IF YOU GO

What
Sentry Eagle Open House

When
Saturday, June 25, 2022
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Where
Kingsley Field,
Klamath Falls, Oregon

What
• Air Superiority Demonstrations
• Civilian Air Demonstrations

Parking
Limited parking at the event. Free shuttle from Klamath County Fairgrounds

Cost: FREE

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Sentry Eagle open house returns tomorrow for the first time since 2017. This is without a doubt Klamath Falls’ premier must-do, can’t miss, free event of the year. The open house event takes off at 9:00 AM at Kingsley Field, Saturday, June 25.

Friday was Media Day for various regional news personnel to preview the event, watch practice flights, and take a ride in a KC-135 Stratotanker. The tanker crew demonstrated how they refuel aircraft while in flight. In military airspace, 22,000 feet over Lake County the KC-135 hitched up to four of Kingsley’s own F-15 Eagles. Offloading 12,000-16,000 lbs of jet fuel in a matter of minutes. The educational tanker ride was capped with a circle over Crater Lake.

Friday was also earmarked as Kingsley Family Day too. Airmen had the opportunity to bring their families to the base and show just what they do for the Oregon Air National Guard and United States Air Force. Children were met with several activities catered directly to them - including but not limited to, bounce houses, face painting, and the opportunity for a picture sitting in the cockpit of an F-15.

“We invite all of our community to Sentry Eagle and see what it is Kingsley Field provides to our community,” said Colonel Lee Bouma, 173rd Fighter Wing Commander. “There will be lots of vendors on the base, but most significantly visitors can watch what we do - and that is to train the world’s greatest air superiority pilots right here in Klamath Falls.”

“You will see flight demonstrations from the F-15 Eagles that we have here. In addition to the history of the field, there is a B-17 flying here. There are P-51’s, P-47’s, and some additional WWII aircraft. We even have some civilian demonstrations as well,” added Colonel Bouma.

Compared to years past, this year will look, feel, and sound a little different.

Due to some ongoing construction of the ramp (where jets are parked) as well as due to some global deployments - the full, week-long military exercise known as Sentry Eagle will not take place this year. Instead, the 173rd Fighter Wing has organized an open house inviting the community to personally bear witness to Kingsley’s mission of air superiority.

“Due to the construction on our ramp this year and global engagements of our partners, this year we are opening up just to the public for a flying demonstration and open house for the community to see our operation,” said Colonel Bouma.

Originally conceived as an air-to-air combat exercise in the mid-1980s, Sentry Eagle has historically been a bi-annual training event with 40-50 aircraft, pilots, and accompanying crew. Part of that event included opening up a day for the community to visit the base and witness flight operations firsthand.

“The community can expect lots of sunshine, lots of flying, lots of noise, so come on out,” added Colonel Bouma. “Just do not forget your sunscreen.”

The Sentry Eagle Open House is being held in conjunction with the Klamath Freedom Days events.   Additional Klamath Freedom Days events this weekend include the Klamath Kruise Thursday through Sunday and the Pat Green concert at the Klamath County Fairgrounds on Saturday night.  https://www.klamathfc.org/events  

More information on Sentry Eagle can be found here.

Demonstrations

An A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team from Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona will be providing an aerial demonstration as well as a heritage flight with the P-51 Val-Halla.  There will also be a B-17 Flying Fortress, the aircraft 2nd Lt. David. Kingsley, the base’s namesake, flew in during World War II, along with other historical warbirds.  See the insert for the full schedule of events.

• 173rd Fighter Wing F-15C Eagles

• A10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team

• P51 Val-Halla Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation

• B-17 Flying Fortress from Erickson Aircraft Collection

• Undaunted Airshow

• Jody Rueger Airshows

• Monster Energy BMX Demo Team

Parking

Parking is extremely limited at the event in fields near the airport north of the main gate. Signage and volunteers will be available to direct traffic. Heavy traffic and lines of vehicles during peak hours are expected.

Event organizers highly encourage attendees to utilize a free shuttle courtesy of Basin Transit Service and Kingsley Field. The shuttle will run from the Klamath County Fairgrounds to the gate at Kingsley Field every thirty minutes.

“We know that parking at the base during this event can often get backed up and take a long time,” said Capt. Brandon McGraw, Sentry Eagle 2022 project officer. “We hope that providing shuttle service to the event will help alleviate a lot of those issues and we highly encourage people to use the parking at the fairgrounds for ease of access.”

Driving directions and area map.

Items of note

• The main parking area is at the Klamath County Fairgrounds with shuttle service running from Basin Transit Service every half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm.  Secondary parking is off base, in the fields near the airport, though this is limited.  Handicap parking is available on base.  Please have your State issued plaque ready to gain access

• This event is FREE

• There will be free bottled water and ear plugs available to the public during the event

• Large bags, coolers, etc... will not be allowed on base.  Purse, handbags, small camera bags, and diaper bags will be allowed, but they will be inspected before entry is granted

• Please have official identification ready as you may be asked to present it (i.e. driver's license, passport, etc..)

• Items that are prohibited on base:  weapons, firearms, explosives, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, drones

• Service animals are welcome; however, remember that the aircraft are quite loud and may spook an animal and cause it to run away

• It is going to be quite warm, don't forget sunscreen

Media Day Photography

RELATED:

• June 22, 2022 - 173rd Fighter Wing to host Sentry Eagle Open House this weekend

• June 13, 2022 - Free parking and shuttle service at Fairgrounds for Sentry Eagle Open House

• March 8, 2022 - 173rd FW to host Sentry Eagle open house, June 25