Greek island where planes are among the main attractions

GREECE is known for sun, sand and exquisite seafood, but on this island — you’ll have to hang on to your hat.

This Greek island offers a hair-raising experience.

THE Greek islands are known for sun, sand and exquisite seafood. Millions of tourists from around the globe head there every year to get their fill of lazy days by the sea.

But on the island of Skiathos, you’d better hang on to your hat.

This runway is just as much of an attraction as the sparkling Aegean Sea that bookends the airport. Tourists gather there every day, braving powerful winds, flying sand and rocks, and thundering engines to watch the planes take off and land.

The airport is located on the eastern part of the island, and the runway is short — meaning pilots have to pull off very low approaches. While it is possible to arrive at the island by ferry, a budget airline boom means flights regularly arrive from England, Italy and Poland.

The sparkling Aegean Sea is one of the island’s biggest drawcards.

Skiathos is a tiny island, with an area of just 50sq km and a population of about 6000 people. As well as stunning beaches, it has buzzing night-life with plenty of open-air clubs.

It’s not the only airport that’s popular with plane-spotters. Point Woronzof, located at end of Alaska’s Ted Stevens International Airport, is another runway where tourists can enjoy a hair-raising thrill. The busy freight hub is close to a US Air Force base, and it’s linked to the largest float plane airport in the world, so aviation enthusiasts are spoiled for choice.