New Predator Takes Flight in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

New Predator Takes Flight in Iraq
February 17, 2009
Air Force Print News|by Maj. Stan Paregien

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing received a new MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft and immediately put it into action.

"As far as getting a new aircraft, it's not very often in the Predator community you are launching a brand-new plane that's never been flown operationally before," said Lt. Col. Debra Lee, 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron commander. "The one we received today only had four hours on it, which includes testing time back in the United States."

After arriving here disassembled and packed in a crate, the remotely-piloted plane used for reconnaissance and strike missions (if needed) was reassembled within two days and up and flying its perfect first trip into blue Iraqi skies on "Friday the Thirteenth."

"Normally on a daily basis, we are launching aircraft with at least hundreds, if not thousands of hours on them," Colonel Lee said "It is great to get a new aircraft."

The commander and pilot went on to point out that her squadron can't accomplish its mission without the maintainers who put it together, and the squadron can't fly missions without the work of other aviators -- both in Iraq and back in the U.S.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/new-predator-takes-flight-in-iraq.html