Iraqi air force stands up its first operational C-130 squadron

[sabra]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=35556

Iraqi air force stands up its first operational C-130 squadron

ARLINGTON, Va. — The new Iraqi air force opened the gates of its first air base and announced the “stand-up” of its first operational C-130 transport squadron Tuesday, the New Al Muthana Air Base at Baghdad International Airport.

“The stand-up of this squadron is good for the country, and good for the armed forces,” Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday at the Pentagon.

The squadron consists of three C-130 transports donated by the United States, and flew its first solo mission in December. It now numbers about 270 personnel, Pace said.

The entire Iraqi air force comprises between 700 and 800 personnel, including pilots, flight crews, maintenance crews and other personnel, according to Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Smolinsky, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command Air Force—Forward.

[LSK]

1. Donated

As in not paying us back.

:grr:

[geckosfeet]

2. How long before one of these cows gets shot down?

[BOSSHOG]

3. My favorite plane in the whole wide world

One flew me out of Saudi Arabia in 96. We were so loaded with personnel and gear that we had to leave the aft hatch open. Greatest ride of my life.

I wonder what the squadron's mission is? It has minimal military applications and makes a great target as it lumbers along. And there is no other air force for it to support.

[wakeme2008]

5. Not a good ride in Vietnam :)

no seats, sit on the floor, one belt going from one side of the plane to the other that you sat under. And then there was the dive from 2,000 to the deck just before touchdown. :crazy:

[DemoTex]

10. It beat a C-123 "Provider" (another with two turnin' and two burnin')

Maybe you were on a C-130 I saw bounce about 50 feet in the air during landing at Nha Trang. That had to have caused some injuries to the poor souls on board. But he hit max power and salvaged a go-around. He limped around the pattern and made a pretty good second landing, albeit with a few blown tires.
That dive to the deck was thrilling, as were the green 12.5 mm tracers streaming up from those hills around Khe Sahn.

Edit: 12.5 mm, not 125 mm.


Two turnin' and two burnin'

[NYC]

6. Mission: Participating in the U.S. war?

...Small as the Iraqi fleet is, it is already “playing a limited, but effective, role in our operations,” U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Eidsaune, the Air Component Coordination Element director, told Air Force News.

Missions include transporting troops, supplies and distinguished visitors, “limited intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support” to the coalition, Eidsaune said...

[Bozita]

4. rattling Iran's cage, perhaps?

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Talk about window dressing.

[LaCrosseDem]

8. now they can provide close air support with water baloons

so what?

[bobthedrummer]

9. The C-130 is the aerial platform for Commando Solo II missions.

Like the "Message to the People of Iraq" Rumsfeld broadcast. It's part of perception management.
Although intended for a "foreign audience" these PSYOP's and other perception management missions have inexplicably entered our country.

This is related to the programs of the Office of Strategic Influence (which was "closed"), Special Access Programs, and a lot of other mind control programs.

http://www.au.af.mil/info-ops/perception.htm#

Plus C-130's are the aerial platform for artillery, miniguns and other stuff. Also they can handle exotic weapons, FAE's and do a lot more.

[MetaTrope]

11. C-130s?

The same planes the United Arab Emirates used to supply Osama Bin Laden's Afghanistan base?

[daleo]

12. Iraqi airforce

Yeah, right. If that's what the U.S. wants to call it...

[intheozone]

13. So what happened to those Iraqi fighter jets

that were found buried in the sand???

[ECH1969]

14. Fear flies high at new Iraq air force's first base

There are no fighter jets and the officers are too frightened to reveal their identities, but Iraq's new air force finally has its own field.

Iraq's fighter planes have been missing since before the first Gulf War in 1991, when they were spirited away to Iran to avoid destruction by a U.S.-led coalition which kicked Saddam's invasion forces out of Kuwait. Tehran never sent them back.

"We are afraid for our families, there is no one to protect them," said 23 Squadron leader, calling himself only Col. Samir. "They kidnap our children, they are trying to kill us," Jaber said. "If you take our names or pictures, we have to leave Iraq or they will kill us."

Officers of 23 Squadron admit the available aircraft are a far cry from the 850 fighter craft, 50 fixed wing transport aircraft and more than 1,000 helicopters the Iraqi air force deployed at its peak under Saddam.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08554665.htm

[jpak]

15. Reagan & Poppy gave Saddam $4 billion in guaranteed "agricultural" loans

to buy a lot of those helciopters...

then we turned around and destroyed them...

and US taxpayers are holding the bag for this bullshit...

How perfectly Republican

[rocktivity]

16. Cue the F Troop theme!

Of course, this article could be a plant...maybe the REAL airfield is somewhere else...

:eyes:
rocknation

[Rex]

17. At one time no one in the ME needed air power.

Then they met the big boys of war.