Nobody, well, outside of a select few, knows how long Greece will keep its F-4s flying. Its replacement F-35s are due to be manufactured from 2028 onwards. Rumors abound of the remaining Spooks moving from Andravida to nearby Araxos, while Andravida gets the upgrade to operate the new jets.
Therefore, a chance to fly with them once more was too much to resist—a proper bucket-list item ticked off. It may possibly be the last time that the Aviation PhotoCrew can run a dedicated Phantom day.
We departed Kalamata in the afternoon, flying along the western coast of the Peloponnese to meet up with a returning pair of F-4s somewhere near Patras. The landscape below us was scarred by recent fires; the damage was widespread. A testament to the firefighters on the ground and in the air, it was a miracle how they stopped the fire from spreading to the urban population.
Circling above the Gulf of Patras, we spotted our target. Sure enough, two Phantoms belonging to 338 Mira met up with us long enough to get some stunning shots.
Having been in the circuit with them, we landed at Andravida, a base I have spent many an hour inside during the Iniochos exercises and Phancon. We were taken into 338 Squadron’s headquarters and made very welcome.
Theo, the boss, appeared, wishing us all well. He looked like he had the world upon his shoulders. Half of his squadron was still in Poland following the horrific crash of the Polish F-16 and the death of Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian.
Theo was dealing with the logistics of bringing his team and his aircraft home. He still had time for us, though. Nobody would have blamed the team if they had said, “We can’t do anything else,” but they did, and they pulled out all the stops for us on a beautiful late summer’s evening: Phantoms in golden light.
We departed Andravida and, again, the Phantoms followed, expertly flown by the Hellenic Air Force’s finest. It was all over far too quickly, but the sight of those fantastic engineering marvels behind us will stay with me forever.
I hope my photos do the trip justice; for me, it was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Long live Hellenic Phantoms! I hope they are around for as long as possible.
