Sometimes too costly

Passion for aviation is sometimes too costly

U.S. Chopper Goes Down in Iraq, 4 Passengers Injured

U.S. Chopper Goes Down in Iraq, 4 Passengers Injured
Thursday, April 05, 2007

BAGHDAD — A U.S. Army helicopter went down Thursday south of Baghdad, and all nine aboard survived, although four were wounded, the military said.

Gunmen opened fire on a Black Hawk helicopter at about 7:30 a.m. as it flew over Latifiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

The helicopter went down in a rural area and U.S. forces had cordoned off the site, the official said .
The militants apparently were using anti-aircraft heavy machine gun.

The last helicopter incident in Iraq occurred on March 1, when an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter made a “hard landing” in northern Iraq leaving the two crew members wounded. A week earlier, ground fire forced the downing of a Black Hawk north of Baghdad.

Eighth US Helicopter crashes in one month

IRAQ: U.S. HELICOPTER DOWNED ON PATROL

Baghdad, 21 Feb. (AKI) – A US military helicopter crashed north of Baghdad on Wednesday and an insurgent group has claimed that it brought the aircraft down. The US military says that the Black Hawk helicopter made a “hard landing” and that its 9 crew and passengers has been rescued by an other chopper. Eyewitness reports carried by local and Arab media suggested the helicopter was struck by a missile near the city of Taji, 40 km from the capital and one insugent group has claimed responsibility for bringing down the aircraft. A US military spokesman says the cause of the “hard landing” was not yet clear.

In a statement posted to the Internet, the Mujahadeen Army said: “At 10 am today the mujahadeen of the Ibn Taimiya Brigade, which forms part of the Mujahadeen Army, succeeded in downing a Black Hawk helicopter of the crusader occupation forces in the area of Taji, north of Baghdad. We will give you further details of the operation. “

According to eyewitness reports the helicopter was one of two involved in patrols in a rural area close to the American base at Taji.

I think this report can be true but i think that the manpads used here are more Misagh 1 (Iranian copy and improved version of the chinese QW-1) than SA-7 the latest is lacking of an anti-flare system.
It’s also possible that Insurgents have received a batch of Misagh 2 (Iranian copy of QW-2) which mass production has started a few months ago.

sixth helicopter downing in Iraq

Officials report sixth helicopter downing in Iraq Thu Feb 8, 3:29 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A helicopter operated by a private security firm came down in Iraq last week, U.S. officials said on Thursday, an incident that marks the sixth downing of a helicopter in three weeks.

Reports of the January 31 incident, in which no one was killed, come a day after seven crew members and passengers aboard a U.S. Marine helicopter were killed when it crashed near Baghdad, possibly after being hit by ground fire.

The U.S. military, concerned that militants have changed tactics or are using more sophisticated weapons, has said it is adjusting its tactics.

One U.S. military official told Reuters he had heard reports that the private security helicopter came down under fire.

“It did not crash, it made a hard landing. They were able to get all crew and equipment out,” the official said.

The New York Times, quoting American officials, reported the helicopter was shot down south of Baghdad after insurgents attacked it with heavy-caliber ground fire.

An American helicopter swooped in to rescue the passengers and crew, it said. It was unclear how many people were on board.

U.S. embassy spokesman Lou Fintor told reporters the January 31 incident was under investigation.

Here is the video of Attack on the Blackhawk on the 20 january :
(you can see two 14.5 mm AAA and heard RPG launch)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=50e01ab0ad

Here is the video of Attack on the Apache on 2 of February :
(You can heard the noise of a manpad launch just before hitting it’s target)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ee046ff204

Here is a video of marines defending an OH-58D helicopter who has just crashed (old video) :
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d1374425b5

Here is a video of insurgents firing RPG and machine guns at two Blackhwaks
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=97f28bde2c