Military Jets Photography: 2017 05 04 RF-4E Phantom retirment of Hellenic Air Force

Friday 5th saw the final goodbye to the Hellenic RF-4E and the disbandment of 348 Mira after 64 years continuous service with Larissa AB open to the public allowing the local population to say goodbye to the famous ‘spook’ which had graced the local skies for over 41 years.
The day consisted of a formal ceremonial parade including prayers, blessings and chanting as part of the disbandment of the squadron and aircraft. Two aircraft were placed on static display, those being a Block 52 F-16C from Larissa based 337 Squadron and the aircraft the RF-4E replaced, an immaculate RF-84F Thunderflash in a bare metal scheme.
Flying was to consist of the formation flypast that was practiced during the spotters event a day earlier and two flying displays by the HAF Display Teams; Team Zeus, based at 115 Combat Wing Souda Bay Crete, flying a Block 52 F-16C and Team Daedalus Flying the T-6A Texan II based at 120 Air Training Wing, Kalamata Air Base.
At 1010 the three RF-4E Phantom II aircraft commenced a streamed departure, banking over the ceremonial area in full burner as they took to the skies for their final sortie led by the disbandment special schemed Phantom. The aircraft went off to hold and join up with the Mirage 2000EG and F-16D whilst the official decommissioning ceremony got under way.
Some 40 minutes later the distinctive black smoke emanating from the six powerful J79 engines in the distance heralded the imminent arrival of the formation flypast. On arrival, the F-16 and Mirage 2000 peeled away to leave the three Phantoms to conduct a wide circuit around for their final break overhead the assembled mixture of dignitaries, guests, squadron personnel, locals and enthusiasts.
Five minutes later the smoke trails once again gave warning of the three Phantoms as they approached from the South and gently broke right to land on the westerly runway. The aircraft landed in the reverse order of take off as per Thursday’s practice, with the last Greek new build aircraft 77-1765 landing first, followed by 69-7450. The final Hellenic Air Force RF-4E Phantom II landing was conducted by 69-7499 touching down at 1049.
With most people expecting the aircraft to roll out to the end of the runway and turn right to park in front of the assembled guests, all three aircraft actually turned off early and taxied in via the North side. To the dismay of many, only the retirement special was taxied around and put on display pulling into the gap between the F-16C and RF-84F
No sooner had the the engine wound down and crew exited the aircraft, the two displays of the day took place with Team Daedalus displaying the Texan II first followed by Team Zeus in the F-16C who finished off the display with a nice topside banking pass.
Before the event came to a close, the fences in the public area were opened up allowing the locals and enthusiasts the rare opportunity to get up very close to all three static aircraft, their crews, staff and personnel of the Hellenic Air Force.

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 66-7450

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 77-1765

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 69-7499, 77-1765, 66-7450
F-16D Hellenic Air Force 619
Mirage 2000EG Hellenic Air Force 239

F-16D Hellenic Air Force 619

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 69-7499, 66-7450, 77-1765

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 69-7499

T-6C Hellenic Air Force 023

F-16C Hellenic Air Force 502

UH-1 Hellenic Army ES614

RF-4E Hellenic Air Force 69-7499

RF-84 Hellenic Air Force 37683

F-16C Hellenic Air Force 528

C-27J Hellenic Air Force 4121

A spotters day took place on Thursday 4th May between 0900 and 1500 which saw 514 of the 602 registered enthusiasts attend the event. As well as photography opportunities, the well organised event cleverly included a well stocked merchandise stall, which saw roaring trade all day selling all manner of 348 Mira and HAF goodies.
With photography positions sited next to the southern taxiway nearly half the length was available to the enthusiasts to record the proceedings. With an East/West runway configuration (08/26) and a light wind, both runways would be in action throughout the day.
There were also a number of disposed HAF aircraft around the area designated as the Spotters day car park which were available to photograph, including F-5s, an F104, T-33 and RF-84 all in various states of disrepair.
The enthusiast event effectively allowed the gathered photographers to view and record the events of an operational day at Larissa and the first launch of the day got under way at 0900 seeing two RF-4Es power off on the easterly runway followed by four Block 52 Hellenic F-16Cs and a single F-16D from the resident 337 ‘Ghost’ Squadron. The Phantoms did one overflight of the airfield prior to the first aircraft landing on the westerly runway whilst the second performed a go around giving the opportunity of a rare topside pass against a glorious blue sky. Both aircraft then taxied the length of the taxiway pausing to allow the assembled photographers the chance to capture each of them.
Just before 1000 the remaining Recce Phantom, freshly painted in a striking black and orange retirement scheme for the aircraft and 348 Squadron, launched to the east. Shortly afterwards two of the F-16’s that had launched earlier carried out a simulated airfield attack, running in from the North before departing out to the East. A further two F-16Cs departed to the East but this time both armed with live AMRAAM and IRIS-T missiles, before the morning flight of Vipers recovered and a single F-16D departed to the West. These were shortly followed by the special painted RF-4E landing, which once again paraded down the length of the southern taxiway for the waiting photographers. Two visiting Belgian F-16AMs also arrived just after midday to spend the afternoon with 348 MTA and were swiftly followed by a visiting HAF Mirage 2000-5 conducting an overshoot before departing back to 331 Mira Tanagra AB.
The afternoon Phantom launch was a three ship streamed launch. These were joined by a single 337 Mira F-16C and a Mirage 2000EG in special markings from 332 Mira based at Tanagra AB for a series of practise flypasts for Fridays events. The group was led by the three Phantoms in arrow formation with the F-16 on the outside left wing and Mirage 2000 on the right.
Landing back following this penultimate Phantom sortie in the reverse order of departure, all three once again made the long trek down the taxiway to give a final chance to photograph these magnificent aircraft in glorious sunshine. Although the stars of the day had finished flying, the afternoon movements continued with practise displays from Team Daedalus in a Texan II and Team Zeus in a clean fit F-16C. The final movements of the day commenced with a three ship launch of Block 52 F-16’s, followed by the departing Belgian F-16AM’s and then the recovery of the afore mentioned ‘Ghost’ Vipers which brought the spotters day to an end.