Hi all, does the Greek air force still maintain an F-4 detachment at Santorini outside the summer period? Does anyone have any tips on number of aircraft present (if I remember correctly, this used to be 4, a 2-ship QRA and 2 for day-to-day operations), viewpoints, security? I do pictures, not serial numbers..
To answer my own question, and confirm what F17_114PM replied: Indeed no (permanent) fighter presence here. During my week here I only saw the stand-by SAR Huey (I heard it fly only twice) and a derelict F-4 (SEA camo, unidentified, serial and markings painted over, I have pictures). In 1 of the shelters was parked what looked like a white Cessna Citation. I saw it tail-on, not 100% sure about the type, but seems civilian.
However, there is still quite a heavy military presence at the barracks on the base. Also the military gate was fully guarded and active, the housing area was pretty much occupied and lots of vehicles on base, partly military. Now the UH-1's are pretty old, but this seems a bit of an overkill to support just 1 SAR helo.. It could be all this staff is related to supporting the radar/radio sites on this island's highest mountain, which are Air force operated. It could also be that in a week or so, when the tourist season ends and the island nearly just shuts down entirely, a detachment arrives here after all and these guys are ramping up for that. Fuel trucks and other (active, well-maintained) equipment were parked neatly next to the flightlines. All in all, the military side looked far busier than the satellite images on Google Earth for instance..
Nice field,
In the early 2000's i stayed 2 weeks in Camari and almost every day fighters and transporters came in for approaches, F-16's/A-7's/Mir2000's and herks...
Yes Falcon, those were the days! It's indeed a nice field. I circumnavigated the perimeter fence on an ATV, lots of nice spots for landing shots without drawing attention..
