Greece Beyond the Beaches: Athens Flying Week 2025

David Chua

PHOTO FEATURE | 87 IMAGES

Greece is world‑renowned as a paradise of sun‑kissed islands, crystal‑clear waters, and endless beaches — a destination where millions flock each year for relaxation and Mediterranean charm. But while most travelers came for the coastline, we were there for something very different: Athens Flying Week 2025.

This September, Tanagra Air Base became the beating heart of aviation as the Hellenic Air Force and Army Aviation showcased their full arsenal. From frontline squadrons to advanced trainers and combat helicopters, the skies over Greece were alive with power, precision, and heritage.

We had the opportunity to fly with most of their assets as they were arriving for the show over beautiful Greek scenary, making the experience even more unforgettable.

01. 361 Mira T-6A Texan II carves through coastal skies, trailing smoke
02. 361 Mira T-6A Texan II in crisp blue-white livery—pilots focused, cockpit details sharp in flight
03. 361 Mira T-6A Texan II tail number 039 soars above coastal ridges
04. 361 Mira T-6A Texan II glides above Mediterranean cliffs and deep blue waters
05. 362 Mira M-346 Master and 361 Mira T-6A Texan II fly in tight formation above rugged coastline
06. 362 Mira M-346 Master and 361 Mira T-6A Texan II cruise above open sea, showcasing HAF’s layered training capabilities.
07. 362 Mira M-346 Master pilots
08. 362 Mira M-346 Master glides above sea and shoreline,
09. 362 Mira M-346 Master and 361 Mira T-6A Texan II trainers sweep over the Aegean—prop and jet in formation, ship trailing below in vivid blue
10. 362 Mira M-346 Masters sweep over island-studded waters, lead jet flying with the Greek flag on the dash
11. 362 Mira M-346 Master tail 258 glides above coastal terrain
12. 362 Mira M-346 Master cruises above Mediterranean shores
13. 362 Mira M-346 Masters in formation over sea, towns, and wind-swept ridges
14. Daedalus Demo Team T-6A Texan II head-on with smoke trails
15. Daedalus Demo Team T-6A Texan II with smoke trails over farmland.
16. Daedalus Demo Team T-6A Texan II carves through mountain air in a tribute to Greek aerial artistry
17. 332 Mira Rafale F3R head-on over coastal cityscape
18. A close look at the 332 Mira Rafale F3R
19. 332 Mira Rafale F3Rs slice through the sky in tight formation above patchwork terrain.
20. 332 Mira Rafale F3Rs fighters surge above the coast in tight formation, blending power with aerodynamic grace
21. 332 Mira Rafale F3Rs sweep the coastline with precision, framed by vivid blue sea and terrain.
22. 332 Mira Rafale F3Rs bank hard over patchwork fields
23. 332 Mira Rafale F3R duo climbs into the clouds above the Aegean, showcasing sleek lines in a synchronized ascent.
24. 332 Mira Rafale F3Rs breaks formation in the clouds
25. 332 Mira Rafale F3R and 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 cruise above the clouds in a mixed formation.
26. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 flies above fields and shoreline
27. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 cruises above coastal waters
28. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 cockpit close-up over water
29. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 over shoreline and fields, heat shimmer trailing behind its delta wings
30. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5s slice through the air in tight formation
31. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5s showing off the delta wings over the Aegean Sea
32. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 cruises above coastal waters
33. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 banks above patchwork fields,
34. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5s in tight formation sweep past fields and rooftops
35. 331 Mira Mirage 2000-5 cockpit close-up
36. Zeus Demo Team F-16C above coastal waters and scattered rooftops
37. Zeus Demo Team F-16C sweep past turquoise waterfront and city blocks
38. Zeus Demo Team F-16C sweep past a coastal cityscape, their Aegean Ghost camoflage blending with sea and skyline.
39. Zeus Demo Team F-16C pilot flies with pride—Greek flag draped on the dash above deep blue waters.
40. Zeus Demo Team F-16C climbs over rugged terrain, tail marked with the Hawk and Thunder of the 330 Mira.
41. Zeus Demo Team F-16C in heavily weathered Aegeant Ghost camo powers above fields and sea,
42. Zeus Demo Team F-16Cs slice through coastal airspace
43. Zeus Demo Team F-16Cs high above dramatic mountain skies.
44. Zeus Demo Team F-16C in tight formation
45. Zeus Demo Team F-16C tail 119 climbs through layered clouds
46. Zeus Demo Team F-16C Aegean Ghost camo flies above deep blue waters
47. Zeus Demo Team F-16C streaks past Greek coastline, wingtip smoke trailing
48. Zeus Demo Team F-16C above coastal terrain and fish farms
49. Zeus Demo Team F-16C pilot with the Greek flag draped proudly inside the canopy
50. Army Aviation OH-58D Kiowa Warror and AH-64 Apaches sweep through mountain airspace in staggered formation over wind farms
51. Army Aviation OH-58D Kiowa Warror flies head-on over rural terrain
52. Army Aviation OH-58D Kiowa Warror cruises above vivid blue waters and rugged coastline
53. Army Aviation OH-58D Kiowa Warror above shimmering blue waters
54. Army Aviation AH-64DHA Longbow above patchwork fields
55. Army Aviation AH-64 Apaches in tight formation slice through patchwork fields,
56. Army Aviation AH-64 Apaches fly low over rugged terrain
57. 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C glides above a sweeping mosaic of coastlines, farmland, and forested hills—an airborne guardian over Greece’s layered terrain
58. 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C glides over Greece’s rugged landscape
59. 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C cruises past wind turbines at golden hour
60. Bathed in golden light, 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C EBW-145 tail number 729 glides above Greece’s rugged terrain—an airborne sentinel framed by sunset serenity
61. 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C silhouetted against a blazing sky from the low sun
62. 380 Mira EMB-145H AEW&C flies above the city of Chalkida
63. 383 Mira CL-415 SuperScoopers n golden-hour formation above the waters near Mikro Vathi
64. 383 Mira CL-415 SuperScoopers skim golden waters in a breathtaking firefighting formation at dusk.
65. 383 Mira CL-415 SuperScoopers sweep low over island waters, showcasing aerial coordination and firefighting power.
66. 383 Mira CL-415 SuperScooper skims the surface near Mikro Vathi in golden light
67. 383 Mira CL-415 SuperScooper unleashes a torrent mid-flight above the Aegean Sea
68. Retired F-4E Phantom IIs at Andravida Air Base
69. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II roars above the Aegean, its weathered frame a testament to enduring legacy.
70. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom IIs slice past rocky cliffs and harbor below, precision flight over coastal Greece.
71. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II cruises above shimmering Aegean Sea
72. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II streaks above fields and shoreline, blending Cold War muscle with Mediterranean calm
73. Golden light catches two weathered 338 Mira F-4E Phantom IIs in formation
74. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom IIs cruise in formation through sunset skies
75. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II cuts across the Aegean Sea, its metallic frame gleaming against deep blue sea.
76. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II head-on over terrain
77. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom II streaks over the sea in haunting Aegean Ghost camouflage
78. 338 Mira F-4E Phantom IIs soar above the iconic Rio-Antirrio Bridge
79. T-6 Harvard tail 49-3424 cruises above hillside homes
80. T-6 Harvard cruises above the waking city
81. Twin pilots in T-6 Harvard 49-3424 greet the sunrise
82. Spitfire and Harvard in formation tracing the shoreline below.
83. Spitfire and Harvard breaks formation over the Aegean Sea
84. Spitfire arcs across the Aegean Sea bathed in soft morning light
85. Supermarine Spitfire MJ755 greets the dawn
86. Spitfire MJ755 dances above the Aegean with sunrise reflections glinting off its wartime skin
87. T-6 Harvard Tail 49-3424 banks over sunlit hills

Bonus – Video of some of the join ups with the photoship

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