Airmen help deliver helicopters to Afghan military

Tech. Sgt. Scott Hirschenberger helps Afghan national army air corps helicopter crew chiefs unload helicopter blades from a cargo plane Dec. 5 at Kabul, Afghanistan. The blades are part of a shipment of three refurbished MI-17 helicopters donated to the ANAAC by the Czech Republic. Sergeant Hirschenberger is a mentor from the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and teaches the Afghan soldiers proper safety procedures, aircraft handling and maintenance. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek)

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Airmen help deliver helicopters to Afghan military

Tech Sgt. John Noa helps Afghan national army air corps helicopter crew chief Sgt. Zulmi unload parts for a refurbished MI-17 helicopter from an Antonov 124 cargo plane Dec. 5 at Kabul, Afghanistan. The helicopter is the first of six to be delivered to the Afghan national army air corps from the Czech Republic. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek)

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Airmen help deliver helicopters to Afghan military

Tech Sgt. John Noa helps an Afghan national army air corps soldier unload a refurbished MI-17 helicopter from an Antonov 124 cargo plane Dec. 5 at Kabul, Afghanistan. The helicopter was being delivered to the Afghan national army air corps from the Czech Republic. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek)

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Airmen help deliver helicopters to Afghan military

Published Dec. 7, 2007
By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Airmen from Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Combined Air Power Transition Force helped deliver the first three of 12 refurbished Soviet helicopters Dec. 5 at Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Airmen are involved in mentoring the Afghan national army air corps and helped acquire the aircraft, donated by Czech Republic officials.

The MI-17 helicopters are meant to help the Afghan national army air corps transport troops, evacuate casualties and provide humanitarian assistance during emergencies.

This first step is part of a plan to field 200 aircraft for the Afghan national army air corps by 2011. More aircraft will be coming from the Czech Republic and from the United Arab Emirates in the next few months.