tremendous strides since January, Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert R. Allardice told defense experts today via a conference call from Baghdad. The Iraqi air force now has around 1,200 personnel and about 50 aircraft. The force is involved with intelligence and surveillance missions today, but “they will be shooting rockets next year,” Allardice said. The general leads... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910002/posts#comment Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:58:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893828/posts An Iraqi air force officer cadet class will soon walk across the stage here, picking up their diplomas and their commissions as second lieutenants. In preparation for their graduation, the soon-to-be officers took time out of their busy class room schedule to pick up a special issue of uniforms at one of the central issuing facilities here Aug. 28. DefenceTalk.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893828/posts#comment Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:49:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892271/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2007 – Iraq’s air force has added unprecedented personnel and aircraft in recent months and undertaken crucial missions, the commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team said today in Baghdad. “Six months ago, there was no air force academy for the Iraqi air force, there was no technical training school, there was no basic training school for enlisted people,” Air Force Brig Gen. Bob Allardice told online journalists and “bloggers” during a conference call from Iraq. “But in the last six months, we've graduated and commissioned second lieutenants in their air force.” Dozens of basic Iraqi... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1892271/posts#comment Thu, 6 Sep 2007 23:51:25 GMT