In the presence of the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos, the ceremony for the retirement of aircraft A-7 E/H Corsair from the Hellenic Air Force was held at the 116 Combat Wing, Araxos, today.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Ioannis Lampropoulos, the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of HNGS Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of HAFGS Evangelos Tournas.
The pilots who have served at aircraft A-7 E/H Corsair since 1975 until today were represented, through a speech, by the retired Lieutenant General Antonios Iordanou before Chief of HAFGS’ address, whereas air demonstrations were also organised.
Mr. Avramopoulos’ address:
“Your Grace,
Mr. Deputy Minister,
Dear Colleagues of the Parliament,
Mr. Head of the Region,
Chief of our country’s Armed Forces,
Chief of the Hellenic Air Force and Chief of the Hellenic Navy,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this place today, I also share these beautiful feelings with the Hellenic Air Force, at this moment of farewell to a real legend of the Greek Air Force, which ran a course of life of about 40 years, offering significant services to its mission which is to defend the Greek national skies and, along with the other two branches, to contribute to the preservation of our country’s security and integrity.
It is a special day today and I wish particularly to refer to all those people who were in the heart of the Hellenic Air Force and who are with us today, the honourable Chiefs, the Generals, the pilots, the engineers.
I was very touched hearing what General Antonios Iordanou said before and I would like to tell him: yes, this aircraft is in your heart; but also I would like to add that you were the heart over all those years, you were the soul of this aircraft.
One could say that today we farewell a machine that completed its lifetime and it will be replaced by another one. But these machines would not be worth if they did not carry these capable Greek officers, many of whom are not among us any more, inside them. This noble and symbolic ceremony was a reference of honour and acknowledgement of their sacrifice, of their serving their supreme duty.
Because if we can be proud and remain still today, despite the adversities that our times saved for us, it is because this place, this big family of our country’s Armed Forces keeps the flag of our country’s pride, dignity and force still.
Today’s ceremony of retirement for the A-7, the legendary “Corsair” is a historical moment not only for the Hellenic Air Force but for the international aviation family as well.
We all know that the effectiveness of the air force branch has been improved and culminated over the last 50 years with the rapid development, through new technologies, of aeronautics systems, weapon sight systems, weapons delivery systems, through reducing the result transmission times, and target damage assessment systems.
Our pilots studied thoroughly all these subjects. And when time came to use them, they used them successfully. I will not mention any technical details because the Chief of HAFGS did it already when he referred to the capabilities of this aircraft.
On behalf of the Greek state, today I just wish to express in public our gratitude to the Hellenic air force, to its personnel.
Over all these years, the weapon systems, which – we should remind it – were bought by the Greek people through significant sacrifices because they were and they are expensive, responded to their mission effectively. So, they deserve a public praise, our gratitude, acknowledgement and respect.
We farewell therefore this aircraft with the glory and honour it deserves. And we send a message of honour and acknowledgement to all those people, who at the difficult times when it started being used in Greece, in 1974-1975, and being fully aware of the importance of their mission, they fulfilled it duly.
It is this acknowledgement and honour that the Greek state sends them today in its message and acknowledges it in public.
As the Chief said earlier, the retirement of the Corsair will not leave a gap behind. Here comes the 336 squadron which will gradually fill the gap with its most advanced and modern F16 aircraft.
But we do not overlook today also the other side, the emotional dimension.
Mr. Chief of the Hellenic Air Force, when a few months ago you told me that these aircraft would be retired, you remember our conversation. And I am glad today that we opened the gates of this place and we welcome thousands of our fellow citizens, apart from the authorities and guests with whom we travelled and who were the souls of these aircraft.
So, we do not just farewell a machine.
It is indeed the end of an era which opens, however, a more hopeful perspective for the Hellenic Air Force despite the difficulties and adversities of our times.
The Greek government, the Greek state are fully aware of their important responsibilities for the matters which regard the Hellenic Armed Forces in general.
And I am certain that when time comes, and I wish it comes soon, these difficult circumstances for our country will be overcome and the Hellenic Armed Forces will be again on the front line of the priorities, so that all gaps left by the financial circumstances will be filled; and that – the most important – the total personnel of the Armed Forces will feel the acknowledgement, the honour, the respect and support they need to fulfil their great mission.
Before they start, I would like to say some words to the foreign friends who are here today. I salute, welcome their presence in order to say farewell to a legendary aircraft that revolutionized the military aviation.
Thank you for being with us, and take with you a message to your countries, to your newspapers: that in this country we know how to maintain great values and Corsair A7 has proved itself as one of the most valuable tools in the hands of our military air force and that it served with commitment its duties.
Thank you for being with us.
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Farewell. It will be the last flight that the aircraft will perform before us in a few minutes and a new hopeful beginning for the Hellenic Air Force which will always be the safeguard, along with the other two branches, of security and independence of the country.
Thank you”.
After the ceremony the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos addressed the following statement to the media:
“We farewell today with glory and honour one of the legendary aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force, Corsair A7, which served Greece for 40 years, assuming very important missions.
I remind you that in 1975, when we bought them, Greece was going through difficult times, that they came after what happened in Cyprus and we were building our country’s defence. But these aircraft are retired today and they are the last all over the world.
This is why many foreigners are here today, to cover this event and, as I said before, a special reference is made to the aircraft itself, as well as to the hundreds of pilots who since 1978 have been the soul of these aircraft.
There are 13 of them who are not any more among us and who fell while on duty. We thought that we should honour today this retirement as a reference of honour to both: those people who served in them all these years and to the weapon system itself which – I remind you and we must always mention it – was bought by Greece thanks to our people’s sacrifices.
Today the Hellenic Air Force crosses a stage into a new era. The retirement of these aircraft does not leave a gap behind because the high technology "F-16 Block52+ Advanced" aircraft, which are the most advanced models of their kind, are coming to cover these needs.
From this aspect, therefore, we are at a good point and the ultimate mission of the Hellenic Air Force which is, along with the other two branches, to ensure the integrity and security of our country should be taken for granted.
Today, on behalf of the Greek state, I expressed a public praise, an acknowledgement and the respect both to the personnel of the Hellenic Air Force and to this military aircraft. It is exactly behind us, the last one that flew in front of you today, accompanied as a sign of honour by our other supermodern aircraft.”
