It was founded in 1945 and started operation on Jan. 26 1946. using Dragon Rapide and Vickers VC.1 Viking aircraft. By 1955. Vickers Viscounts operated all of Iraqi Airways' external services. In the 1960s Iraqi Airways bought Russian Tupolev Tu-124 planes as well as Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft. These jets allowed Iraqi Airways to increase service across the Middle East, to Africa and Europe. During that time, cargo aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il-76 were also purchased. During the 1970s, Iraqi Airways needed a bigger jet for a new route to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, purchasing the Boeing 707 and, soon after, the Boeing 747. __