The first two Hawker Beechcraft T-6A Texan IIs for the Iraqi Air Force departed Wichita on their delivery flight on 1 December 2009, transiting from Beech Field (KBEC) via Des Moines, IA (KDSM) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), Toronto, ON, Canada, onwards to Ostend in Belgium. They were numbered YI-501 (c/n PT-496) and, YI-502 (c/n PT-497). Iraqi Air Force titles were covered over for the delivery flight, and National Insignia will be applied after delivery. They were flown by Hawker Beechcraft test pilots, using their callsigns as flight numbers, HBK122 and HBK178.
Andrew. H. Cline
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Al Kut/Ubaydah Bin Al Jarrah (ORUB)
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Rwy: 11R/29L
Pos: 32°28'53"N 045°45'24"E
Elev: 68 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Unknown
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? Utility/Reconnaissance sq |
EC635 (24 on order) |
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Unknown |
Mi-17V-5
Mi-171 |
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The Mi-8/17 Hip used to be the mainstay of the Iraqi Air Force. Some of the examples bought by the Saddam Hussein regime seem to have survived and were upgraded in Jordan.
USAF
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Al Sahra (ORSH)
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Rwy: 14L/32R, 14R/32L
Pos: 34°40'24"N 043°32'35"E
Elev: 451 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Flying Training Wing
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1st Training sq |
T-6A
LASTA 95 |
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The first LASTA 95 has been seen in December 2009.
Base is still under construction. When Tikrit regains its operational status, the Flying Training Wing will move here.
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Al Taqaddum (ORAT)
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Rwy: 12L/30R, 12R/30L
Pos: 33°20'17"N 043°35'50"E
Elev: 275 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Transport Helicopter Wing
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4 Transport sq Det. |
Mi-17
Mi-171 |
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In total, the Iraqi Air Force has ordered twelve Beech 350s of which two are in a standard configuration while the remaining ten are ISR equipped and have Extended Range capabilities. The first order dates back to 2007 and the second order of December 2008 also consisted of five Be350ER/ISR and one standard Be350.
USAF
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Baghdad/Intl (ORBI)
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Rwy: 15L/33R, 15R/33L
Pos: 33°15'45"N 044°14'04"E
Elev: 114 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Transport Wing
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23 Transport sq |
C-130E |
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87 Light Transport & Reconnaissance sq |
Beech 350ER/ISR |
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70 Reconnaissance sq Det. |
SAMA CH2000 |
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87sq is also designated as the "87th Composit Squadron".
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Basrah/Basrah Intl (ORMM)
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Rwy: 14/32
Pos: 30°32'55"N 047°39'44"E
Elev: 11 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Reconnaissance Wing
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70 Reconnaissance sq |
SAMA CH2000
Beech 350ER/ISR |
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The two SB7L-360 Seekers have been withdrawn from use in late 2007. The same faith has struck the Comp Air 7SL, also by the end of 2007. Both types were operated by 70sq.
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Besides the Beech 350ER/ISR, 70sq at Basrah in southern Iraq operates the SAMA CH2000.
JAI
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Kirkuk (ORKK)
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Rwy: 13/31, 15/33
Pos: 35°28'08"N 044°20'58"E
Elev: 1148 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Reconnaissance Wing
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3 Reconnaissance sq |
SAMA CH-2000
Beech 350ISR
Ce208B-ISR
AC-208 |
Nimmers |
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Flying Training Wing
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2 Rotary Training sq |
Bell 206B (5, ex US)
OH-58C (10, on loan ArNG) |
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1st Training sq |
Ce172S
Ce208B
Beech 350
T-6A
LASTA 95 (20 o/o) |
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3sq operates Hellfire armed Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft, locally designated AC208 Caravan which are also Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capable.
Five of the Bell 206B helicopters originate from the UAE Air Force while the remaining five were bought on the US civilian market.
1st Training Squadron
was previously the 52nd Expeditionary Flight Training sq under USAF command.
Flying Training Wing is run by Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc.
IqAF training is moving to Tikrit next year.
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Eighteen, with an option for ten, Ce172S Light Training Aircraft were ordered by the IqAF mid-2007. They have formed the 52nd Expeditionary Flight Training Squadron that was officially inaugurated on 1 October 2007 and was designated 1st Training Squadron in late 2009.
USAF
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The Flying Training Wing of the Iraqi Air Force operates ten (Agusta) Bell 206B-3 helicopters.
USAF
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Counter insurgency demands an attack aircraft with ISR-capabilities. Three Ce208B Caravans were ordered in 2007 which are now used by 52 EFTS/1st Training Squadron in the training role. A second order for five with an option for two was placed in January 2008. This order consisted of ISR equipped AC-208 Combat Caravan that can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire guided missiles.
USAF
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Taji (ORTI)
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Rwy: 16/34
Pos: 33°31'25"N 044°15'24"E
Elev: 120 ft |
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| Wing |
Squadron |
Aircraft Type(s) |
Name |
Badge |
Flying Training Wing
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2 Rotary Training sq |
Bell 206B-3 (2, ex UAE)
AB206B-3 (3, ex UAE) |
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Transport Helicopter Wing
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2nd Utility sq |
UH-1H-II (17+) |
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4 Transport sq |
Mi-17
Mi-171 |
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? Transport sq |
Mi-17
Mi-171 |
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Combat Helicopter Wing
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88 Attack Helicopter sq |
SA342 |
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? Attack Helicopter sq |
Bell ARH-70 |
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? Utility/Reconnaissance sq |
EC635 (on order) |
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1 SOF Aviation Brigade?
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15 Special Operations Squadron |
Mi-17V-5
Mi-171 |
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88sq will operate the ex French Army (ALAT) Gazelle helicopters.
The Bell ARH-70 (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is based on the Bell 407 airframe.
The existance of "1 SOF Aviation Brigade" is pending confirmation.
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