F-15 Flyovers to Cross Southern Oregon on July Fourth
The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing will make Independence Day passes over Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Brookings and Port Orford.
Southern Oregon Flyover Times
Ashland 10:45 a.m.
Central Point 10:48 a.m.
Eagle Point 10:50 a.m.
Brookings 11:04 a.m.
Port Orford 11:13 a.m.
SOUTHERN OREGON — F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets from the Oregon Air National Guard are scheduled to cross parts of Southern Oregon and the southern Oregon Coast on Independence Day, bringing a statewide flyover mission into several Jefferson region communities.
The 142nd Wing, based at Portland Air National Guard Base, will conduct July Fourth flyovers across Oregon and southwest Washington on Saturday, July 4. Locally, the schedule includes planned passes over Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Brookings and Port Orford.
The quick succession of some flyover times is possible because the mission is not being flown as one single path from north to south. The 142nd Wing said two jets will take off together and eventually separate, allowing them to cover more ground, or sky, across the region.
Col. Joshua Hovanas, a pilot with the 142nd Wing, said the flight plan was designed around America’s 250th anniversary and built to reach more communities than a traditional single route would allow.
Rather than keeping one formation together, the wing plans to split the aircraft into separate elements, allowing the F-15s to cover more territory at the same time. That approach brings flyovers to communities from the Portland metro area to Southern Oregon, the coast, the Willamette Valley and southwest Washington.
“To honor America’s 250th, the wing developed a unique flight plan specifically designed to maximize community engagement across the Pacific Northwest,” Hovanas said. “Rather than keeping a single, traditional flight path, the pilots made the strategic decision to split the formation into separate elements.”
All passes are expected to be flown at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed. Times are approximate, and the Oregon Military Department said flyovers could be canceled or adjusted because of weather or operational needs.
The full Independence Day flyover schedule released by the Oregon Military Department includes:
Lake Oswego, Oregon — 10:05 a.m.
Hollywood District, Portland, Oregon — 10:08 a.m.
Corbett, Oregon — 10:11 a.m.
Yacolt, Washington — 10:15 a.m.
Ridgefield, Washington — 10:43 a.m.
Ashland, Oregon — 10:45 a.m.
Kalama, Washington — 10:46 a.m.
Central Point, Oregon — 10:48 a.m.
Clatskanie, Oregon — 10:50 a.m.
Eagle Point, Oregon — 10:50 a.m.
Warrenton, Oregon — 10:57 a.m.
Brookings, Oregon — 11:04 a.m.
Rockaway Beach, Oregon — 11:06 a.m.
Neskowin, Oregon — 11:12 a.m.
Port Orford, Oregon — 11:13 a.m.
Depoe Bay, Oregon — 11:16 a.m.
St. Paul, Oregon — 11:27 a.m.
Canby, Oregon — 11:30 a.m.
Creswell, Oregon — 11:32 a.m.
Mt. Angel, Oregon — 11:34 a.m.
Harrisburg, Oregon — 11:37 a.m.
Mill City, Oregon — 11:40 a.m.
Stayton, Oregon — 11:44 a.m.
Turner, Oregon — 11:48 a.m.
Salem, Oregon — 11:50 a.m.
Monmouth, Oregon — 11:53 a.m.
Willamina, Oregon — 11:57 a.m.
The Dalles, Oregon — 12:00 p.m.
White Salmon, Washington — 12:03 p.m.
McMinnville, Oregon — 12:07 p.m.
This year’s flyover plan is larger than usual for the Portland-based wing because the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls is transitioning to a new aircraft and is not expected to operate aircraft again until late next year. In past years, the 173rd often handled holiday flyovers in the southern part of the state while the 142nd focused more heavily on northern Oregon.
That makes this year’s Independence Day mission the most flyovers the 142nd Wing has ever conducted on the Fourth of July, according to the Oregon Military Department.
Hovanas said the flyovers are both a celebration and a reminder of the Guard’s mission.
“Every time the F-15s fly, it is a demonstration of our commitment to defending this nation,” Hovanas said. “These flyovers are our way of celebrating our nation’s heritage while directly connecting with the communities we serve and protect here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a visual representation of the readiness, dedication, and patriotism of the Oregon Air National Guard.”
The 142nd Wing’s aerospace defense mission covers Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border. The Portland Air National Guard Base employs about 1,400 airmen and operates as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
For Southern Oregon, the holiday flyovers will add a high-speed moment to local Independence Day celebrations, especially in Jackson and Curry counties, where the scheduled passes line up with a busy weekend of parades, festivals, fireworks and community gatherings across the region.
Cover image: An Oregon Air National Guard F-15 Eagle, assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing, takes off for a morning sortie at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as part of the Weapons Instructor Course, June 2, 2017. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs).
