The Pilatus PC-7 was a two-seat basic trainer aircraft, sold by Switzerland to both Iran and Iraq – starting in 1983. The Iraqi Army Aviation Corps was quick in adapting some of its 52 PC-7s for COIN purposes. The first unit equipped with the type became operational in 1984 and was deployed to fight Kurdish insurgents in the north of the country. It had all of its aircraft camouflaged as shown on this example (serial number 5024, c/n 170/9043). Colours used seem to have been of French origin, and included Brun Café (similar to BS381C/388 Beige), Brun Noisette (similar to BS381C/350 Dark Earth) and Gris Vert Fonce (similar BS381C/641 Dark Green) on top surfaces and sides. Undersurfaces were probably painted in a colour similar to Celomer 1625 Gris Bleu Moyen Clar (light blue-grey). The second IrAAC’s unit of PC-7s was operational by 1986, by when PC-7s became frequent sights over the northern and central battlefields of the Iran-Iraq War. Their usual armament consisted of FN ETNA TMP-5 twin 7.62mm machine-gun pods and Matra F2 pods for six 68mm SNEB unguided rockets. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)