It is being reported
 

Ah fuck it! Ask TheKing. :winkwink:

that the coalition troops are being welcomed in Najaf.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/...ing/index.html

Might be propaganda. Might not. Only time will tell.

And a Blackhawk is down. 7 dead, 4 wounded.

WTF, whats the total number of those down now? Maybe a change should be in order :feels-hot

What do you expect? They're not invincible.

I agree, it's just that they seem to have the highest average of getting blown out of the sky or crash so far...

What ever the current count is it does not come close to the more than 12,000 rotary wings lost during Vietnam.

black hawks really are incredible weapons, and heli's changed the way battles were fought, but I gotta say, they've got to be pretty easy to shoot out of the sky, any sort of helicopter must seem like a piece of cake for a stinger missle, even rocket propelled grenades like in mogadishu.. they're just so slow and lightly armoured. I'm kinda surprised more haven't been taken out.. I would have thought the Iraqi's had some stingers or russian built anti air missles ready given how much the coalition relies on them.

You're thinking of the Apache's. This is the first Blackhawk I've noticed, not saying there aren't others...

Choppers are basically sitting ducks. Those pilots must be extremely skilled.

One of my mates flies blackhawks, but we don't have any in Iraq, only hornets, he's been put on a specialist anti-terrorism squad in Sydney. They've got a 24/7 non visable presence.. It's good to know they're under the radar there.

Can you explain how a Blackhawk gets shot down in Iraq when there are none in Iraq?

Yes, I can explain, but then you didn't ask me.

I think he was referring to Australia.

Can you check your ICQ when you have a minute? Want to pick your brain.

I think that it is time that they find something to use other than the helo.

Something that works similar, but much more stable.

Good for you.

R&D is working on it.

No Australian blackhawks.