Hellenic Air Force Open Day 2003 at Souda Air Base, Crete, Part 1

Europe & Cold War Database

Hellenic Air Force Open Day 2003 at Souda Air Base, Crete, Part 1
By Nicholas Tselepidis (photographs by George Psarras)
Dec 28, 2003, 17:20

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Every year during the St.Michael's Day weekend, the Hellenic Air Force opens its bases to the public. This year at Souda Air Base (115 PM/Fighter Wing) things were more interesting since this was the first "public debut" of the brand new F-16C/D Block 52+'s.

Special thanks go to George Psarras for kindly providing these photographs to ACIG.org.

"500" (99-1500, c/n XK-1) without the CFT's...

The same aircraft from another angle.

"513" inside the new 115 Base Maintenance Squadron hangar armed for SEAD missions.

"519" in front of the hangar that was part of the Base upgrade since the Corsairs left last year.

"518" like all the aircraft parked outside carried only drop tanks.

"515" was also parked in front of the hangar. In all 40 Block 52+ were delivered up to December 2003.

Another view of "515" carrying a Sidewinder training round.

F-16D "614" was at the center of the hangar in front of the Greek flag.

A-7E "160002" was parked outside the hangar, as a reminder of the Corsair days. From 1975 Souda was the base of the Greek T/A-7H fleet before switching to the F-16 Block 52+'s in 2003.

"609" is one of the missionised two seaters that will be tasked with long range strike missions.

Taken during the ceremony of December 16th, this time with CFT's...

340 and 343 Mira (Squadrons) are training their pilots on the new system. By July 2004 the remaining 20 aircraft will be delivered.

From Corsair II's to Block 52+'s, the transition is not going to be easy, but the 115 FW personnel is used to challenges... As the base motto says: "Virtue is achieved thru effort!"