Hellenic Air Force

Turkish pilots engaging in mock dogfights with their Greek counterparts over the Aegean Sea have recently displayed signs of nervousness and inexperience, according to Hellenic Air Force sources.

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will participate again this year in the world famous Royal International Air Tattoo 2017 show over the weekend of 14, 15, 16 July 2017.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he believes that the proven and likely energy reserves in Israel, Cyprus and Crete are more than enough to support natural gas exports to Europe even through an East Med pipeline.

A 28-year-old Hellenic Air Force pilot sustained minor injuries Monday after ejecting from a Mirage 2000 fighter jet south of the Sporades islands group, but the incident brought to the fore the issue of old and malfunctioning aircraft currently in use.

The Hellenic Air Force says a pilot is safe after a Mirage 2000 fighter jet crashed in the Sporades island group at 12.18 p.m. on Monday.

Hellenic Air Force officials said the aircraft had been taking part in a military drill. The pilot ejected and is safe.

Officials said the pilot likely encountered mechanical problems while conducting the routine training exercise.

Soldiers hold framed portraits on coffins containing the identified remains of 17 Greek soldiers who were killed during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, at a formal ceremony on Friday in Nicosia. The remains were to be flown back to Greece on a Hellenic Air Force transport aircraft. Most of the 17 soldiers were serving with the Greek military contingent on the island.

On May 4, Larissa airbase, Greece, hosted the spotter day for the final flight of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) RF-4E, the last “recce” Phantoms in Europe. With the phase out of the last Greek RF-4E, Iran and Japan remain the last operators of the reconnaissance variant of the “Rhino” (how the Phantom is dubbed in the aviation community).

On May 5th 2017, after 24 years of service at the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (ΜΤΑ) “Μάτια” (Eyes), the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) will retire its RF-4E from service.

The retirement ceremony at Larissa AFB will be open for photographers on May 4th (spotters day) and 5th (public day).

The Israeli look on the “INIOHOS 2017″ international exercise conducted in Greece:

The US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt attended the 2017 “Iniohos” military exercise that kicked off at Andraviga air base. The military exercise is led by the Hellenic Air Force and includes forces of NATO allies and partner nations. The US, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Italy also took part in the exercise, expanded to include land and navy forces for the first time.