July
26, 2008: With some help from U.S. Air
Force trainers and administrative staff, the Iraqi Air Force flight school in
northern Iraq has flown 2,000 hours in its first nine months of operation. The
school averages about 20 sorties a day, mainly using Cessna-172 aircraft. A
militarized version of the 172, the T-41, is used by the U.S. Air Force for
pilot training. The 27 Iraqi pilot trainees have already carried out 70 solo
flights. Many of these pilots will
continue to fly the 172, which is also being used for reconnaissance duties.