Trainers at Kalamata
The town of Kalamata is home to the Hellenic Air Force’s Air Training Wing, employing T-2 Buckeyes and T-6 Texan IIs. Dino van Doorn, Bas Stubert and Hans van der Wilt witnessed operations at the airfield.
PILOT SCHOOL
The home base of the 120 Pteriga Ekpedefsis Aeros (PEA, Air Training Wing) of the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (Hellenic Air Force, HAF) is situated on the Peloponnese, approximately 150 miles (240km) southwest of Athens. Although construction of Kalamata air base began in 1960, it was not until 1970 that the 120 Air Training Group was established. By that time, the HAF was operating the T-37 Tweet and the T-33 Shooting Star as its primary trainers. Four years later, the HAF acquired 40 T-2E Buckeyes, the new advanced trainer replacing the ageing T-33. The initial Buckeyes arrived at Kalamata in spring 1976. In August the following year, the 120 Air Training Group was renamed as the 120 Air Training Wing.
In 1985, the fleet of 25 T-37Cs was expanded with another nine former US Air Force T-37Bs, while another ten ex-Royal Jordanian Air Force T-37Bs were added to the inventory three years later.
By the end of the 1990s it was clear the ageing T-37 needed replacement and …
