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What used Russian aircraft did Iraq just buy?


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BBC News says Sukhoi fighter jets, and posted a pic of a Su-27. Su-24 or -25 sounds more likely to me, but I'm no specialist. I wonder more who are going to fly these things.

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Yeah, the -25 would be the most obvious choice, and there's probably still a small cadre of ex-Iraqi Air force pilots around who have previously flown it who could get up to speed relatively quickly. I guess any spare seats will be filled by 'Advisors' from Belarus.

Vince

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I highly doubt there are any qualified Iraqi personnel that can safely and effectively fly or service them at such short notice, I believe they essentially are hiring mercenary pilots and ground crew from Russia or Belarus.

Edited by KursadA
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Yeah, Iraq hasn't flown an Su-25 in almost 25 years. You don't just hop back in and take off after that much time. More likely to be mercenary pilots and ground crews.

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Yeah, Iraq hasn't flown an Su-25 in almost 25 years. You don't just hop back in and take off after that much time. More likely to be mercenary pilots and ground crews.

What?!? But...but but...I saw in Independence Day, Quaid hadn't flown a jet since "F-4's back in 'Nam" and he jumped into an F-18 and took to it like riding a bike. Surely it's like that isn't it? :woot.gif:

Bill

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What?!? But...but but...I saw in Independence Day, Quaid hadn't flown a jet since "F-4's back in 'Nam" and he jumped into an F-18 and took to it like riding a bike. Surely it's like that isn't it? :woot.gif:/>

Bill

Study your history, thats standard for most UFO attacks

Edited by TaiidanTomcat
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Su-25s would make the most sense given the situation.

I heard this morning they even authorized Assad to do airstrikes on ISIS in Iraq.

so might end up being Iraqi planes piloted by Syrians.

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Yeah, Iraq hasn't flown an Su-25 in almost 25 years. You don't just hop back in and take off after that much time. More likely to be mercenary pilots and ground crews.

Hence why I said ' who could get up to speed relatively quickly. I guess any spare seats will be filled by 'Advisors' from Belarus'. I'm not expecting them to 'just hop back in', but there are things that you don't forget even if you've not sat in a cockpit for years. The training syllabus could be compressed and truncated to get former pilots flying the jets sooner than would be the case with neophytes. And in the meantime, you use mercs from Belarus to help stem the ISIS tide.

Vince

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Guess those new Block 52+ F-16 we gave them they bought

...which they haven't seen yet. And they kinda need them yesterday.

just aren't capable enough... :bandhead2: :bandhead2: :bandhead2:

Correct. :)

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What?!? But...but but...I saw in Independence Day, Quaid hadn't flown a jet since "F-4's back in 'Nam" and he jumped into an F-18 and took to it like riding a bike. Surely it's like that isn't it?

Flying a plane is no different from riding a bicycle; it's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.

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The Iraqi govt. (Shi'a) probably gets the Su-25 drivers from the Iranian (Shi'a) GIRC - that fly... Su-25s! Instant attack squadron ;)/>

The "califate" fighters are hard-core Sunni; it's a muslim internal religious war (think Reformation vs Catholic in European history).

Edited by Moggy
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