o) December 15, 2008: The Iraqi air force has now completed its first night-time helicopter mission since having been reconstituted.
The flight, using night vision goggles, took place on December 3, according to the U.S. military. The mission involved stops at several of the Baghdad-area landing zones, LZ Washington (the entry point for the Green Zone) and LZ Liberty, one of the jump-off points near the Baghdad airport. The mission also went to the Besmaya range for NVG gun training.
The flight involved one of the Iraqi air force’s Mi-17s. The helos belong to Squadron 4, but are also operated by crew from Squadron 15, which has a special operations focus but doesn’t get its own helos until next year.
During Aviation Week’s latest visit to Iraqi this summer, NVG training was just getting started. Training took place at Taji air base, which is where the Iraqi air force Mi-17s are based. Basic flight training takes place in Kirkuk.
Night vision goggles were delivered to the Iraqi air force in June, with initial training taking place on OH-58s.
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