For its historic retirement ceremony, 85-0114 was ferried across the country by the commander of the 173rd FW, Col. Adam "Axe" Gaudinski. Cesar Rodriguez, now retired from the Air Force for 19 years, had flown in from Texas with his family. Following two passes some distance over Dulles International Airport’s Runway 16L, the plane landed and taxied to the museum during a brief rain shower. It was bearing the distinctive eagle tail art of the Oregon ANG, but on the inside of the vertical stabilizers, striking examples of tail art produced for the occasion represented the two Desert Storm engagements. When it had been powered down and "Axe" and "Rico" met, the two looked on as the crew chief of 85-0114 had a surprise. He peeled off the vinyl appliqué on the nose with Gaudinski's name, and beneath it was Col. Rodriguez. The airplane will forever bear “Rico’s” name as millions of people will visit this historic Eagle in the coming years and decades, now on display at NASM's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Special thanks to everyone at NASM who made it possible for APJ to attend the arrival ceremony, especially Allison Wood, Holly Williamson, and Chris Moore.