Iraqi pilots training militants to fly captured MiG jets

I remember in 1991, when Saddam Hussein ordered his entire Iraqi air force to flee to Iran to avoid destruction during the Gulf War. If these are the same guys, they're not going to be much of a threat.

I think it takes a unique collection of skills to be a good fighter jet pilot. Randomly unidentifiable selection for the pilots may be mediocre at best. Put them against a US pilot....less MIG's.

Wow. They took off, did a couple of turns in the pattern, and landed. Take a bow ISIS. Doesn't sound like they're being taught the most applicable skill, ejection seat operation...

Doesn't sound like they're being taught the most applicable skill, ejection seat operation...

Good one! They'll need to know that. First encounter.

Instead of laughing at their amateur status, shouldn't you be concerned that they are advancing their armory?

We knew that a few months ago Scooby. THe retreating Iraqi's left most everything behind. That was the time to act on ISIS. But the Administration didn't see it coming. They were JV at that time.

Hmmm, an ISIS PILOT flying a PLANE. What harm could that do?

@scoobydoo It would be advancing their armory if they had more than the technical know-how to jump up and down on the wings of the aircraft. Just 'cuz they got it off the ground doesn't mean they know how to get parts for the thing.

Just bomb the airfields.

scoobydoo

The mere ability to get these planes off the ground (without the requisite logistics, maintenance, real training, etc.) will result in their own death/destruction before they can use them as effective weapons against anyone let alone pose an actual threat to coalition forces. So no, no concern here whatsoever.

The Iraqi officer-class trainers were left jobless after the US invaders in 2004 disbanded the military. No wonder they drifted to ISIL, taking their expertise with them.

Once again, the Obama administration has to respond to all the horrendous mistakes and ignorance committed from 2003 to 2008.

Its really naive to just pass it off as boys with toys as a few others seem to think.They have managed to get enough arms to advance their cause enough to be a serious problem, despite it being a ragtag army. What stops them from progressing with their aviation hopes. Probably the best thing to help them along would be for every one to say "lets not consider it important" and just let them continue to grow.

Scoobydoo, agreed. They should be taken seriously and they are increasing capabilities. Though as USNinJapan2 points out the technology, maintenance and world class training are certain factors. I recall the famed Iraqi "Republican Guard", a supposed formidable army. It was child-splay for the US military. Should we assume the same? No, we should always intervene with this group to limit its expansion in every aggressive aspect.

scoobydoo

I'm sorry but you clearly have no idea what it takes to train a person, not just any person willing to try, but even a person who actually has the aptitude for flight, not just buzzing around in a Cessna flying but high G tactical flight, to just be proficient behind the stick let alone be capable of anything remotely resembling effective air combat or ground attack for that matter. The only thing these three 1950's and 1960's vintage aircraft are good for in the hands of ISIS is to be used as flying bombs, but since we keep tabs on exactly where all of these aircraft are at all times they will undoubtedly be destroyed by a strike before they can be put to use. If they were ever to be sent up against U.S. aircraft I promise you that the pilots would never see or know what killed them. It would be over that fast. I give ISIS due credit for what they've been able to accomplish on the ground using armed pickup trucks and a few odd armored vehicles, but to think that they'll be able to accomplish anything similar in the air with these stolen Syrian birds in the same way is just plain silly and not realistic.

"The only thing these three 1950's and 1960's vintage aircraft are good for in the hands of ISIS is to be used as flying bombs"

The mig-23 entered service in the early 70s and were retired by the Russian air force in 1998. Tests have shown them to have several superior flying characteristics over US f-16 and f/a-18, which the US flies today, including acceleration.

Mig-23s shot down 2 Israeli pilots flying US aircraft in 1981.

I see Jeff. So you'd take your chances riding along in a Mig-23 piloted by one of these ISIS noobs than be a backseater for one of us? Good luck with that.