Beginning the 80ies, Athens and Edessa soaring movements were strong. We started
looking for more clubs interested in our sport.
We also founded the Hellenic Soaring Federation.
Unfortunately, as we were advancing, the government started lowering its aid to the Air
Sports.
A new Puchacz trainer was bought by the National Aeroclub in 1979 and given to the Gliding Club of Athens. Athens sent to Edessa the ASK-13. Standing in front of the Puchacz are instructors I.Rautopoulos, C.Pikros and N.Giahnakis.
Each summer of the years 1980 to '83 there has been a training school in Edessa for clubs wishing to promote Soaring. Here, from the first school: D.Papazois (Ioannina), D.Tzomakas (Ioannina), Th.Kaltsas (Agrinio), C.Pikros (instructor), N.Angelopoulos (Agrinio), I.Siniosoglou (instructor), P.Kalogiannis (Komotini).
For many years since 1986 the Air Scouts held an annual camp in Edessa, including at least 10 sailplane flights for each scout. Here, from the first camp: Instructors I.Siniosoglou (in the instructor's seat) and next to him C.Pikros (with Fivos). First from the left N.Choriatelis. Two of this team M.Tsakiridis (second seated) and N.Vassilaki (second from the right) continued soaring with our clubs.
In 1983 the Hellenic Air Force bought five Twin-Astir trainers for the Air Cadets
Academy. We were called to inform the officers who would be used as instructors. Military
instructor G.Papas is seen with civil instructors I.Rautopoulos and C.Pikros.
In 2005 the Air Force offered the five Twin Astir trainers to our aeroclubs.
Three of them came to Athens and two went to Edessa. They still fly with us today (2013).
The funding from the state to the air sports was divided by club and not by air sport.
The clubs were 6 in '73 and were more then 50 in the 80ies. They were mainly airplane
clubs. The money was fewer each year, divided by more clubs. It stopped altogether in '88.
Athens Gliding Club survived by intensive training of lots of youngsters. From 1985 to the
90ies Athens has seen great years of progress, from which there exist very many photos (in
color).
Edessa relied on local funding. They built the best exclusively air sporting center in
Greece.