Text & Photos: Alejandro De Prado T4A
The largest annual air show in the country took place on September 14th and 15th at Tanagra Air Base (Greece). This year’s 2024 edition marks the 12th edition, with the organizers’ commitment to improving year after year. Athens Flying Week remains a young festival with a clear vision for the future. The festival runs for five days, from Thursday to Monday, with participant arrivals and training taking place on the first Thursday and Friday.
The main part and bulk of the airshow takes place on Saturday and Sunday, open to the general public. Participants depart for their base on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. It’s worth noting that the organizers, through their extensive ticket offering, allow participants to organize their events as they see fit, allowing them to attend any of the days with the combinations they deem appropriate.
TANAGRA AIR BASE
Tanagra Air Base is a Greek Air Force base located north of Athens and home to the 114th Combat Wing. The mission of the 114th Combat Wing (114CW) is to maintain a high level of readiness and effectiveness. This is achieved through proper organization, personnel training, and maintenance of available assets and systems. It also involves the successful conduct and execution of air operations at all times. The values of the 114th Combat Wing are inspired by Polydamas, a friend of Hector, a very eloquent person who incites his Trojan War comrades to enter the city walls to avoid the wrath of Achilles, due to the death of his friend Patroclus.
Hector, the bravest of the Trojans, disagrees with Polydamas and insists that all warriors must stand outside the city walls and be vigilant. No, come, let us all obey what I command you; now dine by companies throughout the army, and watch and be on the alert, every man (Iliad, S 297-9; Loeb, by A.T. Murray). That is the function of the 114 Combat Wing: to watch over all Greeks and be alert for any threat. Within the Combat Wing are the 331 Theseus Squadron with Mirage 2000-5 Material and the 332 Halcón Squadron with Mirage 2000 EGM / BGM Material, currently this squadron is in full transition and implementation of the Rafale F3R weapons system, already operating two and waiting to receive three more from the first order made by the Greek Air Force to France. Greek Armed Forces.
The Greek Armed Forces have supported Athens Fly Week since its inception and continue to provide the largest number of aircraft to the festival and show off their muscles. This year they have contributed their two official demonstration teams, the F-16 Solo DemoTeam “Zeus” and the T-6A “Daedalus” Demo Team.
We cannot ignore, two F-4E Phantom II of the 338 Squadron flew from Andravida Air Base to simulate a low altitude tactical mission at Tanagra Air Base, an Mirage 2000-5 of the 331 Squadron and a Rafale F3R of the 332 Squadron (based at Tanagra Air Base) demonstrated the transition that is taking place within the Air Force. An F-16C in formation with a Mirage 2000-5 and an Embraer 145H AEW&C demonstrated the intelligence capabilities of the Greeks, later they did the same with a C130H Hercules demonstrating the transport capacity.
In addition to the fighters, the HAF displayed its recently acquired Aermacchi M-246 basic trainers, as well as a Super Puma SAR from the 358th Squadron based in Elefsis. Among other Hellenic Armed Forces aircraft, the Hellenic Army Air Force contributed this year, offering an original and engaging spectacle: a CAS evacuation scenario. During this display, we were able to see all of its aerial assets: Apache, Chinook, Kiowa, and Huey, deploying elite soldiers to secure the perimeter and witnessing perfect extraction and evasion performances. On the other hand, the Greek Navy contributed a well-established S-70 Aegean Hawk, which offered a rapid insertion assault demonstration. It’s a shame we couldn’t enjoy the P3 Orion due to last-minute maintenance issues. But clearly, this wasn’t a drawback but rather an incentive to visit the country again.
