The Hidden Hangar: Restoration & Storage at Tatoi

By Dino van Doorn | GMAP.nl Team | September 2025

Behind the main “Leros” hangar of the Hellenic Air Force Museum at Dekelia (Tatoi), there is a comparatively less-visible area dedicated to storing retired aircraft, restoring them, and using parts as spares. The public usually sees the restored aircraft in the Leros hangar; behind it lies a “boneyard” of sorts, plus a restoration workshop.
This area is not generally open to visitors. It serves multiple roles:

  • Storage of surplus / duplicate airframes: Aircraft no longer active, or multiple examples of a given type (where only one is on display) often end up here, both as reserves for parts and as candidates for future restoration.

  • Restoration work: The museum does periodic restoration efforts, with specialists (often from the museum itself) working to bring artifacts back to display condition. Some aircraft in storage are awaiting restoration.

  • Preservation: Exposed to weather, the stored aircraft are at risk of corrosion, degradation of materials, etc. Part of storage involves taking measures to slow decay (though many aircraft are stored outdoors, under partial covering or none).

Flight Flight MUSEUM AREA REPORT

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Challenges and Significance

  • Preservation vs. Exposure: Outdoor storage means exposure to the elements; even when under coverings, things like corrosion, UV damage to surfaces, deterioration of tires, and damage from moisture are constant threats.

  • Funding & Expertise: Restoring aircraft requires specialized knowledge (airframe, engine, materials), as well as funding. The museum has done restorations (for example the T‑6G Harvard) and is continuously working on maintaining and expanding its collection.

  • Parts Scarcity: Many aircraft types in storage serve as parts donors. Especially for types no longer produced or supported, cannibalizing is often the only way to maintain the display examples.

  • Historical Value: The collection includes rare examples – some of the few surviving aircraft of their type in Europe. Also, there are WWII wrecks recovered via submarine / underwater salvage operations (aviation archeology) included among artifacts.

Tatoi-Dekelia storage aircraft overview

TYPESERIALCODENOTE
A-7E160560storage area, recently arrived from Tanagra
C-47A43-49111storage area, serial looked up
C-47AKK169storage area, serial looked up
C-47AKK171storage area fuselage (in the woods)
CE-172RGAC-2storage area
F-84F26901storage area; camo c/s; serial looked up
F-84F26919storage area
TF-104G5955storage area, bare metal; serial looked up
F-104G6681storage area; unmarked; serial looked up
TF-104G22274storage area, bare metal; serial looked up
TF-104G22278storage area fuselage in the woods, c/n 5523 looked up
HU-16B15289289storage area, only code read
JU-52-3M7607storage area, serial looked up
L-21BES-246storage area; front fuselage only, serial looked up
SA-318CSX-HEBstorage area; civiel
T-6G15057storage area as “830” under shed, serial looked up
T-33A35328TR-328storage area; serial looked up
T-33A35890TR-890storage area
T-33A41614TR-614storage area
T-33A52805TR-805storage area

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Why It Matters

The restoration and storage area is more than just a graveyard: it’s like an insurance policy for aviation heritage. Without this behind‑the‑scenes work, much of the publicly visible museum display would not be possible. Having multiple airframes allows:

  • Spares and parts to restore or maintain display examples

  • Backups, in case a display aircraft deteriorates

  • Opportunity to research and restore rare types

Also, for scholars, historians, and enthusiasts, these stored aircraft are physical links to the evolution of the Hellenic Air Force in the post‑war era: its transition from propeller transport and bomber types, to jet trainers, fighters, reconnaissance aircraft, etc. They reflect the material and technical history of Greece’s military aviation.




© GMAP.NL All rights reserved. All content on this site is the property of Global Military Aviation Photography (GMAP.NL) and is protected by U.S., Dutch and other foreign copyright and trademark laws.
8x CH-47F CHINOOK DEPART TO POLANDATHENS FLYING WEEK 2025