Golden Hour at Tanagra: Why AFW Shines
The large‑scale military European airshows such as RIAT or AIRPOWER grab enthusiasts’ attention for obvious reasons, but Athens Flying Week continues to deliver one of the best shows in Europe, and I feel it deserves far greater recognition than it receives.
First held at Tatoi Airfield in 2012, the event has seen impressive year‑on‑year growth, establishing itself as Greece’s flagship aviation event. A move north to Tanagra Air Base in 2016 allowed Athens Flying Week to expand, with the spacious airfield providing on‑site parking, hardstandings for a reasonably sized static display, generous grass space for enclosures and merchandising, and a 9,800‑ft runway. For spectators — whether the general public or hardened enthusiasts — the benefits of Tanagra are substantial. The long runway allows AFW to base its star participants on site, while the 10/28 orientation is excellent for photographers. Base access is straightforward, and being able to park just a few metres from the showground makes the whole experience remarkably easy. For enthusiasts, the show also deserves praise for its merchandising and retailing. The AFW organisers clearly encourage participants to set up trade stalls over the weekend, with only RIAT able to boast a larger number of aircrew stands.
The event often features a fast‑jet‑heavy line‑up — something many airshow‑goers actively seek — thanks in no small part to the Hellenic Air Force and its excellent support. Most AFW editions have included flying participation from Hellenic Phantoms, Mirage 2000s and F‑16s, whether through solo displays, role demonstrations or flypasts, with the Rafale and M‑346 becoming more recent additions. This volume of fast air provides a strong foundation for the organisers to build on — and they do so with style. Greece benefits from the best of Europe’s airshow circuit, with the French Rafale, German EF2000 and Italian Tornado all flying in the 2025 show, but it also looks east to bolster its line‑up. AFW enjoys strong ties with the Royal Saudi Air Force, whose participation has become semi‑regular. In 2025 the show welcomed a solo display from a Typhoon F2 from King Fahd Air Base, while previous years have featured the Saudi Hawks and the F‑15SA. The Indian Air Force had also hoped to attend the ’25 show with a Su‑30 Flanker solo display, although the Indian Government ultimately did not approve the participation. The 2017 event featured the Egyptian Air Force’s Silver Stars display team flying the K‑8 Karakorum — one of Athens Flying Week’s rarest participants to date and the team’s only European appearance. Hopefully AFW can continue to benefit from this geographic advantage and secure further Middle Eastern and African participation in future years.
Returning to Hellenic support, participation from the air, land and sea branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces is nothing short of exceptional. As AFW has evolved, there has been a clear trend toward increased representation from domestic military assets. While the presence of Team Zeus (F‑16) and Team Daedalus (T‑6) is expected at Greece’s largest home show, what impresses is the inclusion of more obscure and rarely seen types. Through flypasts and role demonstrations, the show has featured the P2002, EMB‑145 AEW&C, AS332 Super Puma, M‑18 and CL‑415 from the Air Force, while the Navy often provides a pairs demonstration with its S‑70/MH‑60s. The Army is also a strong supporter, with its Apache, Kiowa, NH‑90 and Chinook frequently appearing in the flying display.
Another major factor that makes AFW so enjoyable is the weather. Unlike RIAT and AIRPOWER, you’re almost guaranteed sunny conditions for an Athens Flying Week show. Most years benefit from cloudless blue skies, removing one of the biggest stress factors when deciding whether it’s worth travelling abroad to a show. Yes, it’s hot, and heat haze can affect photography during the middle of the day — especially for aircraft on or near the runway — but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. The show also includes a Saturday evening display, where the light provides some of the best shooting conditions you could hope for at a European airshow. AFW ’25 saw the French Rafale and Italian Tornado displaying in stunning golden‑hour light, their colourful schemes gleaming against the deep blue sky.
A reported 80,000 people attended Athens Flying Week in 2025 — far fewer than RIAT’s 175,000 — so many enthusiasts are overlooking a real gem. When planning your upcoming show season, it’s well worth considering a trip to the enthusiast‑friendly Athens Flying Week.
