August 11, 2007:
The Iraqi Air Force has ordered 18
Cessna C172 single engine aircraft. Each aircraft costs $589,000, and will be
used mainly for reconnaissance. These aircraft are cheaper than UAVs, and also
serve, in a militarized version, as the T-41 basic flight trainer. The C172 is
a 1.1 ton aircraft with a max speed of 228 kilometers an hour, and can stay in
the air for about six hours per sortie. The aircraft is easy to fly, and can be
equipped with all manner of night and day video cameras. The Iraqis have lots
of unemployed pilots, who are happy to have anything to fly.