tag:www.thedonovan.com,2012://1/tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421- 2012-01-06T18:22:08Z We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421 2009-02-20T12:38:08Z 2009-02-20T13:38:31Z

My friends -- ya say ya want somethin' ta give ya some *Hope*? Ya say yer ready to see some *Change*? Well, my friends, today is yer lucky day, 'cuz Ah got *both* Hope and Change for alla y'all!First, some Hope -- remember last year's post on Class 67 of the Iraqi Air Force's Flight School Graduation?Three cadets. The first new pilots in the New Iraqi Air Force.Yesterday, Class 68 graduated. There were twelve, originally...But only eight graduated. Nahh -- nobody washed out and nobody got killed. The other four became part of Class 09-01, the first IqAF Rotary Wing...

Bill http://www.thedonovan.com
First, some Hope -- remember last year's post on Class 67 of the Iraqi Air Force's Flight School Graduation?

Three cadets. The first new pilots in the New Iraqi Air Force.

Yesterday, Class 68 graduated. There were twelve, originally...




But only eight graduated.

Nahh -- nobody washed out and nobody got killed. The other four became part of Class 09-01, the first IqAF Rotary Wing course.




Here's everybody, along with one of my contractor-parasite 'Structor Pilot compatriots.

And here's the Corps of Cadet of the Iraqi Flight Training School. Classes 68 through 71.



A bit of deja-vu -- a Class 67 grad was the Caravan (the airplane in the right rear) copilot. He's assigned here, and stops into my office about twice a week to yak about airspace and "The New Guys." Class 72 is due in shortly. They've been airing recruiting ads on Iraqi TV...

*ah-HEM*

Ready for some more Hope and Change?



That row of chairs was uniforms-only at Class 67's graduation. The civilians -- ladies included -- are members of the Kirkuk City Council and the Provincial Regional Council.

This has changed, too. Last year, the flags were placed about four feet apart.



And for the "We'll never be able to contain the sectarian violence" crowd, welllllllll...




In no particular order, there's a Sunni from Diyala, a Shi'a from Basra, a Chaldean Kurd, and a Roamin' Catholic Crusader myrmidon in the pic.

The three guys in blue became buds in OCS and volunteered for Flight School together. I didn't stage that shot -- they dragged *me* off for the photo op, and it wasn't until afterwards that I remembered why I started calling them "the Three Musketeers" a year ago.

That there's *my* definition of HopeandChange, kids.

]]> tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84548 Barb http://barbette.blogspot.com 2009-02-22T22:00:30Z 2009-02-22T22:00:30Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84546 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com
Where's Two-niner, still snowbound in the Poconos?
]]> 2009-02-22T18:10:48Z 2009-02-22T18:10:48Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84545 STS BS 2009-02-22T17:56:19Z 2009-02-22T17:56:19Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84538 Josh Oh, geez, now I'll have to learn how to preflight a frakkin' *missile*?

Oh don't worry, Air Force Pilots all across NATO had to do that for decades...
]]> 2009-02-22T07:50:15Z 2009-02-22T07:50:15Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84535 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com frakkin' *missile*?
]]> 2009-02-22T07:20:08Z 2009-02-22T07:20:08Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84531 El Capitan http://tmmkkt22.blogspot.com
Thanks for keeping us up to date on how they're all doing.  A day hasn't gone by when I didn't think about everyone out there making this happen.

Can't wait until the students that follow these guys get to hop into AT-6s. ]]> 2009-02-21T23:07:00Z 2009-02-21T23:07:00Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84506 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com ]]> 2009-02-21T05:31:40Z 2009-02-21T05:31:40Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84485 Josh ]]> 2009-02-20T19:43:55Z 2009-02-20T19:43:55Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84478 olga And Bill, LOVE your mustache :o) 2009-02-20T17:46:15Z 2009-02-20T17:46:15Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84476 olga Thank you for the great Hope and Change! Great event and great pictures!  Excellent work!]]> 2009-02-20T17:38:49Z 2009-02-20T17:38:49Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84471 David M http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/ 2009-02-20T15:59:18Z 2009-02-20T15:59:18Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84469 AFSister
Well done, Twin!!]]> 2009-02-20T15:32:02Z 2009-02-20T15:32:02Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84468 John (not the armorer) ]]> 2009-02-20T15:29:09Z 2009-02-20T15:29:09Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84464 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com Only a shillin'? G'arn, 'old out for th' full quid... 2009-02-20T14:29:53Z 2009-02-20T14:29:53Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2009://1.10421-comment:84460 John of Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com 2009-02-20T13:59:38Z 2009-02-20T13:59:38Z