The Hellenic Air Force Academy (Greek: Σχολή Ικάρων, abbr.

Most graduates of those years gave their life in the air battles of World War II, like 2nd Lieutenant Marinos Mitralexis.

In April 1941, due to the German invasion of Greece, the academy was again transferred to the Middle East and later on to Southern Rhodesia, where it operated normally from September 1941 until the summer of 1946.

Training of Greek pilots during the war was performed by British units in Middle East and Southern Rhodesia.

In 1958 the Air Force Academy went under a total renovation program and was re-established in new building installations, in which it operates since then.

In 1974 the academy began an educational reform program, increasing 3 hours of theoretical lessons to 10.

In 2005, the Hellenic Air Force Academy began reform of its facilities, equipment and academic curriculum.

New facilities were built and old ones were renovated, while works ended in 2008, year in which the new curriculum and re-organisation of the academy took effect.

In addition, the old and tired "Rockwell T-2 Buckeye" was scheduled to be replaced, after 30 years of service, by a new advanced trainer that would provide adequate training for entering the 5th generation fighters era.

Initially, the most likely candidates for a new advanced training aircraft were the Boeing T-45 Goshawk (manufactured by Boeing and BAE Systems), the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle from South Korea, the Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA from Czech Republic, the British made Hawk Mk127 LIFT and the Italian Aermacchi M-346 Advanced Trainer (The Hellenic Aerospace Industry -EAB- had signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" with Aermacchi since summer 2006).

The military training program of students is under the supervision of the Icarus Squadron (Σμηναρχία Ικάρων).

In the last two years of training, the program gives emphasis in teaching responsibility and skills of being a leader and it also focuses to the individual virtues of each student.