With the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war as one of the main themes in 2025, the International Sanicole Airshow could not miss out on inviting an absolute legend from that era. The Hellenic airforce will provide a throwback to a generation of fighter aircraft that has almost disappeared completely, presenting two F-4E AUP Phantom IIs in a series of flybys.
The twin-engine McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II first flew in 1958 and was one of the most advanced multirole fighters in the 1960s. It was used all around the world. It could operate from both landbases and aircraft carriers and was able to carry a wide range of weapons to engage threats in the air and on the ground. It also had specialized variants for reconnaissance and suppression of enemy air defences.
American F-4s faced off against Soviet-built aircraft over Vietnam, which highlighted some of the aircraft’s shortcomings in the early years of the war. The F-4 Phantom continued being developed and upgraded over several decades to enable it to perform with success in later conflicts, most notably in the Middle East.
At one point, the F-4 formed the backbone of the Hellenic air force, with 121 F-4Es and RF-4Es ordered. The first of these aircraft arrived in 1974 at Andravida airbase. They are now one of the last operators of this beast of the air. Continuous upgrades of its avionics have ensured the Phantom is still an integral part of the Hellenic airforce, similar in capabilities to the F-16 block 52+ operated in Greece. One squadron of these Aegean Ghosts, 338 Mira, remains active at Andravida in western Greece. Its days are now limited, with the type slated to leave service with the introduction of the state-of-the-art Dassault Rafales and F-35 Lightning IIs in Greece. With their gorgeous colourscheme, the F-4s are still highly popular with aviation enthusiasts around the world.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to admire these characteristic multirole combat aircraft in action as they roar over the Sanicole airfield during the 2025 International Sanicole Airshow at Hechtel-Eksel, perhaps for the final time in Belgian skies.
PhotoCredits: Aviation PhotoCrew
