F-16 Fighting Falcon - Medford, OR - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

This F-16 Fighting Falcon was a former pilot-training jet flown at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls, OR in the early to mid 90s. I used to work at Kingsley Field as a civilian contractor and former reserve officer for the Air National Guard (ANG) 173rd Fighter Wing and worked with many former ANG pilots who flew these fighter jets in training young student pilots who came through Kingsley Field from 1988-1997.

As told by a former coworker and ANG pilot who used to fly the F-16 at Kingsley, this particular jet was flying in an airshow at this airport when it suffered engine trouble and wasn't able to start up again. Military officials weighed the costs of repairing this jet to leaving it here as a static display and decided on the latter, since the F-16 fighter training program was shutting down at Kingsley Field in the coming months (Kingsley currently flies and trains with the F-15 Eagle).

There is a plaque near the static display and is dedicated to all those who fought and served for freedom and says:

WITH PRIDE WE DISPLAY THIS F-16 FIGHTING FALCON AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM AND PROTECTION. THIS AIRCRAFT LAST FLEW ON AUGUST 13, 1997 AT THE ROGUE VALLEY INTERNATIONAL MEDFORD AIRSHOW. MAJOR PIKE GRUBBS HAS BEEN GIVEN THE HONOR OF HAVING HIS NAME STENCILED ON THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER SERVING HIS COUNTRY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, HE RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY AND RETURNED HOME TO MEDFORD, OR. HE FLEW 138 SUCCESSFUL COMBAT MISSIONS OVER NORTH VIETNAM AND LAOS. THIS DISPLAY STANDS TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND SERVED FOR FREEDOM.

WITH GRATITUDE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS OF LABOR, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN MAKING THIS STATIC DISPLAY POSSIBLE.

CWI, INC.
AIRGAS, INC.
ERICKSON AIR CRANE
PACIFIC PLASTERING
S & B JAMES CONSTRUCTION
JERRY GREEN SANDBLASTING
FARWEST STEEL CORPORATION
RECOGNITION SPECIALTIES, INC.
JACKSON COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
173RD FIGHTER WING OF THE
AIR NATIONAL GUARD
AEROSPACE MAINTENANCE &
REGENERATION CENTER

The following link will direct you to the F-16 data page for this particular F-16 to learn of its prior service and other details:www.f-16.net

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): F-16 Fighting Falcon Tail Number: (S/N): AF 81-759 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Rogue Valley International Medford Airport inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Not listed Access restrictions: Not listed

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