Maleme airfield, Creta

[FredL]

It looks like Creta is a real gold mine.

Does anybody know about Maleme airfield (north west of the island, west of Chania) ?

https://www.google.be/search?q=maleme+a ... P8uAhTM%3A

Looks like some HAF relics are exposed there : F-5A, T-33, F-104 G and 1 or 2 F-84s at least.
Some German WWII aircraft, including Ju-52s, remains would also be around (remains of the battle of Crete).

The airfield doesn't look to be in use anymore, even on sparse occasions, by the HAF. It would just be in use for a local air club.
A few years ago, I sped one week on holidays not far and didn't even notice the presence of this quite discrete airfield.

I'll definitely go back to Crete.

Sorry if there is already a topic : I searched here but didn't find anything.

[ehusmann]

It is known indeed: Maleme.
Like you said, as well as indeed an F-84 and RF-84

Erwin

[Polecat]

Hi, I was there last october, saw the planes were still there, so parked my car. Literally within 10 seconds we were surrounded by armed camouflaged Greek military, ordening us to move out Asap..
Also , the barracks opposite were full of activity. So i've seen them, but no piccies unfortunately..

[FredL]

Thanks for those fresh news.

So still some military activity there then.
Too bad. I'd like to see these planes during my next trip there.

In Chania - Souda Bay, I managed to make pictures of landing and taking off aircraft, from some distance, but indeed you have to be carefull as the Greek look to be serious about it.

[frank kramer]

You can easily see them as they are parked close to the main road running past the field. If you park your car well away from the barracks or the airfield and walk by there's no problem to read them off, as long as you don't pause or try to take pictures. Did that myself in 2007 or so (and placed the log here somewhere..). The model club is using the field in weekends, but I haven' t tried my luck there.

The airfield itself is still in occasional use by the military for overshoots and helicopter activity has also been noted on some occasions. One of the reasons the security is tight is that the barracks across the road hold a parachute (or special forces) regiment if I remember correctly.. and the fact that the planes are close to the main gate of the barracks on the other side of the road doesn' t help either

[Polecat]

so you had silmilar experiences... classical example of "so close....yet so far"
Frustrating place