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.

FMI: www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil, hognose@aero-news.net