Greece Independance Air Force Mirage 2000 640200 years of Greek independence, parade over Athens

On 25 March 2021, military aircraft and helicopters flew over Acropolis Hill during a military parade over Athens. Greece celebrated the bicentenary of the start of the country's war of independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Greece invited dignitaries from Russia, France and Britain, the powers that had provided vital assistance to the battle for independence.

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and French Defence Minister Florence Parly were in Athens for the events, along with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

French President Emanuel Macron also intended to attend, but he pulled out a few days earlier as coronavirus infections spiked in France and he tightened restrictions domestically.

Each year on 25 March, Athens comes to a standstill for Greek Independence Day, which commemorates the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. It is also the religious holiday of The Annunciation, that is observed on this day by Eastern Orthodoxy.

The military parade on the ground commences from 11:00 hrs (LT) and makes its way from Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, past Hellenic Parliament, with official dignitaries in attendance including the President of Greece. The parade then makes it way down Panepistimiou Street where the crowds line each side of the street in front of the Attica department store and other iconic neo-classical buildings including the Academy of Athens, the National Bank of Greece and the National Library, all the way to Omonia Square.

The following aircraft were taking part in this year's parade:

Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (EPA) – Hellenic Air Force

336 Mira
F-16C-52+: 002, 004 and 006
F-16D-52+: 028
331 Mira
Mirage 2000-5BG: 508
Mirage 2000-5EG: 549, 550 and 555
338 MDV
F-4E (AUP): 01503, 01534, 71750 and 71759

Greece Independance Air Force F 16 480

Greece Independance Air Force F4E 480

 


Elliniki Aeroporia Stratou – Hellenic Army Aviation

2TEAS
UH-1H: ES626, ES837 (and ES694 which aborted and returned to base)
1TEAS
AB205A: ES673 (and ES657 which acted as spare, but flew the parade)
2TEAS
NH90-TTH: ES850 and ES888
4TEAS
CH-47SD: ES912
CH-47D: ES925, ES928 and ES930
1TEEP
OH-58D(I): ES521, ES524, ES529 and ES530
AH-64A+: ES1003, ES1007, ES1009, ES1014 (and ES1012 which acted as spare, and did not participate in the flypast)
2TEEP
AH-64DHA: ES1021, ES1022, ES1024 and ES1025

   
Diikissi Aeroporias Naftikou (DAN) - Hellenic Navy Air Command

Mira Aeroporias Naftikou (MAN)
P-3B: 152744
2 Mira Elikopteron Naftikou (MEN)
S-70B-6: PN51 and PN-53


Liminiko Soma - Hellenic Coast Guard

Helicopter Squadron
AS365N3: HC-32

 Elliniki Pyrosvestiki Ypiresia (EPY) - Hellenic Fire Service

BK117C-1: SX-HFE
AS332L1: SX-HFF

 
Elliniki Astynomia – Hellenic Police

EC135T1: SX-HPE
Bo105CBS-4: SX-HPA

Royal Air Force (RAF)

10/101 Squadron
Voyager KC2: ZZ336

Greece Independance RAF 1 320

Greece Independance USAF KC135 320

Greece Independance USAF F 16 320

United States Air Force (USAF)

351st ARS
KC-135R: 58-0036/D
555th Fighter Squadron
F-16CM: 88-0446/AV, 88-0460/AV, 89-2024/AV and 89-2044/AV

Greece Independance AdlA 480

 Greece Independance Army UH 1 480
Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AdlA) – French Air And Space Force

EC01.004
Rafale C: 105/4-HE
EC01.007
Rafale C: 146/30-GY
EC03.030
Rafale C: 134/30-GM and 142/30-GU

The amazing pictures by Ilias Diakoumakos are taken from Lycabettus Hill, Likavittou, Athens (37°58'54.52"N 23°44'35.43"E)

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