Courtesy Photo | ALI BASE, Iraq -- Iraqi air force tail number YI-301, the first Iraqi C-130 to fly a...... read more read more
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq " Iraq's Air Force grew more self-reliant this week when a six-man crew flew a C-130 Hercules mission to Baghdad without Coalition advisory support team (AST) assistance.
"This is a very good day for the Iraqi Air Force; these are very important days and the Americans have done well training us to do our best," said the 23rd Squadron's (Transport) navigator and deputy commander. The Iraqi lieutenant colonel and other squadron members are not identified by name for security reasons.
The flight started at Ali Air Base, the squadron's home for the next several weeks. A permanent move to New Al Muthana Air Base at Baghdad International Airport is scheduled for the end of January.
The Iraqi Air Force transport squadron stood up Jan. 14 with three C-130s gifted by the United States and has been flying missions since. But until Nov. 29, there has always been at least one instructor from the U.S. Air Force's 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron AST on board.
"I am so very happy," said the squadron's quality assurance officer. "This is the first time since the war that we [prepared] the plane and fly in the skies of Iraq. This is a great day for Iraq and America."
Squadron members lined the ramp to make a "number one" gesture or give thumbs up as the C-130 rolled out of its parking spot. There was a different feeling in the cockpit as the pilot, copilot, flight engineer, navigator and two loadmasters took to the skies of Iraq on their historic mission.
"This is what makes us happy. We are flying for the new Iraqi Air Force and for freedom," said another pilot, who flew in the copilot seat for the mission to pick up squadron members returning from leave. "Now (the Iraqi Air Force) has to get bigger and bigger with more men; Iraqis all over the world should be happy about today."
The Iraqi air crew began their training in the United States in 2005, completed simulator training there and returned to Iraq for flight training. They all had prior experience flying other aircraft in Saddam Hussein's air force.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Bauer, 777th EAS commander, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Roger Redwood, 777th EAS Squadron 23 AST operations flight commander, have shared the task of transitioning and training the Iraqi air crew at Ali Base.
"The instructors worked hard. The Iraqi's worked hard. This is a critical step in post war Iraq as they stand up a military, a government and a country," Bauer said. "It is a proud moment for all of us to see Iraqi's flying their own planes in their own country."
"This is the right thing, the right way for Iraq," Redwood said. "This is a really big step, and although we still have a ways to go until the Iraqi Air Force is fully functional and self-sufficient, this is a great confidence builder."
Advisory support team members who trained the Iraqi ground crew also shared the glory of the moment.
"Seeing your students go out, taking the steps on their own for the first time " it's like seeing your kids or somebody in your family doing great things," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Furber, a squadron maintenance instructor and adviser.
Squadron members and advisers gathered on the airfield ramp for a traditional Iraqi celebration when the C-130 Hercules landed.
| Date Taken: | 11.29.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2005 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 3996 |
| Location: | ALI BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 42 |
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