Here are some pictures of a recent navy exercise “ASTRAPI 2B/05”

You can see more details with the following link and also download larger resolution versions of the ones above.

http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/new_details.asp?new_id=786

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB

RAAF planes crash mid-air
AAP
January 21, 2005
TWO RAAF Roulettes aerobatic aircraft collided mid-air over eastern Victoria today.

Both pilots survived, a spokesman for Acting Prime Minister John Anderson said.
The spokesman said one of the pilots ejected to safety as his plane crashed to ground and the second pilot managed to land his aircraft.
A Rural Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the RAAF used its own helicopter to fly one of the pilots back to the East Sale RAAF base.
That person’s condition was not known, she said.
The spokeswoman said Rural Ambulance Victoria took a man with minor injuries by road to the Sale Hospital.
It was unclear whether he was the pilot of the plane that crashed.
Marge Crank, of Cobains, near Sale, watched as the plane came down on her farm.
“The Roulettes were doing their routine, their practice routine, and one of them just came down in one of the paddocks,” Ms Crank told radio station 3AW.
“I heard the bang and saw it crash and just the flames. I haven’t got a clue what happened.
“The pilot’s okay. I was so glad to see him coming (down with his) parachute.
“He ejected, which is good.
“I ran through the paddock to the pilot and gave him a hug because I was so pleased to see that he was OK.”
Ms Crank said the pilot, who came down about 100m from the wreckage, apologised to her for crashing.
“(He said) ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’, and he said he was okay.”
A Defence Department spokeswoman said they would release further information shortly.
“We are aware of the incident and we are currently seeking confirmation of further details,” a spokeswoman said.
Both pilots appeared to have escaped serious injury, Mr Anderson’s spokesman said.
The plane which crashed to the ground was destroyed but missed all civilian property, the spokesman said.
“I am relieved that both pilots appear to have escaped serious injury and there has been no damage to personal property,” Mr Anderson said.
The spokesman said the accident happened during a training flight at Sale.
Mr Anderson was being kept informed of the accident and was contacted immediately after the crash by chief of the Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove, the spokesman said.
The RAAF elite formation aerobatic display team, The Roulettes, fly the Pilatus PC9/A training aircraft.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) Gippsland regional manager Ian Symons said the crashed plane came down on farm land next to the East Sale RAAF base.
He said at least one CFA crew was at the scene.
“There has been some contact between two planes and one did crash and catch fire,” Mr Symons said.
“The pilot of that aircraft ejected safely.
AAP

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12006352%255E12377,00.html

Looks like the first report wasn’t totally correct.

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB

@ Wanshan, I’m sorry, I don’t have that level of detail.

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB

Fighter Pilots Found Dead
15 Oct 2004 10:09:00

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: NET – NET 105.8
The bodies of four Hellenic Air Force pilots of the F-16 aircrafts, which crashed yesterday in the area of Pelion, were found as the Ministry of National Defense has confirmed. The rescue team located human parts in the wreckage and later on found the second aircraft where the pilots were found burned. A possible cause of the tragic accident is considered to be that the two F-16’s, which were flying with a speed of 400 miles an hour, crashed on a mountainous side of Pelion when the pilot of the first aircraft suffered a case of vertigo resulting to a deviation from the course and was followed by the second F-16.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Defense the four dead pilots are squadron leader Ioannis Kommatas aged 37, flight lieutenant Athanasios Sioutas aged 33, and flight officers Giorgos Andonopoulos and Giorgos Likoudis, both aged 28.

Experts of the Air Force General Staff (GEA) are already in the scene of the F-16 crash as is the Chief of GEA air marshal, Giorgos Avlonitis, in order for the exact causes of the accident to be investigated. The search has stopped after locating the second fighter aircraft in Pelion and Air Force officers have taken on the tragic task of transporting the bodies while the victims’ relatives remain in Agios Lavrentios.

http://www.ert.gr/eidiseis/en/newsDetails.asp?ID=2297

Sad news indeed, my thoughts are with the families of the four pilots.

Alepou 340MB 🙁