Exercise Iniochos 25 – Andravida Air Base
Spotters Day | 07 April 2025
Monday 7th April 2025 marked another unforgettable chapter in the European military aviation calendar as the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) hosted the highly anticipated Iniochos 2025 Spotters Day at Andravida Air Base, home of the 117 Combat Wing. Drawing more than 1,500 aviation enthusiasts and photographers from 32 countries, the event once again cemented its reputation as one of the best-organised and most welcoming spotters’ days in Europe.
Exercise Iniochos is the Hellenic Air Force’s largest and most complex multinational air exercises, held annually in Greece and centered around Andravida Air Base. The name “Iniochos” translates to “Charioteer”, reflecting the exercise’s focus on command, coordination, and tactical leadership in high-intensity air operations.
Iniochos 2025 brought together air forces from Europe, the Middle East and North America, creating a realistic training environment designed to simulate modern combat scenarios across multiple domains.
Early Action: Phantom Power and Low Departures
The day began with a pair of HAF F-4 Phantoms repeatedly buzzed the airfield before heading off toward the nearby gorge, setting the tone for what would be a high-energy flying programme.
At around 11:15 AM, the morning wave officially launched with a thrilling display of low departures, starting with USAF F-16C Vipers from the Florida Makos. These were followed by an impressive multinational lineup of 2 Italian Air Force Tornado IDS’s , 3 Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15QA and 4 French Air Force Mirage 2000D.
Breaking the low departures were stunning performance take off’s by the three Indian Air Force SU-30 Flankers. Unfortunately as the usual morning side was not available due to the need to use the far taxiway with so many aircraft in attendance, we were located by the Tower meaning the morning sorties were into the sun photography wise and the spectacular take off’s were not easy to capture.
The departures concluded with 4 Polish Air Force F-16C and 4 Hellanic Air Force with 4Hellenic Air Force F-4E Phantoms.
Midday Flypasts: Greek F-16 Formation Displays
Over lunch, spectators were treated to four flypasts featuring a total of 15 Hellenic Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons returning to Araxos Air Base from their morning mission.
Flypast Serial Numbers:
| Wave 1: 048, 052, 058, 074 |
Wave 2: 071, 055, 061, 051 |
Wave 3: 504, 509, 536, 527 |
Wave 4: 138, 127, 129 |
This was a nice touch by the organisors and highlighted the scale of Greek participation in Exercise Iniochos 2025.
Spotters’ Village: Food, Merch & Festival Vibes
One of the standout features of Iniochos Spotters Day is the welcoming and social atmosphere. Around the control tower, merchandise stands from local and visiting squadrons offered patches, apparel, and aviation memorabilia.
Adding to the party vibe, music played throughout much of the day, giving the event more of a festival feel than a formal military open day.
Behind the mess building, a BBQ food area served up excellent Greek souvlaki at very reasonable prices, making it easy for spotters to refuel between flying waves without missing the action.
Afternoon Wave: Multinational Power Under Perfect Greek Light
After a long but worthwhile wait, the afternoon flying programme finally began — this time in ideal lighting conditions, with the sun positioned perfectly behind the crowd line. What followed was three hours of pure aviation heaven.
🇺🇸 Florida Makos Open the Launch
It was once again the United States Air Force contingent that led proceedings, with four F-16C Vipers from the 482nd Fighter Wing “Florida Makos” rolling first.
Aircraft: 87-0288 / FM, 87-0287 / FM, 88-0404 / FM (“482FW”), 86-0334 / FM
🇮🇹 Italian Air Force Panavia Tornados
Italy followed with a strong mixed Tornado package from the Italian Air Force, bringing both strike and electronic warfare capability into the afternoon COMAO launch.
Aircraft: IDS MM7004 / 6-55, IDS MM7086 / 6-60, IDS MM7013 / 6-75, ECR MM7052 / 6-64
Launching in perfect afternoon light, the Tornados produced purposeful, heavy departures — a reminder that even in the twilight of their service lives, they remain formidable and visually impressive aircraft.
🇵🇱 Polish Air Force F-16
Continuing the NATO momentum, four F-16s from the Polish Air Force departed as a four-ship element.
Aircraft: 4049, 4045, 4046, 4056 (special scheme)
The Polish Vipers maintained the tempo of the multinational package, underlining Iniochos’ emphasis on coalition interoperability and large-force employment training. The special scheme on 4056 added an extra photographic highlight to an already strong launch sequence.
Afternoon Second Wave: Hellenic Air Power Takes Centre Stage
If the first launch showcased NATO integration, the second afternoon wave firmly highlighted the strength and diversity of the Hellenic Air Force itself.
🇬🇷 HAF Mirage 2000
Aircraft: 555, 507, 552, 549
🇬🇷 HAF Rafale
Aircraft: 454, 444, 455, 457
🇬🇷 HAF F-4E Phantom
Aircraft: 71745, 71760, 01503, 01520
Few aircraft stir aviation enthusiasts quite like the Phantom. The smoky departures and unmistakable roar once again reminded the crowd why the type remains such a beloved and iconic part of the Greek inventory.
Additional Departures
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🇲🇪 Montenegro Bell 412 – XHB033
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🇮🇱 Israeli Beechcraft B200 – 735
The Bell 412 added rotary-wing variety to the wave hovering in the distance and missing a photo oppertunity by not flying down the runway\crowdline, while the Israeli B200 represented the ISR and support elements that underpin complex multinational air operations.
A Fitting Finale to the Flying Day
Together, the two afternoon waves perfectly encapsulated what makes Exercise Iniochos 2025 so compelling: modern NATO Vipers, Italian strike and SEAD Tornados, Polish F-16s, cutting-edge Rafales, classic Phantoms, and supporting aircraft — all launching within a coordinated operational framework.
Under flawless Greek light, it was a spectacular conclusion to a day that balanced serious multinational air combat training with unforgettable moments for the global spotting community.
Aircraft That Didn’t Fly
Unfortunately, the Spanish EF-18 Hornets and UAE Mirage 2000s were grounded for the day. However, spotters still had the chance to see one of each aircraft towed past the crowd line later in the afternoon, alongside a Greek Phantom, offering a close-up look and photo opportunity.
VIP & Media Day Highlights
As this also served as VIP and Media Day, several notable visitors arrived at Andravida, adding even more variety to the flight line:
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HAF C-130 Hercules
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Italian Piaggio P.180 Avanti
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French TBM 70o
Final Thoughts:
Despite the slow pacing at times and challenging morning lighting, Exercise Iniochos 2025 Spotters Day once again proved why it’s considered a must-attend event for military aviation photographers and enthusiasts.
The Hellenic Air Force and 117 Combat Wing delivered:
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Outstanding organisation
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A friendly and welcoming environment
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International aircraft participation
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Excellent facilities and food
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Unmatched access to modern and legacy combat aircraft
With its unique mix of NATO allies, Middle Eastern partners, and European air forces, Iniochos continues to stand out as one of the most diverse and visually exciting multinational air exercises open to the spotting community.
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