OK so the girlfriend thinks we are going to have a nice quiet holiday in Cyprus.
But where is the aviation ? Any details of what can be seen around the island. We have the Shackletons WL747 and 757 at Pahos, but can they seen / photographed from outside, anybody got a contact address so a closer inspection can be made. Does RAF Akrotiri still have Lightning XS929, Phantom XV470 and Whirlwinds XD184 and XJ437, Are the positioned in a public area. Has anybody ever seen the Tridents at the dissued Nicosia airport, W&R lists 5B-DAB as being hangared??
By: yak139 - 21st January 2005 at 11:51
R can still fly in Cyprus at the flying schools based there. Just don’t get lost and stray into Northern Cyprus, you may get shot down!
By: MELH - 21st January 2005 at 11:30
[QUOTE: What is this ‘check-ride’ all about? Do you mean your GFT?]
I think you mean Skills Test Flying Chick!
By: Mark12 - 20th January 2005 at 21:23
Nicosia. A derelict Shack and what I think is the remains of a Tu104 plus another airliner.
Paphos. The Shacks et al were still there last month. This is a military airfield, in a tricky area, with blast proof hangars. The signs are large and clear – No photography.
Mark
By: David Burke - 20th January 2005 at 21:15
Doughnut- I was there in the early 1990’s . The Whirlwind at Akrotiri is XD184. I managed to travel most of the island and visit the abandoned airfield at Nicosia .
There is a very derelict Trident and the remains of a Tri-Pacer. There isn’t any access
to the airport however unless with the British Army. Elsewhere on the island I found the mortal remains of a DC-6 which used to be at Larnaca. It was on a small airfield
which also had a Cypriot miitary presence.
Also at that time a Helio Courier on floats was at Limassol doing pleasure flights .
I hope you enjoy your holiday!
By: geedee - 20th January 2005 at 20:55
The Shaks where still at Paphos a year ago. However, you should be very carefull trying to take piccies cos the planes are in a pen before the main terminal buildings and you cant park there. Additionaly, the background area of the pen looks over onto the military side of the airfield and you REALLY DONT WANT TO BE SEEN TO TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS IN THAT AREA !!!. There was also I believe a Dassault Flamant and I think also a Strikemaster as well but as I have said, you dont get much chance to stop and looksee. I know some-one posted a few piccies of the Shaks a while ago but he was VERY lucky to get away with it. Trust me, I’ve been back a year after spending three brilliant years in Cyprus and there are some things that just arent worth the risk !.The Astinomya (Police) that are in open attendance at the airports and walk round toting full automatics plus pistols.
RAF Akrotiri still has the Lightning. While I lived there, it was removed from its stand and re-painted in the Firebirds display team colours. They also named a road on the camp after it. Its in the main camp and you are very unlikely to get access onto an operational airfield to take piccies of it. There is one Whirlwind, cant remember the reg No, acting as gate guard outside the main guard room. The Phantom is not accessible but is looked after and trundled out on family days.
Dont know about the Nicosia stuff but there are a few interesting light planes / amphibians at Larnaca Airport. Again, dont go walking round with a camera taking piccies, depending on the prevailing wind direction, you get to taxi past them, thats when its safe to click away.
Depending what time of year you go, you may see the High Tension Pylons being sprayed with water from a Hughes 500, to clean off the dirt, or if there is a fire, the local Mil choppers with the water dropping stuff underslung or even the civvie version of the Hormone doing water drops. You will see, Hueys doing patrols in the Limassol area.
Oh, and dont forget the Vultures (bl**dy big budgfies wiv a 12 foot wingspan) at Episkopi. You’ll see them if you are on Curium beach.
Whatever, the beers cold and very cheap, the locals very friendly and nothing, but nothing gets done in the afternoons, so chill out and enjoy.
By: Flying chick - 20th January 2005 at 19:55
Funny, im planning a flying holiday but I have not even passed my check-ride yet!
I found one or two schools with Yahoo out that way:
Type: Laraca flying schools and clubs
(QXC ABANDONED UNTIL FRIDAY 21ST DUE TO BAD WEATHER!)
What is this ‘check-ride’ all about? Do you mean your GFT? :confused:
By: yak139 - 20th January 2005 at 17:20
If you want to fly, Griffon Aviation operate out of Paphos, and Tomahawk out of Larnaca.
By: wysiwyg - 20th January 2005 at 13:57
…There was also some GA activity at Larnaca airport. I don’t think Paphos airport had much (when I was there)…
I’ve been in and out of Paphos and Larnaca a lot up until spring last year. It looked like just a few private owners at Paphos (including a Rutan Defiant) however I think there may have been a flying club at Larnaca just to the southwest of the terminal (on the same side of the runway).
By: DOUGHNUT - 20th January 2005 at 12:35
Earth bound civilian. Really just hoping to photogragh something more interesting than the local beach. I will try contacting RAF Akrotiri before I leave just hoping to gain permission to the photo the Lightning, Phantom and Whirlwind
By: Paul Rix - 20th January 2005 at 00:22
Are you in the British Military? if so there was a great flying club at RAF Akrotiri (where I learned to fly back in ’95).
There was also some GA activity at Larnaca airport. I don’t think Paphos airport had much (when I was there).
I guess I should have asked which part of the Islan you are visiting (North or South) ?
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January 19, 2005 at 11:49 pm