By John Guice
jguice@abc6.com
The Rhode Island National guard is giving a helping hand to the Iraqi air force.
The Iraqis have bought three American war planes And now, our airmen are training them and going with them overseas to Iraq.
Three new C–30–j aircraft leaving state airport in Quonset are on a mission to Iraq.
The war is over but the Iraqi government still wants support,but, this time, they're paying big bucks.
They purchased three new C130–j aircraft .Included in this package , is three other aircraft, spare parts, support equipment, aircrew and maintenance training from the 143rd airlift wing here in Rhode island. The Iraqi government footing the bill, at a cost of almost 700 million dollars.
The training for most part, went smoothly the airmen have been training the Iraqi airmen since June, which included 250 hours of air training.The training was not without challenges,
They had to attend a language institute before they came here officials say there was definitely a communications challenge.
The planes will make stops in several undisclosed locations before they arrive in Baghdad.
