Siskiyou County, California — Residents in Siskiyou County and surrounding areas may notice increased jet activity and noise in the skies over Shasta Valley and nearby regions as a squadron of advanced F-35A Lightning II fighters from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, trains with the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing.
The deployment began Monday, June 1, 2026, and is scheduled to last approximately two weeks. According to the 173rd Fighter Wing, the visiting aircraft will utilize the unit’s outstanding training airspace.
“Luke Air Force Base regularly travels here to use our outstanding airspace with their F-35s,” said Col. Adam Gaudinski, 173rd FW commander. “Because of the additional aircraft and flights, the community may experience an increase in aircraft noise during this time.”
Longstanding Partnership
Luke AFB is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the U.S. Air Force’s primary F-35A training unit. The 173rd Fighter Wing has maintained a close relationship with the 56th since 2014 through the active association at Kingsley Field, where the 550th Fighter Squadron operates as a detachment of the 56th FW.
This marks another in a series of routine visits by Luke AFB F-35s to Kingsley Field (located in Klamath Falls, Oregon). The training enhances pilot proficiency in a less congested environment while preparing the 173rd for its planned transition to become a formal F-35 training squadron.
What Siskiyou County Residents Can Expect
The airspace used for these training missions often extends over parts of Northern California, including the Shasta Valley area. Local residents have historically reported hearing and seeing the distinctive F-35s during previous deployments. The aircraft are significantly quieter at high altitude than older fighters but can produce notable noise during low-level training, takeoffs, and landings.
No major incidents or changes to the standard flight patterns have been announced for this deployment.
Community Resources
- For real-time flight tracking, residents can use public tools like ADS-B Exchange.
- Local Facebook groups such as Siskiyou County Grapevine and Siskiyou Alerts are active places where residents often share sightings and photos of military aircraft.
- Official updates are available through the 173rd Fighter Wing’s website and social media channels.
Siskiyou News will continue monitoring the situation and welcomes resident reports of notable sightings in the area. This training supports national defense readiness while highlighting the strong military partnership between Arizona and Oregon units.
