Deep emotions and feelings of national pride were evoked by the F-16 pilot of the “ZEUS” demo team of the Hellenic Air Force, who flew in the sky of Thessaloniki to commemorate the anniversary of October 28, sending his message to Greece and the Greek people.

“Greek women, Greek men, happy anniversary. It has been 81 years since the Greek soul found itself in the eyes of the enemies, yet it fought and won,” said the pilot of the aircraft, referring to a verse by Kostis Palamas to close his greeting:

“People’s greatness is not measured by the acre, but by the ferocity of heart and by blood.”

The F-16 initially performed vertical acrobatic maneuvers over the port of Thessaloniki, but also high-speed crossings over the city.

Then, it maneuvered three times around its axis demonstrating its capabilities.

The pilot of the team “ZEUS” 

In the cockpit of the Greek fighter that “tore” the sky of Thessaloniki on October 28 was the 37-year-old Squadron Leader Christodoulos Giakoumis.

Christodoulos Giakoumis was admitted to the Hellenic Air Force Academy in 2002. In 2007, he was placed in the 116th Combat Wing/336th Squadron on A-7E Corsair II aircraft, and then in 2009 in the 115th Combat Wing/Operational Conversion Unit on F-16 Block52+ aircraft.

Since 2010, the Squadron Leader has been serving in the Hellenic Air Force in the 340th Squadron and has more than 1,700 flight hours, 1,300 of which are on F-16 aircraft.

Source: Phileleftheros

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