Go High, Aim Low!

By Dave Lockwood

With this years Spotters Day being such a success it couldn’t get any better could it? With some
trepidation we moved to the Mountains of the Peloponnese in search of low flying aircraft.

Whilst the first week of the exercise proved to be fruitful, the second hadn’t with a combination of
bad weather and flight restrictions. As with every low flying area, it was a case of sitting and
waiting.
In all we spent two and a half days in the Valley around the Grand Chalet in Kalavrita. Watching,
waiting, drinking copious amounts of Greek Coffee and petting cats. This was my first experience
of low levels in Greece so I don’t know what to expect.

The road up to the Valley is winding, climbing up to over 3000 feet from sea level. There are
several spots to spot from, depending on time of day etc. Initially we based ourselves in the
Grand Chalet with the magnificent view down the Valley.

Our first day was slow, having spent the morning on the east side, we moved to the west.
Weather was not great with low cloud clogging up the skies. Jet noise could be heard and finally
two Italian Tornado’s punched through. It was great to get some action but they were high.
Screams of laughter could be heard across the valley as some of the party had remained at the
Chalet. One of the party, who shall remain nameless had a trip to the little boys room and had no
idea that he’s missed the twin tonka pass.

Other noise could be heard and informed from the other side of the Valley filtered through that the
Polish air force were present on the hill. Sadly they couldn’t get an entry and the Polish went
back to Andravida. That was the action for the day.

Day two and back to the Chalet. More coffee and a Moussaka for lunch. No action in the morning
but a rumbling truck sent everyone flying thinking something was incoming. The sight of us all
scrambling for our camera’s must have been terrifying! What the resident feline’s must have
thought of the madness.

More rumours of the Polish trying to fly through reached the group, again we moved to the other
side of the Valley in the hope of a pass. Late in the afternoon the Polish played ball and two F-16’s
screamed through the Valley. Intel had been received that the Indian Flankers may try a pass, we
waited for more action in anticipation. Another message came through that it had been scrubbed
so we headed back to the Hotel.

Halfway back to the beachside establishment news broke that the Indians has indeed flown
through, although high. The language in the van was ripe to say the least. The unexpected had
happened.

For our third and final trip up into the mountains half the group went to the escarpment near the
vineyard whilst the rest of us went and perched high. Following the sheer disappointment that
we’d missed our only chance we were told to expect something by 1:30pm. The morning was
quiet with no action at all. We had to be back in Athens by 4:30pm so time was tight. The rest of
the group joined us on our perch and the shout came at around 1:15pm, they’re up!

Sure enough noise could be heard and three aircraft in the distance. First through, low, a Spanish

F-18, pulling enough to have a little vapour over the wings. It was quickly followed by a scream of
LOW LOW LOW…. There it was a singular Indian SU-30 Flanker low in the Valley, lower than
pretty much anyone else had gone. WOW! Magnificent!

A second Spaniard followed through, sweeping low between the sides of the Valley and that was
it. Such a brilliant way to end such a brilliant week.
Smiles all around as there were so few on the hills that day and we had been there.