By Mihail Solanakis

On the 30th of June 2003, an event took place that drew the attention of all those interested in aviation.One of the most important  aircraft of the post-WWII Hellenic Air Force, flew for the last time.

The aircraft in question is the AMD Mirage F-1CG, rightly considered a legend, despite the fact that its career started and ended in times of peace.

When it first appeared in 1975, it was the best interceptor aircraft  that the two countries on both sides of the Aegean had in their inventory.

Its contribution to the  defence of Greece is invaluable, considering the fact that until the introduction of 3^rd generation aircraft, it was the one single fighter to reign supreme in the interceptions over anything the Turkish AF could  send in their numerous provocations and violations of Greek air space.

The  order for 40 aircraft was placed with AM Dassault in June 1974, by the dictatorial government of the time, just before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

This marked the first post-WWII order of French aircraft, by the Hellenic Air Force and the second time that the long tradition of  acquiring solely U.S aircraft, was broken.

The first time was when 40 Nord 2501 Noratlas transports were acquired in 1969.

The Turkish invasion of Cyprus and their increasing provocations over the Aegean forced the Hellenic Air Force to accelerate their arms procurement and the training of personnel.

It is  telling of the urgency  of the Greek order, that the first aircraft were “snatched” from the line destined for the Armée de l'Air!

In this climate, in the beginning of 1975,  the first group  of  pilots and technicians was sent to France.

The first problems appeared when it was discovered that all the manuals for the Mirage F-1 were in French and the Hellenic Air Force was confronted with an organisation, training and habits, completely different from those it was accustomed to until then.

Thanks to the enthusiasm, hard work and ingenuity of the HAF personnel, all the problems and difficulties were overcome and on the 5th of August 1975, the first Mirage F-1CG (no 101), piloted by Captain Alexandros Mamais touched down in Tanagra AF base. More aircraft arrived the following days.

A notable fact was that there were no two-seat versions aircraft in the Greek order.

This did not prevent the  normal training of the pilots and the conversion to the type.

The first unit to receive the type was the 342 Sq.Later a new unit was established  to house the new aircraft.This was the 334 Sq.By the middle of 1978 all  40 aircraft had arrived and delivered to the above units based in the 114 Combat Wing at Tanagra.

The Mirage F-1CGs will bear most of the responsibility of  defending the Greek air space for more than 27 years.When in the end of the ‘80s the HAF started to receive the new F-16Cs and Mirage 2000s,  the faithful Mirage F-1CGs  continued to serve  alongside   aircraft with higher performance and  much “younger”.

In 1989, 334 Sq moved to Heraclion in Crete, where the Mirage F-1s  flew interceptor sorties until the  disbandment of the unit in 2000 and the transfer of the remaining aircraft to the 342 Sq.

The French aircraft kept flying operationally as interceptors  up until the end of the ‘90s, while the last 15  aircraft left with 342 Sq. (another 9 were stored), were kept in flying  condition, despite the lack of spares which started to be felt after the decision to  withdraw the type in 2000.

A testimony to the quality of the construction of the Mirage F-1CG, is the fact that after  more than 160000 flying hours most of them over the sea, the remaining aircraft have no structural problems and no signs of corrosion!

It is argued that  the retirement of  the Mirage F-1CG from HAF service, was untimely  and  that the French aircraft had  a lot more to give.

One of the  most aesthetically beautiful aircraft that ever served in the HAF, one that was loved and respected by both those who flew it and serviced it, a worthy Aegean Sentinel, has forever left the skies that faithfully defended for 28 years.