Iraqi Air Force new Huey II helicopters

[UH-1H II]

BAGHDAD, March 3 (*******) - Iraq's Air Force should have 50 to 60 helicopters by the end of the year, including 28 new Russian aircraft, Iraq's defence minister said on Saturday as he inspected two refitted Vietnam-era Huey helicopters in Baghdad.

Rebuilding Iraq's armed forces is a key plank of U.S. policy as Washington seeks to hand over responsibility for security so it can start to reduce its troop numbers four years after the invasion. But lack of equipment has plagued the process and the Air Force in particular has had to be rebuilt from scratch.

The Hueys, the workhorse of the U.S. army in the 1970s, are part of an initial shipment of five donated by Jordan and refitted with modern avionics and new engines in the United States at a cost of $3.5 million each, funded by Washington.

Jordan has donated 16 Hueys in all, with the remainder due to arrive by July. The aircraft date from the 1960s and 1970s and were originally a gift to Jordan from the United States.

But U.S. officials balk at the term "third-hand", saying almost every major part except the control stick is brand new.

"The only thing that just got repainted is the stick," said Lieutenant Colonel Steve Hardy of the U.S. Air Force.

After the refit, the helicopters are upgraded to UH-1H "Huey II" and the clock is restarted on flight records to show zero hours of flight time. The first five were delivered in February.

The $3.5 million cost to refit a 35-year-old Huey compares to $5.9 million for a new Black Hawk configured for the U.S. Army or $5.5 million to $7.5 million for a new Russian MI-17, depending on the configuration, U.S. officials said.

"This is like a new aircraft, a new helicopter, with new systems and high power," said Brigadier General Mohammed Shati, a pilot who flew one of the Hueys from their base in Taji.

JUST THE BEGINNING

Iraqi pilots fly with U.S. co-pilots because they have not had time to become fully recertified yet, U.S. officials said, adding that they should be able to fly alone within 60 days.

Shati said he had been flying since 1975, but he declined to talk about his past experience in Saddam Hussein's Air Force.

After a decade of sanctions and a U.S.-imposed no-fly zone over much of the country, Iraq's pilots are mostly over 40 and there is no base of new young pilots for the future.

But Defence Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim al-Ubeidi said future pilots were being trained abroad and in Iraq.

Training is already under way at Taji, just north of Baghdad and the Air Force has around 1,000 personnel, including 100 pilots, as well as three C-130 transport planes donated by the United States and 10 two-seater reconnaissance planes.

Iraq's Air Force was once the envy of its Arab neighbours, with hundreds of Russian fighter jets, particularly during the war with Iran in the 1980s, but no jets remain in service.

Asked when the Air Force would have fighter jets, Ubeidi said: "We are planning for that in 2008."

He declined to say whether U.S, Russian or other makers might win lucrative contracts to supply them.

The Air Force already has three Bell Jet Rangers -- small helicopters used for training -- and 10 Russian MI-17s. Ubeidi said the number of MI-17s would hit 28 next month and by the end of 2007, it should have between 50 and 60 helicopters in all.

"This is the beginning and we're very happy about it," Ubeidi said before taking a short flight in a Huey over the heavily fortified international Green Zone in central Baghdad.

The Hueys are outfitted with Kevlar armour and anti-rocket systems but on another demonstration flight carrying reporters, they stayed within the Green Zone, beyond the reach of gunmen who have downed eight U.S. helicopters in Iraq since Jan. 20.

[koko]

Why buy outdated Vietnam era american transport heli and planes when they can get alot better russian products? Stupid politics. Russian equipment is cheaper, more reliable, easy to maintain (especialy for Iraqis because they used them before).

[A13x]

Politics Perhaps?

[exarmyguard]

If its good enough for the Argentine army, then I say, its good enough for the Iraqi's. And, if the US pulls out, they can just ask Iran for parts. I like the PK machine gun on a pintle mount by the door. Cool indeed.

[Ironsight06]

Why buy outdated Vietnam era american transport heli and planes when they can get alot better russian products?
Like Mi-8's? Don't forget that the Mi-8's are from the same age as the Huey's, and a lot less reliable.

[corran.pl]

Iraq wanted to buy 24 Polish made W-3 Sokół helicopters (Polish Forces in Iraq six used them there) but when the Iraqi Mister of Defense changed the project was canceled. What is strange Iraq has already paid for two W-3 (in VIP transport configuration) and this copters are ready to be delivered but Iraqi officials decided to not commission them!?!

http://www.lotnictwo.net/pic/0611/0611200011.jpg

[Ruledbyjames]

Why buy outdated Vietnam era american transport heli and planes when they can get alot better russian products? Stupid politics. Russian equipment is cheaper, more reliable, easy to maintain (especialy for Iraqis because they used them before).

No heli more reliable then the Huey. Apparently the Huey has seen the most flight time of any aircraft in any war. In vietnam they clocked up more then 1,040,000 flight hours.

Check out this site! http://www.vhpa.org/heliloss.pdf

[mattnwnc03]

doesnt iraq have a large debt with russia????maybe why

[John_J]

Nice.. I want more pics...

[koko]

No heli more reliable then the Huey. Apparently the Huey has seen the most flight time of any aircraft in any war. In vietnam they clocked up more then 1,040,000 flight hours.

Check out this site! http://www.vhpa.org/heliloss.pdf
Maybe you are right, but 99% aircraft used in Africa is soviet/russian made. Even UN are using russian made aircrafts. Russian planes can take off even from field of mud and don't need uber high quality operating personnel to get them in air.

[AlphaOneSix]

Like Mi-8's? Don't forget that the Mi-8's are from the same age as the Huey's, and a lot less reliable.

Well, that's not exactly true. The design of both is very old, but both are still being produced, and both are very sturdy, reliable aircraft. Of course, the Huey is a light utility aircraft, and the Mi-8 is a medium lift aircraft, so it's hard to really compare the two since they don't really fit in the same category.

[adlep]

Well, that's not exactly true. The design of both is very old, but both are still being produced, and both are very sturdy, reliable aircraft. Of course, the Huey is a light utility aircraft, and the Mi-8 is a medium lift aircraft, so it's hard to really compare the two since they don't really fit in the same category.

Hence the Mi-8/17 is more versatile. I would prefer the Mi-8 over UH-1 just because of the size...
EditZ: Also, the Saddam's AF used Russian Hellos so it would be easier for the Iraqis to start using them...

[exarmyguard]

Halliburton wouldn't like to lose the contract to support those old Hueys. If I were a business man, I would buy old Huey parts for pennies and sell them to the Iraqi's for thousands. Nothing like making a country dependent on foriegn military equipment then ramming them with big maintenance bills :)

By the way, I can't get over that simple pintle mount for the PK machine gun. I can't remember if our Hueys had their M60D's in that same type of mount? Is that a homemade mount? ANyway to get a larger pic of that?

[GatorRaider]

Hence the Mi-8/17 is more versatile. I would prefer the Mi-8 over UH-1 just because of the size...
EditZ: Also, the Saddam's AF used Russian Hellos so it would be easier for the Iraqis to start using them...
Bigger size doesn't mean more versatile, it just means bigger. Also, you're assuming that the people who will be flying these are the same people who flew the Russian helos in Saddam's AF.

I think it's odd that people use the ubiquitous nature of Russian military goods as some sort of endorsment. The fact that Russian weapons, vehicles, etc. are everywhere doesn't mean that they're better that American equipment. It just means that the USSR was willing to make millions of AKs/Mi-8s/what have you, and shower the Third World with them. I'm not denying that Russian equipment is dependable and versatile. I'm just always surprised that people seem to equate quantity with quality.

As for the choice of UH-1s over Mi-8s or any other Russian/Eastern Bloc helo, all I can say is: the Iraqis seem to know not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Ironsight06]

Well, that's not exactly true. The design of both is very old, but both are still being produced, and both are very sturdy, reliable aircraft. Of course, the Huey is a light utility aircraft, and the Mi-8 is a medium lift aircraft, so it's hard to really compare the two since they don't really fit in the same category.
I'd say the Mi-8 is a bit less reliable, just Google the words Mi-8 and crash and look how many results. Off course it's not always the machine...

Anyway I don't think there's much difference in reliability and age in both of them. They do differ in size off course.

[koko]

I'd say the Mi-8 is a bit less reliable, just Google the words Mi-8 and crash and look how many results. Off course it's not always the machine...

Anyway I don't think there's much difference in reliability and age in both of them. They do differ in size off course.
Google search? Compare numbers of Mi-8/Mi-17 in air and numbers of UH-1 still flying. Ofcourse there will be more Mi-8 crashes than UH-1, almost noone besides US is using UH-1. :bash:

There are thousands of Mi-8/Mi-17 still flying around in "dirty" continets like Africa not because SU donated them but because they are more reliable and cheaper than anything else.

[Ironsight06]

Google search? Compare numbers of Mi-8/Mi-17 in air and numbers of UH-1 still flying. Ofcourse there will be more Mi-8 crashes than UH-1, almost noone besides US is using UH-1.
Huey users:


The Iroquois was widely sold abroad. Users include:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Argentina.svg) Argentina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina): Ejército Argentino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Army) (Argentine Army), Armada de la República Argentina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy) (Argentine Navy), Fuerza Aérea Argentina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Air_Force) (Argentine Air Force)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_Austria.svg/22px-Flag_of_Austria.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Austria.svg) Austria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Australia.svg) Australia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia): Royal Australian Navy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy), Fleet Air Arm (RAN) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Air_Arm_%28RAN%29), Royal Australian Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force) (now operated by the Australian Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Army)). Australian Iroquois pilots have served in Vietnam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam) and East Timor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Timor).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Flag_of_Bahrain_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bahrain_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Bahrain_%28bordered%29.svg) Bahrain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg) Bangladesh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Flag_of_Belize.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belize.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Belize.svg) Belize (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Flag_of_Bolivia_%28state%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bolivia_%28state%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Bolivia_%28state%29.svg) Bolivia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.svg/22px-Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.svg) Bosnia and Herzegovina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Brazil.svg) Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Flag_of_Brunei.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brunei.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Brunei.svg) Brunei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Flag_of_Burma_%281948-1974%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Burma_%281948-1974%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Burma_%281948-1974%29.svg) Burma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explanation_of_the_names_of_Burma/Myanmar) / http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Flag_of_Myanmar.svg/22px-Flag_of_Myanmar.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Myanmar.svg) Myanmar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Flag_of_Cambodia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Cambodia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Cambodia.svg) Cambodia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b6/Flag_of_Canada_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Canada_%28bordered%29.svg) Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada): Canadian Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Chile_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Chile_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Chile_%28bordered%29.svg) Chile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China.svg) Republic of China (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Colombia.svg) Colombia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Costa_Rica_%28state%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Costa_Rica_%28state%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Costa_Rica_%28state%29.svg) Costa Rica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic.svg) Dominican Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg/22px-Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_El_Salvador.svg) El Salvador (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Flag_of_Ecuador.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ecuador.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Ecuador.svg) Ecuador (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Flag_of_Ethiopia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ethiopia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Ethiopia.svg) Ethiopia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Germany.svg) Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany): The German Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army) and Airforce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftwaffe) still use some UH-1D for transport and special duties. They are going to be replaced by the NHIndustries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHIndustries) NH90 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHI_NH90).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Greece.svg/22px-Flag_of_Greece.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Greece.svg) Greece (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece): Greek Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Air_Force), Greek Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Army) They are going to be replaced by NHIndustries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHIndustries) NH90 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHI_NH90)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_Georgia_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Georgia_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Georgia_%28bordered%29.svg) Georgia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Flag_of_Guatemala.svg/22px-Flag_of_Guatemala.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Guatemala.svg) Guatemala (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Flag_of_Honduras.svg/22px-Flag_of_Honduras.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Honduras.svg) Honduras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Flag_of_Indonesia_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Indonesia_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Indonesia_%28bordered%29.svg) Indonesia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Iran.svg) Iran (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran): Imperial Iranian Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Iranian_Air_Force) / Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force), Imperial Iranian Ground Forces / Islamic Republic of Iran Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/22px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Iraq.svg) Iraq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Israel.svg/22px-Flag_of_Israel.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Israel.svg) Israel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Italy.svg) Italy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy): Italian Navy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Navy), Italian Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Army) Aviation. Iroquois were license produced in Italy by Agusta, known as AB205B.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Flag_of_Jamaica.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jamaica.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Jamaica.svg) Jamaica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Flag_of_Japan_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Japan_%28bordered%29.svg) Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan): The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Ground_Self-Defense_Force) has used UH-1B and UH-1Hs produced under license by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., who made original improvements to create the UH-1J version. These are now being replaced by the UH-60JA Black Hawk.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Flag_of_Jordan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Jordan.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Jordan.svg) Jordan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/22px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Kuwait.svg) Kuwait (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Flag_of_Lebanon.svg/22px-Flag_of_Lebanon.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Lebanon.svg) Lebanon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon): The Lebanese Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Lebanon) has a fleet of around thirty UH-1H helicopters which are used for rescue missions, fire fighting, and fighting drug-smuggling.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Mexico.svg) Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Morocco.svg/22px-Flag_of_Morocco.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Morocco.svg) Morocco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg) Netherlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands): Royal Netherlands Navy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg) New Zealand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand): 3. Sqn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._3_Squadron_RNZAF) RNZAF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_New_Zealand_Air_Force). New Zealand Iroquois pilots served in Vietnam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam), the Sinai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinai_Peninsula) and East Timor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Timor).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Norway.svg/22px-Flag_of_Norway.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Norway.svg) Norway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway): The Royal Norwegian Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Norwegian_Air_Force), until replaced by the Bell 412 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_412) in 1989.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Oman_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Oman_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Oman_%28bordered%29.svg) Oman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Flag_of_Pakistan_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Pakistan_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Pakistan_%28bordered%29.svg) Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ad/Flag_of_Panama_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Panama_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Panama_%28bordered%29.svg) Panama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Flag_of_Paraguay.svg/22px-Flag_of_Paraguay.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Paraguay.svg) Paraguay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguay)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea.svg/22px-Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea.svg) Papua New Guinea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Peru.svg/22px-Flag_of_Peru.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Peru.svg) Peru (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg) Philippines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines): The Philippine Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Air_Force) has used its UH-1H helicopters to fight Communist insurgents and Muslim separatists in various parts of the country. It has now undertaken the Huey II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_II) upgrade program in order to extend the operational life and capability of its Hueys.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg) Saudi Arabia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia): Royal Saudi Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Saudi_Air_Force)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Flag_of_Singapore_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Singapore_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Singapore_%28bordered%29.svg) Singapore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Flag_of_Somalia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Somalia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Somalia.svg) Somalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Flag_of_South_Korea_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_South_Korea_%28bordered%29.svg) South Korea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Spain.svg) Spain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Flag_of_Sweden.svg/22px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Sweden.svg) Sweden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Flag_of_Tanzania.svg/22px-Flag_of_Tanzania.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Tanzania.svg) Tanzania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/22px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Thailand.svg) Thailand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Flag_of_Tunisia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Tunisia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Tunisia.svg) Tunisia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/22px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Turkey.svg) Turkey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey): Turkish Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Army), Turkish Gendarmerie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Gendarmerie), Turkish Navy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Navy), Turkish Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Air_Force)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Flag_of_Uganda.svg/22px-Flag_of_Uganda.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Uganda.svg) Uganda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg) United Arab Emirates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg) United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom): Army Air Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Air_Corps) (Belize & Brunei)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Flag_of_Uruguay_%28bordered%29.svg/22px-Flag_of_Uruguay_%28bordered%29.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Uruguay_%28bordered%29.svg) Uruguay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/22px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Venezuela.svg) Venezuela (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg) Republic of Vietnam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Vietnam): Vietnam Air Force (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Air_Force)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Vietnam.svg) Vietnam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam): Captured ex-VNAF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Air_Force) UH-1s.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Flag_of_Yemen.svg/22px-Flag_of_Yemen.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Yemen.svg) Yemen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Flag_of_SFR_Yugoslavia.svg/25px-Flag_of_SFR_Yugoslavia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_SFR_Yugoslavia.svg) Yugoslavia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Zambia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Zambia.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Zambia.svg) Zambia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg/22px-Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg) Zimbabwe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1_Iroquois

I am sorry, I obviously stepped on Russian toes :roll:

[koko]

Sorry my mistake... But that list seems a bit outdated. For example South Vietnam or Yugoslavia no more exists :D Chavez also is not happy with them, no spare parts :)

[AlphaOneSix]

I'd say the Mi-8 is a bit less reliable, just Google the words Mi-8 and crash and look how many results. Off course it's not always the machine...

Well, I'm a mechanic on both of them, and the Mil birds are flying and the Huey is sitting in the hangar. The only problem we have with the Mil birds is that it's much harder to get parts for them (compared to the Huey, anyway). Since we operate both, we use the same pilots and mechanics for both, so skill is pretty much equal and it's just the aircraft themselves being judged. Based on that, I'd say that the Mil aircraft have a slight edge in the down and dirty reliability department, but they are both nice aircraft (except the Huey can't carry enough weight).

[UH-1H II]

Those Iraqi Hueys are ex-Jordan Air Force UH-1Hs and were delivered as standard UH-1H to Iraq. Now they have nothing else to do with a Vietnam era machine. They are good enough for 20 years to come.

[redhawk_six]

When the US Army flies the last Blackhawk to the scrap yard, they'll send a huey to pick up the pilot.

The UH-1 is and always has been a great helo. I like the paint job on the Iraqi ones, very nice.

[Dark Avenger]

When the US Army flies the last Blackhawk to the scrap yard, they'll send a huey to pick up the pilot.

The UH-1 is and always has been a great helo. I like the paint job on the Iraqi ones, very nice.
More likely a UH-72A Lakota... The Huey's days as a military aircraft in the US are numbered now that the American Eurocopter has entered the scene, IMHO.

[exarmyguard]

More likely a UH-72A Lakota... The Huey's days as a military aircraft in the US are numbered now that the American Eurocopter has entered the scene, IMHO.

Uggh. The Lakota. Why was that thing picked. The AB139 was bigger and could carry more. Lets nickname it the "Lack" cuz it lacks the ability to do the big jobs.

[helomech]

UH-1 Huey,kick a_ss helo but the MI-8/17 can outdo the Huey in cargo capacity and true airspeed among other things.Indeed it is a reliable aircraft,and like all aircraft it can have it's moments.The parts issue is a real bitch most of the time,but when you can parts, you're good to go.

And by the way those Hueys came from Jordan,and I'm pretty sure their not true Huey II's,just regular Hueys with new paint jobs and whatever else was scrounged up.Those old Jordanian hueys' sat in Amman for years collecting sand before being pawned off on the Iraqis'.

The new MI-17-V5's the Iraqi's have received will get more blade time than the Hueys in the long run.

To AlphaOneSix,I work on the Mi's myself,it's a good helo-go Team Olga!!!

SF

[wicked_hind]

To AlphaOneSix,I work on the Mi's myself,it's a good helo-go Team Olga!!!

SF

Do the Mils use standard AN/MS hardware?

[junglejim]

If its good enough for my country, its good enough for me. Nothing like the sound of the Huey's "Thump" to remind me I'm back home. Grew up with those sounds and until now whenever I go home down south, that thump would always make me look up. I'd give everything up just to be a pilot in one of those birds. Doesnt even matter if they are older than me.woot

[ya2]

i wonder how many are gonna be easy targets for iglas..

[wicked_hind]

i wonder how many are gonna be easy targets for iglas..

What helicopter isn't?

[UH-1H II]

@Helimech:

The first 4 helicopters were coming directly from Jordan as UH-1Hs. But soon after US Forces put them airworthy they found out, that the old Huey is not working well in this clima in Iraq. The US offered them to upgrade all 16 machines to Huey II.

The first 2 were now delivered from US Helicopters Inc in Ozark Alambama to the Iraqi Air Force.

The machinegun is a russian PK and the mount is a M23 which is in use since Vietnam. Normally they use the M60D but the Iraqis prefer Russian PKs.

[UH-1H II]

Here a other pic from the Machinegun PK and the M23 Mount.

[helomech]

Do the Mils use standard AN/MS hardware?

Metric hardware only,and all screw heads are straight slot,a real pain the arse;I didn't know about the Ozark helo refit,that is a good mod to the aircraft.

The PKM mounted in the back rocks!A couple of retired mil-group guys I know said they prefer the PKM over most western weapons'....like the AK,it's
pretty reliable

Any helo is an easy target,regardless of what it has on it..