The F-15 Eagle is an iconic aircraft. One of the most powerful in operation in the USA and the fighter with one of the best combat scores 140 x 0. Despite its performance, the Eagle, which has already ed 50 years of operation, has its days numbered and should soon give way to the F-15EX Eagle II. But where do these imposing jets go after retirement?
The options are actually several. From other countries, ing through the aircraft cemetery in Arizona, NASA and the monuments and museums.
A little over six years ago, the US Air Force (USAF) transferred eight F-15C Eagles to Israel, one of the largest operators of the model abroad, marking the first transfer of active aircraft to another country. The fighters belonged to the 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard Base (ANG) at Kingsley Field.
“Several of our jets were scheduled for retirement and would be taken to the graveyard; one of the options that emerged was the FMS (Foreign Military Sales)”, said Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Thomas, commander of the USAF detachment for the deployment at the time.
Another of the retired F-15s was transferred to the National Aeronautics and Space istration, NASA, where it will be part of its program of planes flirt, helping to capture survey data for your aerial platforms. “We transferred aircraft 78-0515 last July,” said Senior Sergeant Jay Bosse, Maintenance Management Production Scheduler.
Some Kingsley aircraft become “rock stars”, figuratively speaking.
They will be transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force and later given to a community for public display.
Once a city expresses interest and is approved, it is placed on a waiting list to receive a piece of Air Force history. With the retirement of the fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters, that list is rapidly dwindling as the museum transfers jets to communities across the US.
Kingsley Field has three of these jets. An F-15A that flew that same, which was transferred to the museum after its retirement and later shipped to the base for static display. In addition, there is an F-4 Phantom II and an F-16 Fighting Falcon on display, which flew over the base and region in their active duty days.
The USAF Museum also approved the transfer of an F-15 from Kingsley to the local community, Klamath Falls, Oregon, for public display.
Finally, many jets are sent to sunny Arizona. Commonly known as the “Airplane Graveyard,” the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group takes jets and places them in the Southwest desert.
Dry and low humidity environment helps preserve the aircraft in the long term should it be called back into service. This year, the 173rd Fighter Wing had 11 of its F-15s taken out of service, and will continue to see aircraft move into their golden years for another year.
With information from 173rd Fighter Wing.
