Spotting at Souda Bay info needed

[GuusWinter]

Hi,

I just planned my holiday in June near Souda Bay on Crete. Could anyone inform me about spotting opportunities (if any...) at this airfield?

Guus

[pjotrtje]

The bay @ Souda is very well suited for spotting. Lots of coastline, excellent restaurants, and good opportunities to hire a boat. But I guess you are referring to the airfield Chania - Souda (where 115PM is based)... To the west of the airfield a couple of dust roads pass through the countryside. You're in an area where people pass by so you may encounter the occasional security visit. I am not sure at this point in time how they are towards people shooting pics of (military) aircraft there. You may want to try and get a base visit, it's been done before...

[GuusWinter]

.... yes, yes, Chania - Souda (where 115PM is based), that particular airfield. But the orther information was welcome too!
Thanks Pjotrtje, i'll go try and arrange an base visit.

[Richard de Florennes]

Sorry for asking for some more detailed info, but as I will be having my first holidays in Crete next week I might also try to "visit" that airfield (from outside):
- is there any kind of visitors/viewing platform on the civil part of the airfield? (where I will be landing also ...)
- some report state that there are dust roads on the WEST side of the airfield best for viewing other report I found on the internet stated the contrary; West side beeing difficult due to strong traffic on the airfield road and the (North)east side beeing better?
- I "just" need to view flying/landing aircraft, no need for photos or spotting towards the inside of the base, any hints?
Thanks for any help ...

[maurits]

Hi,

I was there in the summer of 2001 ''outside'' for hit and run, using a rental car. At the west side it is hard to stop on the main road to the airport. You can pass through the civil terminal on the north side, follow the road to Mouzouras (small village). From here you can see the ramps filled with usually USAF and US Navy stuff (KC-135s/P-3Cs or EP-3E)..

Hope this helps, good hunt!

[Richard de Florennes]

Hi,

I was there in the summer of 2001 ''outside'' for hit and run, using a rental car. At the west side it is hard to stop on the main road to the airport. You can pass through the civil terminal on the north side, follow the road to Mouzouras (small village). From here you can see the ramps filled with usually USAF and US Navy stuff (KC-135s/P-3Cs or EP-3E)..

Hope this helps, good hunt!

Thanks for your help - that is some nice info to start with

[frank kramer]

Dust roads are to the EAST of the airfield. No viewing facilities in/near the civil terminal; last time I was there civil airport staff was monitoring this very closely. If you are ok with numbers you might use the beaches at the runway ends, particularly to the east; aircraft are high there and F-16's might turn between you and the runway, also you have to be cautious. Spotting at or near military airfields is forbidden in Greece (the civil part only being a "guest" inside the airbase, as opposed to the situation at for instance Corfu or Rhodos) and neither the Americans or the Greeks are happy about spotters. In the end, I got some interesting numbers during taxying in and out... but only if you are on the right -meaning: not wrong- side of the aircraft as you pass the US ramps. The best opportunity there is when you take off to the west, in that case you would need to be on the l/h side of the aircraft. If landing towards the east, you need to be on the r/h side during taxying. If the other end of the runway is used, the same sides would apply but you don't pass close to the US ramps during taxying; you just see them below you when airborne...

[maurits]

Hi,

Some preserved a/c can be easily spotted from west side, the eleven T-33s should be still preserved on the small taxi track on the south western part of the parallel runway. Take a look on Google maps at this point: 35.534671,24.131114
Some gate guards (F-4E and F-84F and T-33A) are on the military gate (south side) but we didn't drive that road that leads you to the base entrance.....

[Ergo01]

Some fifteen years I spent my holidays at Crete. We were at the lovely beach of Stavros, not far from the base. After a few years I had enough. I drove to the base, parked the car where it would not be noticed and walked inside the olive orchard on the west approach end. In some two hours I saw (and photographed some 15 A7, 3 T33, 1 EP-3, 1 EC-130...).
Olive trees provide protection against views from every direction, just don't meet the farmer. I did not.
Off course these outings are for the very very NOT nervous.
Afterwards, we visited Knossos palace, and the labyrinth. And got out.