Already, two Iraqis have joined aspiring fighter pilots from the United States, Singapore, Poland, Denmark, Japan and the Netherlands at the U.S. Air Force's international F-16 schoolhouse at Tucson International Airport. A delegation of senior Iraqi Air Force officers visited the unit Aug. 30 to assess their students' progress and reaffirm their partnership with the desert fighter wing.
"We have an opportunity to work with a critical partner in a very strategic region of world," said Col. Mick McGuire, 162nd Fighter Wing commander. "They have an opportunity to see what a professional operation we are and as a result of their visit I think we'll have a long-standing relationship with the Iraqi air force -- at least through 2020 -- training F-16 pilots and providing a true coalition warfighting partner for the United States and an ability for them to defend their country for years to come."
In 1986, Iraqi air force Brig. Gen. Abdulhussein Lafta Ali Ali flew Soviet-era MiG-21s but said he dreamed of flying the F-16.
Now visiting Tucson as a senior officer in his air force's operations directorate, he flew with American pilots to experience the F-16's capabilities and the unique demands of U.S. fighter training.
"The F-16 project is most important for our two nations," he said. "This is the first time Iraqis have flown F-16s. It's important for us to understand the training schedule and syllabus for our student pilots because the first pilots who train here will one day be examples for our other pilots."
After his orientation flight, Abdulhussein noted the F-16's high thrust to weight ratio, maneuverability, aerodynamic shape, avionics, load capacity, and its design which allows pilots to better endure G forces.
"We reached more than 7 Gs during our flight, and the (tilt-back) angle of the seat made it easy. In the MiG-21 the seat is more vertical making G forces difficult," he said. "This is the best aircraft for us and this is the best place for our pilots to train."
Air Guardsmen here train more than 70 international student pilots per year, offering several training programs that range from initial F-16 training to qualify new pilots to an advanced weapons course. Under the current contract between the U.S. and Iraq, the 162nd FW will train a total of 27 Iraqi pilots.
Until they receive their own fighters, the initial cadre of pilots will remain in Tucson. After they complete the six-to-eight month basic course they will continue through flight lead upgrade training, additional seasoning and instructor pilot certification.
According to McGuire, a tailored syllabus is among several factors that make the wing an attractive option for international fighter pilot training.
"First and foremost, the 162nd (FW) has an unparalleled safety record because our maintainers average 18 years of experience specializing on the F-16," said the colonel. "That instills confidence in the nations we train."
Adding to the secure feeling of flying aircraft from one of the safest F-16 fleets in the world is the freedom afforded by Arizona's plentiful ranges, he said.
The Barry Goldwater Range in southwest Arizona consists of 2.7 million acres of relatively undisturbed Sonoran desert. Overhead are 57,000 cubic miles of airspace where fighter pilots can practice air-to-air maneuvers and engage simulated battlefield targets on the ground.
"Finally, we average 17,000 flying hours per year, and we're able to do that because of Arizona's year-round flying weather. Less than 3 percent of scheduled sorties here are canceled due to weather," he said.
The elements add up to optimal flight-training conditions which allow the wing's cadre of 80 instructor pilots to execute an aggressive training schedule.
"The students get the best possible flight education when they come here," said McGuire, "and our Airmen take great pride in their mission -- they see the big picture."
"Partnership building it's about flying together, operating together and training together, so if we have to, we can fight together. On a deeper level, it's about friendships. With F-16s in operation around the world, creating the foundation of a relationship is absolutely invaluable."
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