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Hellenic Air Force Academy

Hellenic Air Force Academy Ensign
Active 1919 - Present
Country Flag of Greece Greece
Branch Hellenic Air Force
Type Military and Academic Training
Role Training Pilots, Aircraft Engineers and Air-Defence Inspectors
Part of Air Force Training Command
Motto "We want excellent pilots, not excellent students"
Commanders
Current
commander		 Air Vice-Marshal Constantinos Kalamatas

The Hellenic Air Force Academy (Greek:Σχολή Ικάρων) is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained Pilots, Aircraft Engineers and Air-Defence Inspectors. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The Hellenic Air Force ( HAF) (in Πολεμική Αεροπορία ( ΠΑ) Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation" Air Vice-Marshal ( AVM) is an Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. A military academy or service academy (American English is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the Army the Navy Air Force The Hellenic Air Force ( HAF) (in Πολεμική Αεροπορία ( ΠΑ) Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation" It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aeronautics (Greek:Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αεροπλοΐας). In 1967 it was renamed as The Icarus School in reference to the figure of Icarus in ancient Greek mythology. Icarus ( Greek:, Latin: Íkaros, Etruscan: Vicare) is a character in Greek mythology. The figure of Icarus forms the centrepiece of the academy's ensign.

The Hellenic Air Force Academy is a member of the European Air Force Academies (EUAFA).

Contents

History

Icarus and Daedalus by Frederic Leighton
Icarus and Daedalus by Frederic Leighton

Many decades have passed since the founding of the Air Force Academy. Icarus ( Greek:, Latin: Íkaros, Etruscan: Vicare) is a character in Greek mythology. Since then, from the academy have graduated at least 2600 pilots, 1200 aircraft engineers and other specializations according to the Air Force needs. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aeronautics (Greek: Στρατιωτική Σχολή Αεροπλοΐας). Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The Icarus School is actually the successor of the Air Force School, founded in 1931 at the airport of Dekeleia, Tatoi in Athens. Decelea (Greek Δεκέλεια modern Dekeleia or Dekelia, Deceleia or Decelia, previous name Tatoi, was an ancient village in Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's

1930s

The first 11 trainees entered the academy on the 2nd of November 1931 and their training was initially performed by Avro 621-Tutor and Avro 626-Prefect type aircraft. Training in the academy was common for both the Air Force and the Navy Aviation. An air force, also known in some countries as an air army or historically an army air corps, is in the broadest sense the national military or armed service The academy could be attended only by high school graduates and attendance was for 3 years.

In 1935 a second branch was introduced in the academy, the branch of "Junior Lieutenant Pilots", and attendance was for 2 years. In 1938 a third branch was introduced, that of Aircraft Engineers. Most graduates of those years gave their life in the air battles of World War II, like 2nd Lieutenant Marinos Mitralexis. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

1940s

On October 1940 the academy was transferred to the city of Argos. Argos ( Greek: Ἄργος, Árgos ˈaɾɣos is a city in Greece in the Peloponnese near Nafplio, which was its historic harbor One and a half years later, on April 1941, the academy was again transferred to the Middle-East and later on to South Rhodesia, where it operated normally from September 1941 until the summer of 1946. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British Colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe Training of Greek pilots during the war was performed by British units in Middle-East and South Rhodesia.

On March 1947 the academy returned to Dekeleia, Tatoi. Normal operation of the academy begun on October 1947, when the first postgraduates from England were accepted. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The initial structure of the Hellenic Air Force Academy was done according to the structure of the Royal Air Force academies of South Rhodesia. The same goes for the flight training system, which was exactly the same with the one followed in the South Rhodesia academies.

1950s

In 1950, the first HAF pilot squadron returned from the United States, where it had been trained. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Since then, flight education was influenced from the American educational system. In 1952 starts a new era for the Air Force Academy, the era of jets. A jet aircraft is an Aircraft propelled by Jet engines Jet aircraft fly much faster than Propeller -powered aircraft and at higher altitudes -- as high as Training of pilots in jet aircraft started in 1953. That same year the whole structure of the academy was revised and organised according to a typical U. S. fighter wing and it was renamed to 121 Training Wing (121 Πτερυγα Εκπαίδευσης Αέρος - 121 ΠΕΑ). One year earlier, the Training Centre of Conscript Pilots had been founded, following British and U. S. prototypes and until September 1958, eight rows of conscript pilots had been trained.

In 1958 the Air Force Academy went under a total renovation program and was re-established in new building installations, in which it operates since then. With this re-establishment, several new laboratories are being founded and equipped.

1960s - Present

HAF Rockwell T-2 Buckeye jet trainer
HAF Rockwell T-2 Buckeye jet trainer

In 1962 the academy accepts the first foreign students from Libya. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab In the years that follow, pilots from many African and Middle-East countries have graduated and have manned the air forces of their countries. In 1964 the academy is turned to a Highest Education Institution (University - Α. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects Ε. Ι. ), equal to all other universities in Greece. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Until 1966, attendance was for 3 years. Since 1967 until today, attendance is for 4 years. That same year the academy takes its present name (Icarus Air Force Academy). In 1974 the academy begins an educational reform program, increasing 3 hours of theoretical lessons to 10.

Since 1991 the Hellenic Air Force Academy accepts female engineer students and since 2000, female pilot students as happens with the other two branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces (female "Arms" students and female combatants respectively). The Armed forces of Greece (Hellas consist of The Hellenic National Defense General Staff The Hellenic Army

Since 2005, the Hellenic Air Force Academy is under reform of its facilities, equipment and academic curriculum. New facilities are being built and old ones are being renovated, while works are scheduled to end in 2008, year in which the new curriculum and re-organisation of the academy will take effect. In addition, the old and tired "Rockwell T-2 Buckeye" will be replaced, after 30 years of service, by a new advanced trainer that will provide adequate training for entering the 4th generation fighters era. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Most like candidates for a new advanced trainer are the Boeing T-45 Goshawk (manufactured by Boeing and BAE Systems), the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle from South Korea, the Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA from Czech Republic, the British made Hawk Mk127 LIFT and last but not least the Italian Aermacchi M-346 Advanced Trainer (The Hellenic Aerospace Industry -EAB- has signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" with Aermacchi since summer 2006). WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E BAE Systems plc (BAE is a British defence and aerospace company headquartered in Farnborough, England, that has global interests particularly WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Aero L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft is a Czech-built multi-role combat aircraft The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Hellenic Aerospace Industry ( HAI, Ελληνική Αεροπορική Βιομηχανία or A memorandum of understanding ( MOU or MoU) is a Document describing a Bilateral or multilateral Agreement between parties Alenia Aermacchi is a leading company in the design and production of trainers for military pilots

Flight Training

HAF Beechcraft T-6 Texan II intermediate trainer
HAF Beechcraft T-6 Texan II intermediate trainer
HAF Rockwell T-2 Buckeye turbojet trainer
HAF Rockwell T-2 Buckeye turbojet trainer

The training aircraft operated by the Hellenic Air Force Academy are the T-41D Mescalero (the military version of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk) for basic flight training, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II for intermediate training and the Rockwell T-2 Buckeye used for intermediate and advanced jet training. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

From the first year in the academy, the trainees have direct contact with the aircraft and the ideal of flying. The freshmen conduct 16 flights with T-41 type aircraft, completing 19 flight hours per student. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout During the 2nd year of training the trainees conduct 48 flights with the T-6 Texan II aircraft, completing 60 flight hours per student, while during the 3rd year, the flights upgrade to 54 and the flight hours to 70 per student. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

With a total 150 flight hours (on training aircraft) to their flight logs, the pilots graduate from the academy with the rank of Anthiposminagos (Pilot Officer or 2nd Lieutenant). Pilot Officer ( Plt Off officially in the RAF PLTOFF in the RAAF and RNZAF P/O in the former RCAF and frequently in the RAF is the lowest commissioned Training continues to their appointed flight wings on the aircraft type operated by each wing. As pointed out to the magazine "Defence Matters" (vol. 248, May 2007) by the commander of the Academy Air Vice-Marshal Constantinos Kalamatas, according to statistical facts "8 out of 10 graduates take the fighter pilot specialization, while 60% of all students that take this specialization, graduate". Air Vice-Marshal ( AVM) is an Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage other aircraft and typically pilots a Fighter aircraft. These numbers are considered satisfactory.

The 2nd Lieutenant graduates who have the "pilot" specialization (ranked Pilot Officers) can reach the highest rank in the chain of command, that of Air Chief Marshal and the Air Force Commander is always a pilot. Pilot Officer ( Plt Off officially in the RAF PLTOFF in the RAAF and RNZAF P/O in the former RCAF and frequently in the RAF is the lowest commissioned In a Military context the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a Military unit and between different Air Chief Marshal ( Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a senior Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF Aircraft Engineers and Air-Defence Inspectors also graduate to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant but can only climb to the rank of Lieutenant General.

Military Training

The military training program of students is under the supervision of the Icarus Squadron (Σμηναρχία Ικάρων).

It begins with the constant informing of students on military matters because they have complete lack of military experience in their first year and it concludes when the students become military officers. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority

In general, the military training program has the goal of promoting discipline, self-esteam and increased confidence to the student's skills as a future fighter pilot and military officer. In the last two years of training, the program gives emphasis in teaching responsibility and skills of being a leader and it also focuses to the individual virtues of each student. It also provides practical information on the structure and operation of the Hellenic Air Force. The Hellenic Air Force ( HAF) (in Πολεμική Αεροπορία ( ΠΑ) Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation"

Training Wings

Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[1] Total Numbers Notes
T-41 Mescalero Flag of the United States United States Trainer T-41D 19 basic flying training[2]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II Flag of the United States United States Trainer T-6A 40 intermediate flying training[3]
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye Flag of the United States United States Trainer T-2C
T-2E		 43 advanced flying training[4]

References

  1. ^ Greek military aviation OrBat
  2. ^ Greek military aviation OrBat
  3. ^ Greek military aviation OrBat
  4. ^ Greek military aviation OrBat

External links

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