Will Iraqi pilots actually be able to fly F-16s?
The Iraqi Air Force was historically tremendously constrained politically under Saddam. It had to be preserved, not wasted. A philosophy hardly conducive to an aggressive mindset when faced with overwhelming air superiority.
During the Iran/Iraq conflict the emergency plan was to relocate the Air Force to Saudi Arabia if the air fighting started to threaten its existence.
During GW1 this emergency plan had to be activated :however Saudi was out, so 108 or so aircraft then deployed across to Iranian bases.
During the Iran/Iraq conflict the emergency plan was to relocate the Air Force to Saudi Arabia if the air fighting started to threaten its existence.
During GW1 this emergency plan had to be activated :however Saudi was out, so 108 or so aircraft then deployed across to Iranian bases.
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The problem isn't the innate capabilities of one group of people or nation, it's a question of what they are fighting for.
. So they can't be much different ours.
I think the trick is your not fighting for them, your fighting for those a couple of layers down.
The Iraqis aren't running away because they are born cowards, they are running away because there's nothing worth dying for, and they have no confidence in their commanders, equipment, Government, etc.
The problem here is most of the choice fighters are kept in reserve in the various militia. That leaves a population of people who potentially are in it for all sorts of reasons, and dying is not high on the list. Especially when the command chain is possibly corrupt, though that is a problem that is not unusual.
What next oiks flying the dave?
My god just because you are from a different land does not mean you cannot learn to be proficent and even expert.... Just look at north vietnamese....
My god just because you are from a different land does not mean you cannot learn to be proficent and even expert.... Just look at north vietnamese....
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Well, the guys going through the system right now are doing OK. I think you can stop worrying about their flying skills and stick to your cultural issues.
As for the timeline on the whole thing, when do you think this will be up and running?
As for the timeline on the whole thing, when do you think this will be up and running?
I don't think flying them will be a problem, but one wonders about keeping them serviceable.
Lonewolf
Agreed. As you may have gathered, I had some dealings in country with the Iraqis in the 1980's as a representative of a company supporting them . Our service engineers had stories to fill a book, including trying to ram home that degrees C and degrees F were different.
The educated pilots were a different matter.
May I add that these same service engineers worked on ,without histrionics , and despite incoming SCUDS, during the Iran/Iraq " war of the cities".
In contrast to some REMF "military" personnel in Saudi ,who played the violin a few years later....
Agreed. As you may have gathered, I had some dealings in country with the Iraqis in the 1980's as a representative of a company supporting them . Our service engineers had stories to fill a book, including trying to ram home that degrees C and degrees F were different.
The educated pilots were a different matter.
May I add that these same service engineers worked on ,without histrionics , and despite incoming SCUDS, during the Iran/Iraq " war of the cities".
In contrast to some REMF "military" personnel in Saudi ,who played the violin a few years later....
Last edited by Haraka; 27th Apr 2015 at 16:35.
West Coast.
Compared to their American brethren, the Brits, (who were generally top of the drawer) were paid a miserly pittance.
Something that sickened me.
Compared to their American brethren, the Brits, (who were generally top of the drawer) were paid a miserly pittance.
Something that sickened me.
