The beginning of March is a great time to kick off the aerial photography season. Just like last year, I went with a trusted group of friends to Greece, where the Iniochos 2026 exercise was to take place. Participants from many countries were planned, and it was supposed to be a really big event. However, the war in the Middle East caused many countries to withdraw, leaving only the Slovenians flying Pilatus PC-9Ms, the French flying Mirage 2000s, and the hosts, the Greeks, flying F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and F-4 Phantom IIs. Ultimately, there were significantly fewer flights in the Vouraikos Canyon than planned.
This year, unlike last year, I decided to focus on photographing from the best spot – the so-called “hill.” I devoted two days to this location. It turned out that there were significantly more people willing to photograph aircraft than usual. The previous year, at 10:00 a.m. At 6:00 a.m., you could easily choose your photo spots, but this year, even at 4:30 a.m., it was a real challenge. It’s no wonder, though – more and more people come to this event because they know they can take exceptional photos. Next year (assuming these exercises take place, of course), I plan to spend just one day on the “hill,” and on subsequent days, try my luck and get shots from other potential locations. And there are quite a few of them, as they are on both sides of the canyon.
Returning to this year’s edition, despite the small number of participants, I’m pleased with what I saw and felt. The French pilots in their Mirage 2000s once again flew as if they were trying to please the photographers as much as possible. The Slovenians, on the other hand, despite their significantly weaker aircraft, also gave us a lot of joy, flying close and low, jumping out from behind a rock at unexpected moments. The overflights of the Greek Phantoms and Mirages are always a joy, as they will likely be retiring from the Air Force soon. The icing on the cake, however, was the wonderful company with whom we understood each other almost without words. In short, it was simply fantastic!
