Text & Photos; Pere Vilalta Torné.
As part of Athens Flying Week 2025, an open day and airshow took place at Tanagra Air Base, located about 65 km from Athens, Greece. We were able to enjoy a variety of aircraft from different countries, including the Greek Air Force itself.
The Athens Flying Week celebrated its 12th edition at Tanagra Air Base on 6 and 7 September 2025. The base is home to the 114th Fighter Wing, with its 331st squadron with the Mirage 2000-5 and 332nd fighter squadron, which with the retirement of the Mirage F-1CG and Mirage 2000, have been replaced by the Rafale F3R.
The Greek combat air force, which also includes the Mirage 2000-5, the Rafale F3R, and the F-16 in its various variants, and with the upcoming addition of the F-35, will take an important step in the modernization of its weapons systems, as they will replace the aging F-4E Phantoms.
The day began with the opening of doors at around 10:00 a.m., allowing attendees to view the static display of aircraft, mainly Greek. We saw a Sikorsky S-64E firefighting aircraft, a CH-47C, a Bell OH-58D Kiowa, an NH-90 TTH, and an AH-64A Apache from the Greek Army, and an MH-60R from the Greek Navy.
On the part of the Greek Air Force, a Rafale EG, a Mirage 2000-5BG, an Embraer 145H, an MD F-4E Phantom II, an M-346, a T-6A Texan II and a Tecnan P2002JF Sierra.
Over the foreign air forces, a Saudi EF-2000 and an Austrian Pilatus PC-7. Among classic aircraft, we were able to see the Spitfire and a T-6 Texan also taking to the skies.
The dynamic performance began with the Hellenic Skydivers, a civilian parachute patrol, and other civilian aircraft, including BK-117 firefighting aircraft. This was followed by two MH-60R aircraft from the Greek Navy. Special forces performed various tasks, covering various scenarios such as prisoner rescue in a Polaris combat vehicle, and medical evacuation, supported by CH-47C and NH-90 helicopters for the extraction of special forces, under the protection of an OH-58D Kiowa.
The international component of the festival was handled by an Italian HH139 rescue helicopter, which, along with the Tornado, was Italy’s contribution to the festival. Later, a Saudi EF-2000, a German EF-2000, an Austrian PC-7, and the Rafale Demo helicopter of the Air Force. The highlight of the event was the engagement ceremony of glider pilot Lucca Bertossio after his demonstration flight. The most moving part was the minute of respect with the Polish anthem, in memory of the pilot who fell two weeks ago at the Radom air base (Poland).
Without a doubt, the interest of this airshow was focused on seeing the F-4E Phantom fly, which will be replaced with the upcoming arrival of the F-35, so I don’t think it will take more than a couple of years for this aircraft to be retired from the Hellenic Air Force. An F-16, a Rafale, and a Mirage 2000 also flew. The F-16 and Rafale performed an aerial combat simulation, and there were different passes between the past and present of Greek aviation, with a Spitfire and a Mirage 2000. Or different combinations together with a C-130 Hercules and an Emb-145 aerial surveillance aircraft.
The civil part was carried out by two passes of an Aegean A320 and an Olympic Air ATR-72.
To finish the Saturday exhibition, and already with the last light of day, the Dutch Rush, with their colors and flares, put the finishing touch to the Saturday exhibition,
