.

F-15 trainings video

McDonnell Douglas F-15A/C Eagle is a single-seat air superiority fighter.

The F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather two-seat dual role aircraft for strike / interdiction.  

The F-15 was ordered "off the drawing board", and there was to be no prototype as such and no competitive fly off against other manufacturer's aircraft. One of the more unusual aspects of the Eagle development program was the use of large 3/8-scale glider models of the F-15 which were dropped from an NASA-operated NB-52B (52-0008) at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The models were made of aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. During the drops, the models were under radio control from the ground, and were directed through high angle of attack, stalling, and spinning maneuvers. At the end of the flights, the models deployed a parachute and were recovered in midair by a helicopter.

The first flight of the F-15A (71-0280) was on 27 July 1972, first flight of the F-15B (71-290) took place on 7 July 1973. The operational career of the Eagle began with the first delivery of an F-15A (74-0083) to TAC's 1st TFW at Langley AFB, Virginia. From June 1979 A and B models were succeeded in production by the F-15C (78-0468) and the two-seat trainer F-15D (78-0561).

The Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP) MSIP II is that portion of the program which handles the F-15C/D. The major part of MSIP II is to fit the APG-70 radar and the AIM-120 AMRAAM. The first MSIP II aircraft was F-15C 84-001, first flown on 20 June 1985.

The F-15E Strike Eagle has been a kind of second generation F-15, after test flying with the second two-seater (71-0291), the first production F-15E (86-0183) flew on 11 December 1986. Although it possesses air to air combat capability the F-15E Strike Eagle specializes in the air to ground task and can carry a load of 11.113 kg, witch includes conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Another key of the F-15's weapons delivery system is the LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night) pods, they make the job of fighter-pilots much easier.

                                                        * Generally similar to the F-15A except in the following particulars

                                                        * Generally similar to the F-15A except in the following particulars

F-15 operators:

* F-15E variants .

F-15 in combat:

Israel :

The first IDF/AF action with Eagles took place on 27 June 1979, since that day the F-15's of the Israeli Air Force scored 17 air to air victories.

Saudi Arabia:

On 5 June 1984, Eagles of No 6 Squadron were involved in an air battle with Iranian piloted F-4 Phantoms witch were threatening Saudi oil fields. Two of the intruders were shot down by AIM-7 Sparrows. This was the first time (and the only) that McDonnell Douglas fighters fought each other. One RSAF F-15 shot down a pair of Iraqi Dassault Mirage F-1's during Desert Storm.

Desert Storm 17 January - 28 February 1991:

The USAF had five F-15C and two F-15E squadrons when the (air) war against Iraq began. Although the F-15E was still not fully combat-ready, 48 F-15Es flew in the Gulf War. F-15Es joined other Coalition aircraft in searching for and attacking Iraqi "Scud" missile launchers. These Scud hunt missions were largely unsuccessful, but the F-15Es attacked many other Iraqi targets of opportunity. The F-15C's scored 32 aerial kills, of a total of 41 victories. Twenty-four of these kills were achieved with the Sparrow missile, eight by AIM-9 sidewinders. One F-15E scored an aerial kill by dropping a laser-guided bomb on an airborne Iraqi helicopter. No F-15C/D Eagle fighters were lost during Desert Shield / Storm, two F-15E Strike Eagles were lost in action.

Provide Comfort 1 March 1991 - 1 January 1997

Northern/Southern watch: 1 January 1997 - 1 May 2003:

F-15C's of the USAF shot down three Iraqi Su-22's with the AIM-9 and one Pilatus PC-9 trainer.

On 14 April 1994 there was a tragic 'Friendly Fire' incident over Northern Iraq, when a pair of F-15C's shot down two UH-60 Black hawks, killing 26 American and United Nations personnel.

Deliberate Force: Aug.- Sept. 1994:

F-15C were in combat air patrols, and never shot down a Serbian aircraft (all F-16 kills) The F-15E was in air to ground actions.

Allied Force: 24 March - 10 June 1999:

On the first day of Allied Force 24 March 1999, F-15C's killed four Serbian MiG-29's with AIM-120 AMRAAM's. One pilot Major J.Kwhang from the 493rd FS shot-down two aircraft.

Enduring Freedom 7 October 2001 - :

F-15E 89-0487 shot-down a Mi-24 Hind helicopter in Afghanistan.

Iraqi Freedom 20 March 2003 - April 2003:

USAF F-15C/D's from Al Jaber AB, Kuwait and F-15C/D from Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia flew together with F-15E Strike Eagles combat-missions in Iraq. One F-15E (88-1694/SJ) of 333rd FS, 4th FW from Seymour Johnson AFB, NC was shot-down near Tikrit in Iraq on 6 April 2003, the pilots were Killed in Action.

Research: by Rob Vogelaar

© Zijde Aviation Photo Publishing. last page update: 17-10-2007

Search For Posters!

Leadership Planes Buy this Art Print Patriotic Courage Buy this Art Print Command - Blackbird Buy this Art Print Strength Aircraft Buy this Art Print Precision Helicopter Buy this Art Print Force - Hornet Buy this Art Print Courage - Stealth Buy this Art Print Spitfire Buy this Art Print Working Together Buy this Art Print Entertainment Posters   College   Comics   Fantasy   Humor   Movies   Music   Sports   Television Art Prints   Contemporary Art   Museum Art   Photographic Art   Vintage Images   Artists Browse By Subject...   Americana   Animals   Architecture   Art for Children   Education   Nature Scenes   Performing Arts   Transportation   Travel   Much More...