The “Alexander Onassis Air Show 2021,” organized by the management of Kythira State Airport as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the airport’s operation. At noon on Sunday, September 19, the airport director of Kythira State Airport, Mr. Stavros Paizanos, invited the pilots, residents of Kythira, and local organizations to the closing ceremony of the four-day event.
The event was attended by the director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Georgios Dritsakos, the mayor of Kythira, Efstratios Charchalakis, the president of the Hellenic Air Sports Federation, Mr. Nikos Makrakis; the president of the “Cerigo” Association of Tourist Accommodation Owners, Ms. Vanessa Raikou, the president of the Kythira Flying Club, Mr. Zacharias Souris, and other dignitaries. The event began with a blessing ceremony performed by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kythira and Antikythira, Metropolitan Seraphim, to mark the completion of the renovation projects, including the replacement of the central air conditioning unit and the addition of 300 square meters of indoor space, by converting corresponding semi-open areas and carrying out other necessary work to ensure the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the terminal building, with a total budget of €250,000.
Next, the airport director of Kythira State Airport, Mr. Paizanos, briefed those present on the infrastructure upgrades, emphasizing that all work was carried out with a building permit, as «the state must set an example.» He mentioned the bioclimatic solar-shading films installed on the control tower, the upgraded fire truck garage, the maintenance of the facades and the illuminated pyramids on the roof of the main hall (domes), and other improvements. He also spoke about the organization of the four-day event, the achievements of this major event, and set new goals for the future, expressing his hope that the Air Show would become an annual event. She thanked her colleagues and the airport staff, Mr. Souris and the newly formed Kythira Flying Club, Ms. Raikou, and the Cerigo Association of Accommodation Owners. Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the shipping companies that operate ferries to Kythira and to Skyserv, the aircraft ground handling company, which assisted free of charge and withzeal to this major event.
He also spoke, visibly moved, about his departure from the service and the airport due to his retirement. Immediately afterward, he invited the mayor of Kythira to the podium, who welcomed the occasion. The mayor spoke about the 50-year history of Kythira Airport. He praised the contribution of the people of Kythira to realizing the vision of building an airport on the island. He stated that the Municipal Authority and he personally strongly and unconditionally support the privatization of Kythira Airport, as he argued that the government is unable to provide modern management. He also asked the director of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), Mr. Dritsako, to revisit from the beginning the issue of extending the runway and constructing a fuel storage facility. Finally, he praised the work and contributions of Airport Director Mr. Paizanou during his tenure at the airport and thanked him. He also thanked the sponsors and organizations that helped organize the four-day event.
The event was a tribute to Manolis Sofios, the island’s renowned photographer who played a leading role 50 years ago in the construction of the Kythira Airport. Airport Director Mr. Paizanos invited Manolis Sofios’s granddaughter, Ms. Evita Sofios, to speak about his work before the unveiling of an iconic panel (a collage of Sophios’s photographs documenting the first aircraft landing on Kythira), which will adorn the departures area of the airport terminal.
Ms. Evita Sofiu spoke about the life and work of Manolis Sofiu, his contribution to the construction of the airport, and the events of those years. Many of these moments were captured through the lens of the great photographer, and mention was made of Sofiou’s other well-known role as a travel agent and of the and collaboration he had with Alexander Onassis to include Kythira in Olympic Airways’ route network.
During the event, a skydive was performed from an airplane by the pilot, a skydiving instructor and FAA Master Parachute Rigger, champion Ms. Maria Kampourova. During her descent, Ms. Kampourova unfurled a blue-and-white flag measuring 6 × 3.20 m. This is a special jump that only three skydivers attempt in Greece, and it sparked excitement and emotion among those in attendance.
This was followed by remarks from the director of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Georgios Dritsakos, who began by speaking highly of Mr. Paizanos’s work and contributions. He then spoke about the 50th anniversary of Kythira Airport, emphasizing the importance of historical memory for the present and the future, and expressed his admiration for the people of the island. Immediately afterward, Mr. Dritsakos unveiled the collage that will adorn the airport and, without words, serve as a reminder of Plato’s saying, «The beginning is half of everything.» .
Mr. Paizanos then invited Mr. Spyros Avgerinos, who was the manager of the National Bank branch in Kythira at the time, to the podium to address the event. Mr. Avgerinos, who contributed from his position to the efforts to build the airport, mentioned the community presidents of that era and the organizations that participated in the project, described the financial aspects of the project, and spoke of the residents of Kythira who donated their land in the area so that the first 350-meter dirt runway could be built.
The airport director was invited to address the event, and Skyserv employee Ms. Nausika Gaspari, who created—with great success and at no cost—the photo collage entrusted to her by Ms. E. Sofiu.
Other speakers at the event included the airport’s sponsor, Mr. G. Hatziplis; Ms. Eleni Harou; Mr. Makrakis; and Ms. Vanessa Raikou. It is worth noting that the success of the event, beyond the airport’s management, is primarily due to the significant support of the “Cerigo” accommodation owners’ association “Cerigo,” which provided free lodging and hospitality for 110 aerial athletes, and the Kythira Flying Club, which served as the organizing committee responsible for hosting and carrying out the event. Special mention was made by nearly all the organizations of Ms. Vanessa Raikou and Mr. Zacharias Souris, who represented these two organizations with distinction.
