Baby Steps For The Afghan Air Force

In The Air Today: Afghan Air Force Developing Its Capabilities -- Washington Times

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — In southwestern Afghanistan, this reporter for The Washington Times recently hitched a ride on a helicopter manned by Afghans, including the pilot and two door gunners, as well as U.S. military personnel.

The 20-minute flight was aboard an Mi-17, a Russian-made aircraft that Afghans have learned to fly.

The U.S.-led coalition is helping Afghanistan recruit, train and deploy an air force, which is not expected to be fully capable until after 2017.

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My Comment: They have a long way to go before becoming an effective fighting force.

All Of Afghanistan's Cargo Planes Are To be Scrapped

Afghan Air Force C-27A. Wikipedia

US Scraps Entire Fleet Of Afghan Cargo Planes -- Stars and Stripes

KABUL — The U.S. military is scrapping the Afghan air force’s entire fleet of Italian-made cargo planes, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

U.S. and Afghan officials told the paper that the Afghan military isn’t expected to have an independent and fully functioning air force until around 2017, well after the withdrawal of most U.S. and international troops.

On the west end of Kabul International Airport, twin-engine C-27As sit side by side, sunlight reflecting off their gray wings and the green, black, and red of the Afghan flag emblazoned on their tails. For more than a year, though, most of the planes had been little more than expensive aviation exhibitions, unable to fly due to lack of spare parts and maintenance.

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My Comment: It makes one wonder who was responsible for awarding this contract in the first place .... and why.

U.S. Trainers Try To Get Afghan Air Force Off The Ground

U.S. troops are helping train and rebuild the once-decimated Afghan Air Force. FNC

From Stars And Stripes:

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Rocket-propelled grenades began whizzing by the rickety, Soviet-era M-17 chopper. Flying 50 feet above a canyon floor in Kandahar province, the Afghan pilot suddenly began to climb, lurching dangerously close to another Mi-17. Sitting in the co-pilot seat, U.S. Air Force Capt. Tyler Rennell abruptly seized control of the chopper and narrowly averted a mid-air collision.

Then the Afghan pilot started pouting, Rennell recalled.

"He gets so upset about me taking the controls that he takes his helmet off," Rennell said. "If you [quit mid-mission like this] in the U.S., you’re done."

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My Comment: By the sound of it .... it appears that it is going to take decades before the Afghan Air Force can be a viable force .... and that is if the funding and support is constant in the next decade or two.

But in the interim .... everyone plugs along and tries their best.