PhanCon 2024 allowed enthusiasts to get up close and personal with Andravida’s F-4s, among the few Phantoms still operational in the world.
After the successful editions in 2022 and 2023, Andravida Air Base hosted once again the European Phantom Conference (PhanCon 2024). The base, located in the Northwest Peloponnese, Greece, is home of the 117 Combat Wing and its 338 Squadron, flying with F-4E AUP Phantom II jets. These are among the few Phantoms still operational in the world, with the others being in Turkey and Iran.
The original Phantom Conference was an event sponsored by the F-4 Phantom II Society once a year for a worldwide gathering of F-4 enthusiasts. The last of these events was held in 2016 shortly before the QF-4’s retirement from service in the United States Air Force. In July 2022, the event was moved to Europe and specifically to Greece, where three new editions were held so far.
However, this might be one of the last Phantom Conventions in Greece, if not the last. In fact, the Hellenic Air Force announced earlier this year that it would retire the F-4E AUP fleet, although a timeline has not yet been disclosed. The Phantom recently celebrated 50 years of service in Greece, with about 30 F-4Es still operational out of the 120 F-4Es and RF-4Es acquired.
The Phantom Conference
As we mentioned, the PhanCon is sponsored by the F-4 Phantom II Society, dedicated to the preservation of the history and the heritage of the F-4 Phantom II fighter jet. The group reunites aviators, maintenance personnel, photographers, modelers, and all the enthusiasts with or without direct experience on the Phantom. Each year they get the occasion to share experiences, meet friends again and admire the F-4 together.
This year, our friend and aviation photographer Jerry McGrath had a chance to attend PhanCon 2024 at Andravida, where he captured some great photos of the remaining Hellenic F-4Es during day and night operations.
“Coert Van Breda [the European Liaison] of the Phantom II Society went all out this year, organizing, and coordinating directly with the Hellenic Air Force to set up a fantastic experience for those in attendance,” told us McGrath. “We were treated to a full tour of the Andravida Base by the Hellenic Air Force, 117 Combat Wing and 338 Squadron.”
Day 1
McGrath then described us what the participants experienced while at Andravida. The first day started with an immediate immersion in the flight activities.
“Events started with a walk out to the taxi ways of the base, where we were treated to the start-up of 3 of the squadron’s active F-4E fighters and a taxi out for a training mission,” recounted McGrath. “All three fighters took off individually, flew out for training and then came back for simulated ground attack runs, allowing members of the Phantom II Society close and personal engagement with the planes while they flew overhead.”
Activities did not stop after the simulated attacks, with a tour also to visit the rest of the base.
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“Participants were treated to a tour of the Squadron’s main office and meeting rooms, where tons of Phantom Art, mementos and paraphernalia were put out on display for all fans of the mighty F-4 to be seen,” he told us. “After a quick snack, we were escorted to the other side of the base for a tour of the Depot Hangar as well as the engine shop.”
Once there, participants were granted up close and personal access to the legendary aircraft in the maintenance hangars.
“We were allowed to freely engage with maintenance crew and review/photograph F-4s in various states of deep maintenance, as well as a Canadair CL-215, one of Greece’s workhorses for aerial firefighting,” told us McGrath. “We were able to be hands on with an F-4, see the engines in various states of tear down and rebuild, as well as collect small pieces of the fabled J79 for us to take home.”
After the tour of the maintenance facilities, the activities moved to flightline hangars for a static shoot, where they found three F-4s waiting. One of them was available for photos and a cockpit tour and the other two in various states of flight maintenance, with a chance to interact with the crews. The day ended with an escort to the taxiways for a night shoot of F-4s taking off in full burner.
Day 2
On the second day, McGrath told us they were taken to a different section of the base. There, they witnessed a pair of F-4Es on a training flight from a different angle, airborne and powering high into the air. Like the day before, they performed simulated ground attack, much closer to the attendance. The event ended with the acceptance flight of an F-4E with fresh engines, which performed an unrestricted climb on departure.
Emotions got also involved when the group remembered the recent loss of the F-4 Society’s Secretary and Membership Director, Helen Thompson.
“Sadly, we had also tinge of sadness this year,” said McGrath. “A very special guest, Felicia Thompson, was in attendance, representing her mother, the Phantom Phrau, Helen Thompson, who passed shortly before the event took place. Felicia represented her mother proudly, and had a flag flown in one of the sorties we witnessed, as those in attendance looked on.”
At the end of the event, all the participants took home some great memories of the two-day immersion in the life of some of the last Phantoms in the world. As McGrath told us, it was a “glorious experience” that would make happy any true aviation lover.
“Overall, it was a great time and event,” he said. “Time and engagement with the planes as well as pilots and crew were invaluable for any fan of the venerable F-4. Our sincerest thanks to the Hellenic Air Force, 117 CW and 338 Sqn for hosting us for two days and allowing the broad level of access we were given. Simply will not be forgotten.”
Thanks again to Jerry McGrath for the photos he sent us and the help he provided in the preparation of this article. Make sure to follow him on Instagram for more!
