Royal Hellenic Air Force

Hellenic Air Force Πολεμική Αεροπορία
Hellenic Air Force's seal
Founded	1930; 87 years ago (1930)
Country	Greece
Role	National defense and air superiority
Size	approx. 33,000 personnel 448+ aircraft 8 types of air defence systems
Part of	Hellenic Armed Forces
Patron	Archangels Michael and Gabriel
Motto(s)	Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν "Always Dominate the Heights"
Engagements	Balkan Wars World War I Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) World War II Greek Civil War Korean War Turkish invasion of Cyprus Operation Desert Storm War on Terror 2011 military intervention in Libya
Commanders
Chief of Air Force General Staff	Air Marshal Christos Christodoulou
Insignia
Identification symbol	ΠΑ
Roundels
Fin flash
Flag (1973–1978)
Aircraft flown
Attack	F-16, Mirage 2000, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, F-4E Phantom II
Fighter	F-16 Fighting Falcon
Interceptor	Mirage 2000, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2
Reconnaissance	Embraer E-99A, RF-4E, Pegasus II, P-3 Orion
Trainer	T-41, T-6 Texan II, T-2
Transport	C-27J, C-130, ERJ-135, Gulfstream V, Bell 212, Super Puma, Bell 205, Canadair CL-215, Canadair CL-415

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF; officially Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία, Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "War Aviation", sometimes abbreviated as ΠΑ) is the air force of Greece (with Hellenic being a synonym for Greek). The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately 33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career officers, 14,000 are professional conscripts (ΕΠ.ΟΠ.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts and 1,100 are women. During the period of monarchy between 1935–1973 the force was known as the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) (Greek: Ἑλληνικὴ Βασιλικὴ Ἀεροπορία, Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía). The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the ancient Greek phrase Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν (Aièn Hypsikrateîn), "Always Dominate the Heights"), and the HAF ensign represents a flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force roundel. The Hellenic Air Force is one of the three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

In 1911, the Greek Government appointed French specialists to form the Hellenic Aviation Service. Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the first four "Farman" type aircraft were ordered.All of the six graduated from the Farman school in Étampes near Paris, but only four served subsequently in aviation. The first civilian Greek aviator who was given military rank was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G. "Alkyon" aircraft, on February 8, 1912.

The first military flight was made on May 13, 1912 by Lieutenant Dimitrios Kamberos. In June, Kamberos flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting a new world average speed record at 110 km/h (68 mph) and the foundations of Naval Aviation. During September of the same year, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the "Aviators Company" (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).