Quote:
Originally posted by XSpider
Well, i can fill you in on this one. Firts we have the Mirage wich needs alot of maintenance hours and replacement pieces for it to be able to do long time operations. Same thing for the Migs, i think they need a revision every 2,000 flight hours or so. The engines of both aircrafts need to be replaced very often because they both work on a "clean inlet" meaning there is nothing inbetween the inlet and the engine itself. It sucks up all the dirt not to mention alot of desert sand. I think 9 out of 10 Iraqi military jets would crash in it's first 5 flight hours because they don't maintain them anymore, most are not air worthy anymore. They probably still have the aircrafts but they are not able anymore to make them air worthy.
|
Good points. That would explain why we have not seen any air assaults.
I know that Iraq has kept close to 200 migs in Iran since the mid 90s (why Iran, who was at war with Iraq for almost a decade, has chosen to do this is beyond me) and it might be for maintenance purposes. The sanctions placed on Iraq prevent most military parts including replacement. That might explain why Iran kept them and then repatriated them back to Iraq.
I would feel more comfortable if there were some reports of captured aircraft, even if they were inoperable.