Iraqi Air force 2nd Lt. Omar AlNuaimi graduated July 24 from his specialized undergraduate pilot training class at Columbus AFB, Miss., becoming the first Iraqi pilot to complete the Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. “It feels great [to graduate],” said AlNuaimi. He added, “Since the Iraqi Air Force was founded, until this moment, we haven’t had students who have graduated from the US. It’s been great and wonderful to be trained and get my wings.” AlNuaimi will now help to train the Iraqi airmen at Kirkuk AB, Iraq. “I have gained good experience, and I will be glad to take all this experience back to my country and teach,” he said. He credits the men and women whom he encountered during his training in the US for his success. (Columbus report by SrA. Jacob Corbin)
There is a new entrant in the highly competitive field of collaborative combat aircraft—semi-autonomous drones meant to fly alongside manned combat aircraft. Northrop Grumman unveiled its new Project Talon aircraft to a small group of reporters at the facilities of its subsidiary Scaled Composites.
