Today is the birthday of the Hellenic Air Force. On this day, in 1912, the first four Henry Farman 50 hp military airplanes were named during a ceremony at the zoo in Paleo Faliro, in the presence of the Holy Synod, the government and other state authorities.
The contractor was Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos (as the Minister of the Military), who emphasized the following:"In the first of the military planes, I give the name of the first pilot, Daedalos, the second one I name "Aeton" and the other two I christen "Gyps" and "Ierax". Greece will always monitor the progress of the Nations, to which they have contributed for centuries, and I have hope that the National Idea will also be raised through the plane".
The Henry Farman IIIs were the first Greek warplanes. They were officially named "Daedalus", "Eagle", "Gyps" and "Ierax". The first flight was made by D. Kamperos on May 13, 1912. For a short time the "Daedalos" was successfully converted into a seaplane and flew in June 1912. Two of them were used in reconnaissance flights during the First Balkan War in Thessaloniki and Macedonia. Later they formed the flying equipment of the first school of Military Aviation, the "Camperou School", based initially at Lebet Airport in Thessaloniki in the period 1913-1915. The last flights took place at the beginning of 1917.
Technical Characteristics
Role:ID
Dimensions::Beam 10.00m, Length 12.00m, Height 3.50m
Engine:1 x GNOME (60 hp)
Crew:2
Period in service:1912 – 1917