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r om t heout s et , c apt ur i ngever yt hi ngt her ei st oknow aboutt heF 1 5Eagl ei ni t s40t hbi r t hdayyears eemed l i keadaunt i ngpr os pec t .Ar guabl yt hewor l d’ smos t s uc c es s f ulf i ght erai r c r af t , t heF 1 5hasc ont i nual l ypr oven i t s el fovert hepas tf ourdec ades ,i nbot hpeac et i meand c ombat , butal s or ei nvent edi t s el ft or et ai ni t sr el evanc ei n t hewor l dof21 s tc ent ur ywar f ar e. Thes t or ybegi nsi nt hel at e1 960s , wi t ht heUni t edS t at es Ai rF or c e( US AF ) i s s ui ngar equi r ementf oranai r s uper i or i t y f i ght erwi t hbot hai r t oai randai r t ogr oundc apabi l i t i es . Coupl ed wi t ht hi sr eques twas t he di s c over y,by US i nt el l i genc es er vi c es , t hatt heRus s i anshaddevel opedt he Mi koyanMi G25F oxbat . TheF oxbat ’ shuget ai l pl anesand ver t i c al s t abi l i s er sf ool edAmer i c ananal ys t si nt ot hi nki ngi t wasahi ghl ymanoeuvr abl ef i ght er ,r at hert hant hehi gh s peedi nt er c ept ori tac t ual l ywas .
R e t h i n kR e q u i r e d Dur i ngt heVi et nam War , t hes hor t c omi ngsofUS AFf i ght er ai r c r af ts uc hast heF 4Phant om hadbeenexpos ed. Wi t h di f f i c ul t i ess uc hasani nabi l i t yt oengagepot ent i alt hr eat s Beyond Vi s ualRange ( BVR) ,al ong wi t h di s appoi nt i ng mi s s i l eper f or manc eatc l os err anges ,t heneedf oranew pl at f or m wass eenasamat t erofur genc y. Ther equi r ementwasf orahi ghs peedi nt er c ept or ,wi t h i mpr es s i veac c el er at i onandar api dr at eofc l i mbt omat c h. Thes pec i f i c at i onal s oc al l edf oranexc es sofpowerandt he manoeuvr abi l i t y t o wi n any dogf i ght . The des i gn s ubmi t t edbyMc Donnel lDougl asf eat ur edal ar gewi ng s ur f ac ear eat hatwasaer odynami candwoul dper mi tt he ai r c r af tt ot ur nt i ght l yasar es ul toft hepowerdel i ver edby i t st wo pr opos ed Pr at t & Whi t ney F 1 00 engi nes . Comput er i s edf l i ghtc ont r ols ys t emswoul dal s oal l ow t he pi l ott o mai nt ai nc ont r oloft he ai r c r af twi t houtl os i ng c onc ent r at i oni nadogf i ght , wher es pl i ts ec ondsc oul dbe t hedi f f er enc ebet weenwi nni ngorbei ngs hotdown.I t was n’ tt hec l as s i cf l ybywi r et hatpi l ot sknow andl ove t oday, buti twasar adi c all eapf or war di nt hec apabi l i t i es af f or dedt ot hef i ght erpi l ot soft heUS AFatt hatt i me. Whent heUS AFr ej ec t edt heUSNavy’ sVF Xpr ogr amme, whi c hul t i mat el yl edt ot hedevel opmentoft heGr umman F 1 4 Tomc at ,a t ot al of f our c ompani es s ubmi t t ed pr opos al sf orar el at i vel yl i ght wei ghtai rs uper i or i t yf i ght er , wi t hamaxi mum t akeof fwei ghtof40, 000l bs , amaxi mum s peedofMac h2. 5andat hr us t t owei ghtr at i oof0. 97 .
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TheUS AFannounc ed t hatMc Donnel lDou s uc c es s f ulbi dderont he23 r d Dec ember1 wi nni ngdes i gns har i ngmor et hanapas s i ng t ot heF 1 4, whi c hhadear l i erbeenr ej ec t ed. &Whi t neyF 1 00engi nesenabl edat hr us t t o ofgr eat ert han1 , andt hef i r s tf l i ghtt ookpl ac J ul y1 97 2,asYF 1 5A ( 7 1 0280)r ot at edf r om F or c eBas ewi t ht es tpi l otI r vi ngLBur r owsat TheUS AFhadi t sf i r s tdedi c at edai rs uper i or i t t heF 86S abr e, butc r i t i c ss ugges t edi twast anef f ec t i vedogf i ght erandt ooexpens i vet l ar gequant i t i es .
Or i gi nal l ydesi gnat ed TF15A,710291 wast he i mpr essi vedemonst r at i onr out i neatar ai nsoa
ougl aswast he 1 969,wi t ht he ngr es embl anc e d. Thenew Pr at t t owei ghtr at i o l ac eont he27 t h m Edwar dsAi r att hec ont r ol s. r i t yf i ght ers i nc e st ool ar get obe et opur c has ei n
Fi r stoft he many.F15A pr ot ot ype 710280 atEdwar dsAFB i n 1974.I tr et ai nst he or i gi nal col our scheme, al bei t wi t hf aded daygl o, but di spl ayi ng i t s or i gi nalMcDonnel lDougl as par ent age ( Li ndsayPeacockCol l ect i on)
hesecond oft wo dual seatdevel opmentai r cr af tand t hef i r stEagl et o vi si tBr i t ai n.I ti sseen her eaboutt o begi ni t s akedFar nbor oughi nSept ember1974 ( Li ndsayPeacock)
Twoyear sl at er ,i nSept ember1976,F15B710291r et ur nedt ot heUKf ori t ssecondappear a pat r i ot i cBi cent enni alpai ntj obi nr ecogni t i onoft heUSA’ s200t hanni ver sar y( Li ndsayPeaco
Anot heroft heF15Adevel opmentai r cr af t ,710288car r i edSpar r ow and Si dewi ndermi ssi l es when i tappear ed on st at i c di spl ay atEdwar ds i n 1977.Thehi ghvi si bi l i t ycol ourschemewast ypi caloft heseear l yEagl es ( Li ndsayPeacock)
Al sot obeseenatt heEdwar dsshow unchar act er i st i c shar k’ s mout h mot ador nment son f usel age and f i n.I t unknownr eason ( Li ndsayPeacock
r anceatt heFar nbor oughai rshow.Byt hi st i me,t heor i gi nalbl uecol ourschemehadbeenr epl acedbyacol our f uland cock)
wi n1977,F15A710282f eat ur edan ot i f , as wel las a number of ot her tal so appear st o be t et her ed f oran k)
Ei ghtaddi t i onaldevel opmentai r cr af twer e obt ai ned wi t h FY72 f undi ng, F15A720115bei ngt ypi caloft hesemachi nes.Phot or ef er encemar ki ngs and an Ai rFor ceFl i ghtTestCent erbadgecan beseen on t hef usel age. Four ot her ai r cr af tf r om t hi s bat ch event ual l y passed t o I sr ael ( Li ndsayPeacockCol l ect i on)
S e r vi c eE n t r y
Del i ver i esc ommenc edoft hes i ngl es eat‘ A’ model andt wos eat‘ B’ model t ot heUS AFi nNovember1 97 4, j us to f i r s tf l i ght , at i mes c al et hatwoul dbeunhear dofbyt oday’ ss t andar ds .Thef i r s tdel i ver i est oac ombats qua Tac t i c al F i ght erS quadr on, 58t hTac t i c al F i ght erTr ai ni ngWi ngatLukeAi rF or c eBas e, Ar i zona, wher epi l ot sun t of l yt heF 1 5.
Oneoft hef i r stEagl est oseeser vi cewi t hanoper at i onalUSAFuni t ,F15A 730103 wasi ni t i al l yassi gnedt oLuke mar ki ngs ador nt hi s ai r cr af twhen ser vi ng wi t ht he 58t h Tact i calFi ght erTr ai ni ng Wi ng’ s 555t h Tact i calFi ght Sept ember1976 ( Li ndsayPeacockCol l ect i on)
The f i r stf ul l y oper at i onalout f i twas t he 1stTact i calFi ght erWi ng atLangl ey AFB,Vi r gi ni a,whi ch r ecei vedi t si ni t i alEagl eon9J anuar y1976.F15A740101wasanear l ydel i ver yandi sseenathome basei nMay1976,compl et ewi t hayel l ow f i nst r i pei ndi cat i ngassi gnmentt ot he27t hTact i calFi ght er Squadr on ( Li ndsayPeacockCol l ect i on)
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C o n s t an t l yE vo l vi n g F ur t herdevel opmentt ookpl ac ei n1 97 8wi t ht hef i r s tf l i ght soft heenhanc ed‘ C’ and‘ D’ model s .I mpr ovement si nc l udedanaddi t i onal2, 000l bsoff uelc apac i t y, pr ovi s i onf orc ar r yi ngext er i orc onf or malf uelt anksandani nc r eas edmaxi mum t akeof fwei ghtof68, 000l bs . TheAPG63r adarwast hef i r s tofi t ski ndt ous ea pr ogr ammabl es i gnal pr oc es s or ( PS P) ,whi c h al l owed t he r adar t o be r epr ogr ammedf oraddi t i onal f eat ur ess uc hast headdi t i onofnewar mamentand ot herequi pment . TheCandDver s i onsal s ohads t r engt henedl andi nggear , new c omput ers ys t emsandanover l oadwar ni ngs ys t em t oal l ow pi l ot st of l yatver y hi ghgl oads , atal l wei ght s .
T h eF 1 5 ES t r i k eE ag l e I twas i n1 97 9t hatMc Donnel lDougl as al s o began t o wor k wi t hr adar manuf ac t ur erHughesi n devel opmentofanew ver s i on oft he ai r c r af t ,t he t wos eatF 1 5ES t r i keEagl e, andpr oduc t i onbegani n1 984af t ert het ypewont he US AF ’ sDual Rol eF i ght erc ompet i t i on t or epl ac et heF 1 1 1 F .Thi sal l weat her ai r t ogr ounds t r i kever s i onent er eds er vi c ewi t ht heUS AFi n1 989andhas , l i kei t s s i s t ermodel ,pr ovedahi ghl yc apabl eandef f ec t i ves t r i kepl at f or m,pr oveni n c ombatonnumer ousoc c as i ons .TheS t r i keEagl enow s i t sal ongs i det hebes t mul t i r ol ec ombatai r c r af ti nt hewor l dandc anr i ght l yc l ai mt obeat r ues wi ng r ol ef i ght er . TheS t r i keEagl eaddedt ot heat t r i but esoft heor i gi nal F 1 5i nt er ms ofai rs uper i or i t y,wi t hs t at eoft hear tgr oundat t ac kc apabi l i t i es ,us i ng t he LANTI RN ( LowAl t i t udeNavi gat i onandTar get i ngI nf r aRedf orNi ght )s ys t em, per mi t t i ngt er r ai navoi danc eandi nf r ar edf or war dl ooki ngt ar get i ngs ys t ems .
I tj ustcoul dn’ tst ayaway… Backagai n atFar nbor ough i n Sept ember1980,F15B 710291 had been modi f i ed t o ser ve as t he St r i ke Eagl e pr ot ot ype.I n di st i nctcont r astt o pr evi ous vi si t s,i tnow f eat ur es t he dr eadf ul l y dr ab “ Eur opeanOne”camouf l ageandani mpr essi vear r ayofor dnance ( Li ndsayPeacock)
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TheJ ASDF' saggr essoruni t ,t heHi koKyodot ai ,i sequi pped wi t h Eagl es.Mostai r cr af t ar et woseatF15DJ ssuchast hi sone,andmostf eat ur euni queandcol our f ulschemes. ( PaulDunn)
S AUDI ARABI A TheRoyalS audiAi rF or c e( RS AF )wasanot herc us t omerandi ni t i al l yr ec ei veda c ombi nat i onofCandDvar i ant s , butal s or ec ei vedanexpor tver s i onoft heS t r i ke Eagl e,t heF 1 5S ,ofwhi c h7 2wer edel i ver edundert hePeac eS unI Xagr eement . Theyc ur r ent l yequi pt hr ees quadr onsi nt heRS AFandf ur t herexpor t sar ei nt he pi pel i newi t ht hedevel opmentoft heF 1 5S A,wi t hapot ent i alac qui s i t i onof84 ai r c r af tandupgr adesal s obei ngof f er edf ort heF 1 5S . I thasbeens ugges t edt hatt he RS AFmaygoaheadandpur c has et hes ef ur t herai r c r af ti nt henearf ut ur e,whi c h woul daddappr oxi mat el y$ 3 0bi l l i ont owar dst heF 1 5’ sover s eass al esr ec or d.
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Thef i f t handf i nal nat i ont oac qui r et heF 1 5wast heS i ngapor eAi rF or c e. I t sver s i oni sdes i gnat edt he F 1 5S G and i swi del yac knowl edged t o bet hemos tadvanc ed S t r i keEagl edel i ver ed t o dat e. S i ngapor e’ sr equi r ementf or24newf i ght er ss awt heF 1 5S Gs el ec t edi nS ept ember2005, andt hef i r s t bat c hofai r c r af twer edel i ver edi n2009.TheS Gi st hef i r s tEagl evar i antt of eat ur et heRayt heon AN/ APG63 ( V) 2AES Ar adar , andt hevar i anti sabl et odel i verar angeofai r t oai rweaponspl usJ oi nt Di r ec tAt t ac kMuni t i ons( J DAM) andt heAGM1 54J oi ntS t andOf fWeapon( J S OW) .
U KI n t e r e s t I nt hi s40yearanni ver s ar yoft hei c oni cF 1 5Eagl e’ sf i r s t f l i ghti ti sper hapswor t hr emember i ngt heUK’ ss hor t , i nt ens e and pol i t i c al l yc har ged i nt er es ti nt he F 1 5 Eagl e. Coupl ed wi t ht he ai r c r af t ’ spl anned appear anc e at F ar nbor ough i n1 97 4,i ndeed t he f i r s tF ar nbor ough “ I nt er nat i onal ” ,t her ewasmuc hUKi nt er es ti nt heUS ai r c r af t . TheTor nadoAi rDef enc eVar i ant( ADV) wasnot s eenbymanyi nLondonast ot al l ys ui t abl ef ort heUK Ai rDef enc e Rol e and wi t ht he obvi oushi gh l evel s uppor tofMc Donnel lDougl as( t heBoei ngCompany hadyett ot akeover ) , aj oi ntpl anwashat c hedt oas s es s t heai r c r af tf ol l owi ngi t sappear anc eatF ar nbor ough. Pl ans wer e made and pr of i l es devel oped, l ed pr i nc i pal l y by t he RAF ’ s Cent r alTr i al s and Tac t i c s Or gani s at i on ( CTTO) ,wi t h Wg Cdr Mi ke S haw Commandi ng Of f i c er of t he Phant om Oper at i onal Conver s i onUni tatRAFConi ngs by-s el ec t edasCTTO’ s pi l ot .S qnLdrRogerBeazl ey,t heS eni orPi l otatt he F i ght erTes tS quadr onatBos c ombeDown,wasal s o s el ec t edt obepar toft het eam t ol ooks pec i f i c al l yat t hehandl i ngqual i t i esandper f or manc eas pec t soft he aer opl ane. I ti shi sr ec ol l ec t i onsoft heper i odwhi c har e t hes our c eoft hes enot es . I nt heevent , t hewhol eF ar nbor oughi s s uebec amet oo pol i t i c al( and t her ef or et oo di f f i c ul t )and,al t hough Mc Donnel lDougl asof f er edf ami l i ar i s at i onf l i ght st oa number of f or ei gn ai rf or c e pi l ot s dur i ng t he F ar nbor ough Ai r s how,F l i ghtI nt er nat i onalMagazi ne r epor t ed t hat t he UK MoD vet oed RAF ai r c r ew bec omi ng i nvol ved.Never t hel es s ,and s omewhat bi zar r el y, Beazl eywast as kedt ogot oF ar nbor ought o c ar r youtac oc kpi tas s es s mentont heai r c r af twi t ht he t wopr ovi s ost hathewoul dbei nc i vi l i anc l ot hesand t hatt het as kwast obec ompl et edpr i ort ot hepubl i c ar r i vi ng on s i t e.Thi sear l ymor ni ng as s es s mentwas s uc c es s f ul l yc ompl et edandawel lear nedMc Donnel l Dougl asbr eakf as ts ubs equent l yenj oyed! I nt er es twasr ei nvi gor at eds omemont hsl at erwi t ht he as s es s mentnow t obec ar r i edouti nt heUSus i ngt he s ame buta s mal l ert eam;bot hS haw and Beazl ey r et ai nedt hei rpl ac esasas s es s mentpi l ot s .Thewor k wast o begi n att he manuf ac t ur er ’ sHQ atLamber t F i el d, S tLoui s , Mi s s our i ( c over i ngt ec hni c al br i ef i ngs , t he f i t t i ngoff l yi ngc l ot hi ngandf ami l i ar i s at i oni nt heF 1 5 devel opmentf l i ghts i mul at or )wi t ht hef l yi ng t aki ng
Sqn LdrRogerBeazl eyposesf orapr ef l i ghtshotbef or e t est f l yi ng TF15A 710291 f r om McDonnel lDougl as’ f l i ght t est f aci l i t y at Edwar ds Ai r For ce Base i n 1975 ( Imagecour t esyofRogerBeazl ey)
pl ac eatt hef i r m’ sf l i ghtt es tf ac i l i t yatEdwar dsAi rF or c e Bas e( EAF B) , Cal i f or ni a.Thi swass ome1 3mont hsaf t er t heai r c r af thador i gi nal l ybeenatF ar nbor ough. Agai n,pol i t i c als ens i t i vi t y washi ghl i ght ed t ot hos e t aki ng par ti nc l udi ng a s pec i f i c br i ef i ng i nt he UK Embas s y i n Was hi ngt on, DC. However ,“ c over ” appear ed t o havebeen wasbl own when t het eam ar r i ved att hei rhot elnearLamber tF i el d wher et he hot el ’ sel ec t r oni cs i gnus ual l yr es er vedf oradver t i s i ng s pec i al s t eakni ght sandt hel i ke, announc ed“ Wel c ome t ot heRAFPi l ot sher et of l yt heF 1 5Eagl e” ! Thedet ai l sout l i nedbel owr ef ert ot heF 1 5Aasi twasi n 1 97 5.The as s es s mentwas f l own i nt he t wos eat TF 1 5A,al l owi ngt heUKpi l ot st oc onc ent r at eont he ai r c r af tandi t sweaponss ys t em whi l s tt hebac ks eat Mc Donnel l Dougl ast es tpi l othandl edai rt r af f i candt he l oc alpr oc edur es . Thi swass t andar df l i ghtt es tpr ac t i c e i nas s es s i ng“ f or ei gn”ai r c r af ti na“ f or ei gn”l oc at i on.
AMo n s t e r I ni t i al i mpr es s i onsc ent r edont hes ur pr i s eofhow bi g t heai r c r af tr eal l ywas , al ongwi t hi t senor mouswi ng ar ea.The Eagl e was aggr es s i vel y at t r ac t i ve and s eemedt ohaveas ens eofpur pos e.Wi t has panof 42f tandl engt hof65f t , i twas1 8f thi ght ot het opof t hef i nand,onc es ati nt hec oc kpi t ,t hepi l ot ’ seyes wer eonl ys l i ght l yl es st han1 0f tof ft hegr ound. The c oc kpi twasr oomyandper haps ,uns ur pr i s i ngl y,not unl i ket heF 4Phant om. Wi t ht hec anopyr ai l sbel ow t he l eveloft he pi l ot ’ sel bowst he vi ew f r om t he c oc kpi t was qui t e out s t andi ng. Onc e ai r bor ne however , whenappl yi nghi ghbankandpi t c hangl es and r api dr ol l i ng,t he ext r aor di nar y vi ew needed s omeget t i ngus edt o. Theduc keggbl uef i ni s hand l ow vi s i bi l i t ymar ki ngsmadei tl ookt het r uef i ght er ai r c r af ti tr eal l ywas
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Engi ne s t ar t i ng was s t r ai ght f or war d wi t h no r equi r ementf oran ext er nalpowers our c e.S i t t i ng hi ghi nt hec oc kpi t , t hevi ew wasexc ept i onal l ygood. Pr i ort ot axyi nganumberofc hec kswer ec ompl et ed i nc l udi ng t he al i gnment of t he i ner t i als ys t em, s peedbr ake and f l aps c hec ks and a s omewhat c ompl i c at ed f l i ght c ont r ol c hec k t o pr ove r el at i ons hi ps bet ween t he c ont r ols ur f ac es ( t he ai r c r af thadanai l er ons t abi l at orc ont r ol s ys t em anda ai l er onr udderi nt er c onnec t ) . Taxyi ng was eas y agai n bec aus e of t he vi ew, al t houghatl i ghtwei ght st heai r c r af twoul dt endt o “ r unaway”duet ot hehi ghr es i dualt hr us tf r om t he i dl i ngengi nes .
G e t t i n gAi r b o r n e On l i ni ng up on t he r unway,t he engi neswer e advanc ed t o 80% RPM t os t abl e ai r f l ows and t emper at ur esandaf t eras ec ondort wo, t hebr akes r el eas edandpoweradvanc edt of ul l wi t horwi t hout r eheatasnec es s ar y.Takeof fwass t r ai ght f or war d, andi nf ul l c ol dt heac c el er at i onwasi mpr es s i veandi n r eheatqui t ebr eat ht aki ng. At1 20kt st heai r c r af twas r ot at edt o1 0°nos eupandf l ownof f . Gearandf l aps wer et henr et r ac t ed.
The or i gi nalF 1 5A was a f ai r l ys t r ai ght f or war d ai r c r af t :hydr o/ mec hani c al l y dr i ven f l i ghtc ont r ol s wi t ht hr eeaxi saut os t abi l i s at i onandf l i ghtc ont r ol s ys t em butno“ f l ybywi r e”asf oundi nmos tf i ght er s t hes edays .Wei ghi ngi nats ome28, 000l bsempt y, 42, 000l bswi t hf ul l i nt er nal f uel , t hemaxwei ghtc oul d ni t i alt ar getc l i mbs peedwas3 50kt sc onver t i ng beashi ghas53 , 000l bswi t ht hr eeext er nal f uel t anks . Thei oMac h0. 9ashei ghtwasgai ned.I nar eheatc l i mb Theai r c r af tc ar r i ed1 800USgal l onsf uel i nt er nal l yand t t h e s a me s p e e d s we r e u s e d r e s u l t i n g i n a n i mp r e s s i ve 3 600USgal l onswi t hext er nal t anks . 40°nos eupat t i t ude.
P o we r p l an t s Power ed by t wo Gener alEl ec t r i cF 1 00 t ur bof an engi nes wi t h r eheat ( t he US us ed t he t er m af t er bur ner s )t he ai r c r af thad apos i t i ve powert o wei ghtr at i o whi c hmeant( dependantonext er nal l oad)t heai r c r af tc oul dac c el er at ei naver t i c alc l i mb. Engi ne i nl etai rpas s ed t hr ough c ompl ex var i abl e i nt akemovi ngr amps ys t emst oc ont r ols hoc kwaves att he engi ne f ac e and t he exhaus ts ys t em us ed var i abl e nozzl es pr i nc i pal l yt o modul at et hr us t , par t i c ul ar l yi nr eheat .
H an d l i n g Gener alhandl i ngonc eai r bor newasaj oywi t ht he mec hani c al c oor di nat i on of t he f l i ght c ont r ol s wor ki ng wel l–t r i mc hangeswer emi ni mal .Ther e wer e onl yt wo i s s uesr emember ed –t hatal r eady ment i onedofneedi ngt ogetus edt ot hever yl ow c anopyr ai l s( pr ovi di ngt heexc ept i onalvi ew)anda s l i ghthi ntofpr over s e yaw i nt ur ns .Convent i onal ai r c r af tt end t o di s pl ay adver s e yaw unders uc h c i r c ums t anc es . Thepr es s ur i s edc oc kpi twasqui etand wel l vent i l at ed.
TheHeadUpDi s pl ay( HUD) wasc l earbuti nBeazl ey’ s vi ew was t oo c l ut t er ed f or t he mos t ef f ec t i ve ai r t oai rwor k.The Rayt heon AN/ APG63X Band Pul s eDoppl err adarwasnotover l yi mpr es s i ve. I twas s t i l li ni t sear l ys t agesofdevel opmentand, al t hough goodi nt hepur eai r t oai rr ol e,s uf f er edf r om f al s e l oc ks when l ooki ng down.Thi sr adar however , t ur nedoutt obeani mpr es s i vebi tofki tonc ef ul l y devel oped,and i tmus tbe r emember ed t hatt hi s ai r c r af twasas s es s edbef or et het ypewenti nt oUS AF s er vi c e.
R T B Rec over ywasf l ownbyt hr ot t l i ngbac kt os ome7 0% RPM andwi t h1 0°nos edownac omf or t abl es peedof 3 00kt swasac hi eved.Ther at eofdes c entc oul dbe i nc r eas edbyt heus eoft heai r br ake.Theai rt r af f i c pat t er nwasi ni t i al l yf l ownat250kt s ,dec r eas i ngt o 200kt sf ort hel ower i ngofgearandf l aps .Thef i nal appr oac hwasf l ownus i ngt heangl eofat t ac k( AOA) ons peed i ndi c at ori nt heHUD as s i s t ed byaver y us ef ulvel oc i t yvec t or‘ bug’ .I ns t r umentappr oac hes wer ef l own at2. 5°r at hert han t he s t andar d3 ° c onvent i onal l yus edi not herai r c r af t . Ar r i vi ng j us ts hor toft he t ouc hdown poi ntt he ai r c r af t was gent l yf l ar ed wi t h t he bi g wi ng gener at i ng agr ound ef f ec twhi c h wasnot i c eabl e pr i ort ot heai r c r af tgent l yt ouc hi ngdown. I ff as t , t he ai r c r af tf l oat ed( embar r as s i ngl y) , andi fal i t t l es l owt he t ouc hdownwasf i r m.Byus i ngt heAOAons peed i ndi c at ort her ewasnoexc us ef orapoorappr oac h and l andi ngswer eeas y.Onc eon t hegr ound t he ai r c r af twasr ot at edt oabout1 2°>1 4°nos eupf or aer odynami c br aki ng.At 60kt st he ai r c r af t was der ot at ed ( aUSt er m! )and,onc et henos ewheel was on t he gr ound, gent l e wheel br aki ng c ommenc ed.
B ac ko nt h eG r o u n d F ol l owi ngt heaf t erl andi ngc hec ksoneengi newas s hutdown and t axyi ng wasc ar r i ed outon t he r emai ni ngengi net or educ et heef f ec t soft hehi gh i dl et hr us t .
C o n c l u s i o n s Car r yi ngoutt het as ki nt heUSenabl edt het eam t o f l yamor e ef f ec t i ve as s es s mentt han woul d have beent hec as ei nt heUK. I nBeazl ey’ svi ew t heor i gi nal UKbas ed t r i al s pl an devel oped by CTTO was over c ompl i c at ed and mi ghtwel lhave obs c ur ed s omeoft hei s s ueswhi c h emer ged f l yi ng amor e s t r ai ght f or war ds er i esoff l i ght satEAF B. The t eam wasver yi mpr es s ed wi t ht he ai r c r af t , al t houghatt hes t aget heas s es s mentwasf l ownt he r adarwass l i ght l ydi s appoi nt i ng–t hatwasver ymuc h s or t ed i nl at erdevel opment .TheEagl ewenti nt o US AF s er vi c e abouta yearaf t ert he UK f l i ght s . Ret ur ni ng t ot he UK,t he nec es s ar yr epor t s and debr i ef i ngswer ec ar r i edout–andasf arast het eam wasc onc er ned,not hi ngwashear dt her eaf t er !The Tor nadoADV, orF . 2, wenti nt os er vi c es ever alyear s af t ert heF 1 5butwasnotr eal l yf ul l ydevel opedunt i l s omeyear sl at ers t i l l i nt hef or m oft heF . 3 . Beazl eyexpl ai nedt hathef el tpr i vi l egedt of l yt he Eagl eonl yt hr eeyear saf t eri t sf i r s tf l i ghtandpr i ort o t heai r c r af tent er i ngs er vi c ewi t ht heUS AF . Dur i nghi s t ouratBos c ombe Down he c ons i der ed hi ms el f f or t unat et of l yar angeoff i ght er / s t r i keai r c r af t-t he Phant om, Buc c aneer , J aguar , Tor nadoandt heF 1 1 1buti twasonl ywhenhef l ew t heF 1 5Eagl et hathe f ound s omet hi ng whi c h wasc ompar abl e bot hi n per f or manc eandhandl i ngt ot heBACLi ght ni ngon whi c hhec ompl et edhi sf i r s tf r ontl i neRAFt our .
Dur i ng Oper at i onsDes er tS hi el d and Des er tS t or m overI r aqi n1 99091 , US AFF 1 5swer eac c ount abl ef or 3 6oft he3 9ai r t oai rvi c t or i esac hi evedbyc oal i t i on or c es .F 1 5C,D and Emodel sal lt ookpar ti nt he TheF 1 5i sper hapsbes t knownf ori t si mpr es s i ve f onf l i c t .RoyalS audiAi rF or c eF 1 5C pi l ot s had r ec or di naer i alc ombat ,wi t hover1 00vi c t or i esand c r ani anF 4EPhant om I Ii n1 984andal s o no l os s es ,r ec or ded t o dat e.I twas t he expor t downedanI hi eved t wo ki l l sdur i ng Des er tS t or m,s hoot i ng c us t omer soft heF 1 5t hathadt hef i r s toppor t uni t y ac woI r aqi Mi r ageF 1f i ght er s . t obl oodt het ypei nc ombat .Theear l i es tvi c t or i es downt wer eac hi evedbyI s r ael iexampl esdur i ngt he1 982 Lebanon War ,t hes ei nc l udi ng 23 S yr i an Mi G21 F i s hbedsand1 7Mi G23F l ogger s .
O p e r at i o n alR e c o r d
Mai n -840019,a493r dFS,48t hFW,F15C si t sont he par t i cul arj etcar r i est wo‘ ki l l ’mar ki ngs,havi ngshotdown
A pai r of F15Cs f r om t he 422TES over t he Nel l i s Rangesdur i ngRedFl ag112( PaulFi l mer )
The i nst ant l yr ecogni sabl et ai l code ‘ BT’ador ns t hi s 36t hTFW F15C f r om Bi t bur gAFB,Ger many. Pi ct ur ed atRAFMi l denhal l ’ sAi rFet e‘ 90 ( Gar et h St r i nger )
Ot hernot abl ec ont r i but i onst ol i vec ombats i t uat i ons have i nc l uded depl oymentt o Oper at i on S out her n Wat c h,t he enf or c ement oft he nof l y zone i n s out her nI r aq,and NATO’ soper at i onsi n Kos ovo dur i ng Oper at i on Al l i ed F or c e.Dur i ng oper at i ons
overt hef or merYugos l avi ai n1 999,f ourMi Gsf r om t heF eder alRepubl i cofYugos l avi awer et heF 1 5’ s pr ey.Mos tr ec ent l y,t he F 1 5 hass een ac t i on i n Af ghani s t anandaspar toft heNATOc oal i t i onef f or t s overLi bya, c odenamedOdys s eyDawn.
er ampatMal t aI nt er nat i onalAi r por tast hesunset s. Thi s nt woI r aqiAi rFor ceSu25son2J une1991 ( Kevi nW i l l s)
Thi s 32nd TFS ‘ Wol f hounds’F15C f r om Soest er ber g AFBi nt heNet her l andsi sseenatRAFUpperHeyf or df or a1990changeofcommandcer emony ( Kevi nW i l l s)
A huge ef f l ux t r ai li sl ef tbehi nd by t hi s Eagl e as i t depar t s El mendor f AFB, AK, i n spect acul ar f ashi on ( Kar lDr age)
TheS t r i keEagl e’ spr ovenabi l i t yasamul t i r ol ec ombatai r c r af twasc l ear l y demons t r at ed dur i ng Des er tS t or m and overt he f or merYugos l avi a, par t i c ul ar l y dur i ng oper at i ons i ns ome oft he mos tdi f f i c ul tweat her c ondi t i ons .Asat r ues wi ngr ol eai r c r af t ,wi t ht hef l exi bi l i t yt oc hanget he f oc usoft hemi s s i oni nf l i ght , t heS t r i keEagl ehasbeenavi t alc omponent f orbot ht heUS AFandNATOdur i ngr ec entc onf l i c t s . F orexampl e, t heabi l i t y t oof f l oadai r t ogr oundor dnanc eandt henpr ovi deCombatAi rPat r ol ( CAP) f orot herNATOf or c eshaspr ovent obeahi ghl yval uabl eat t r i but e.
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Mai n -A 391stFS,366t hF of ft he wi ng oft he KC135 Ti gerMeetOfTheAmer i cas
A 492ndFS F15Ecaughtatl ow l eveli nWal es ( Gl enn Beasl ey)
A 389t h FS,366t h FW,Fdepar t ur ef r om Nel l i s AFB l aunch ( Kar lDr age)
8t hFW F15Er ecover st oRAFLakenheat hast hesun t soni t sSuf f ol khomeai r f i el d( Kar lDr age)
A 492nd FS,48t h FW,F15E r ecover st o Nel l i s AFB dur i ngRedFl ag084( PaulFi l mer )
FW,‘ Bol d Ti ger s’F15E si t s 5 af t ert aki ng f ueldur i ng a smi ssi on ( Kevi n Jackson)
F15E t ucks t he gearup on B dur i ng a Red Fl ag 082
A spect acul areveni ngdepar t ur ef r om RAFLakenheat h( Kar lDr age)
S t ayi n gatt h eC u t t i n gE d g e Ands o,how hast heF 1 5s t ayedatt het opf or f or t yyear s ?Youc annoti gnor et headvanc esi n f i ght ert ec hnol ogywhi c hhaveoc c ur r ed dur i ng t he F 1 5’ sl i f et i me,wi t hf l ybywi r e on ai r c r af t s uc h ast he F 1 6 and s t eal t ht ec hnol ogy now i nc or por at ed i nt o ai r c r af tl i ke t he F 22 Rapt or . GAM want edt of i ndouthow t heF 1 5keepson per f or mi ngandwhobet t ert oas kt hant hemos t ext ens i veoper at oroft het ype, t heUni t edS t at es Ai rF or c e. Maj or J ul i us C.Romas ant ai sf r om t he 65t h Aggr es s orS quadr on atNel l i s Ai rF or c e Bas e, Nevada, andi soneoft hemos texper i enc edUS AF F 1 5Cpi l ot s . Heknowsal l aboutf l yi ngt heai r c r af t t oi t sl i mi t saspar toft hes i mul at ed‘ Red’ ai rf or c e dur i ngt her egul arRedF l agexer c i s eshel datt he bas e. Hes har edhi st hought saboutwhyt heF 1 5 hadbeens os uc c es s f ul f ors ol ong.
Above-Oneoft he65t hAGRS’F15Csi nt het wot onebr unmi st akabl esi ghtoft heLasVegasMot orSpeedwayi nt
“ F i r s t l y,i t ' sadmi t t edl yal ar geai r c r af tandyes ,i t c anbes eenbyt henakedeyef r om pr et t yf ar away. Butt hats i zeal s omeansi tc anc ar r yal otof f uel , f orl ongerl oi t ert i mes , al otofweapons( ei ght mi s s i l esi nal l , whi c hi smor et hananyot herUS AF ai r c r af texc eptf ort heF 22) ,andabi g,power f ul r adar ,al l owi ng i tt odet ec tand engaget ar get s f ur t herawayt hananyot herUS AFai r c r af t ,ot her t hant heF 22onc eagai n. Event hought heF 1 6i s a newer ai r c r af t , and has been upgr aded ext ens i vel yovert heyear s , i thasneverbeenabl e t omat c ht hos ec apabi l i t i es . “ Al s o, t heF 1 5Ci shi ghl yver s at i l e, i nt hati ti sl et hal i nbot ht heBVRandWVR( Wi t hi nVi s ualRange) ar enas . I t spower f ul r adarandl ongr angemi s s i l es ar ec ompl ement edbyi t sabi l i t yt oei t herpul l hi gh Gsorf l yatext r emel ys l ow ai r s peeds . I t sl ac kofa hi ght ec hf l i ghtc ont r olc omput eral l owspi l ot st o f l yt he F 1 5C atmuc h hi gherangl es of at t ac k t hant heF 1 6,gi vi ngusof f ens i veadvant agesi n c er t ai ndogf i ght i ngr egi mes . ” I t ’ sf ai rt os ay t hat you pr obabl y woul d be s t r uggl i ngt ogetabet t ert es t i monyast owhyt he F 1 5i ss ogoodatwhati tdoest hanf r om s omeone l i keMaj orRomas ant a.
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br owncamoschemeget sai r bor nef r om Nel l i sAFBwi t ht he t hebackgr ound ( Kar lDr age)
hesf r om Nel l i sAFB dur i ngRedFl ag123( PaulFi l mer )
Above -A 65t h AGRS F15C pul l sawayf r om t heLast Chance checkpoi ntatNel l i sAFB ahead ofa Red Fl ag 072mi ssi on ( Kar lDr age)
Above -A 60t h FS,33r d FW,‘ Fi ght i ng Cr ows’( now def unct )F15D get sai r bor nef r om El mendor fAFB,AK, wi t hal ucky i ncent i ve r i de r eci pi enti nt he backseat ( Kar lDr age)
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c ont i nuet os er vewi t hdi s t i nc t i onar oundt hewor l dof e, andt hepr oduc t i onl i neatBoei ng’ sS tLoui sf ac t or yi s us ywi t hexpor tvar i ant sf orS i ngapor eandt heRepubl i c r eac ont i nui ngt or ol lof ft hel i ne. Thepot ent i alf ort he ft heF 1 5S Avar i antt ot heRoyalS audiAi rF or c ec oul d r et hatEagl epr oduc t i onc ont i nuesupunt i l 2020, al mos t year saf t ert hepr ot ot ypef i r s tt ookt ot heai r ;af ai r l y r kabl es t at i s t i c .
t heUS AFCandt heEmodel shavepl ent yofl i f el ef ti n t oo.The F 1 5C i sc ur r ent l y under eval uat i on t o r mi newhet heri t ss er vi c el i f ec anbedoubl edf r om 8, 000 hour st o1 6, 000hour s , whi l edevel opmentofupgr ades nues . TheCi sc ur r ent l ys l at edt oc ont i nuei ns er vi c et o d203 0, andt heEt hr ought o203 5, s ugges t i ngt het ype exc eedf i f t yyear si ns er vi c ewi t ht heUS AF ; ani nc r edi bl e vementgi vent headvanc ementi nf i ght erai r c r af tover as tf i ve dec ades .The one bl emi s h on an ot her wi s e c c abl es af et yr ec or dwast hec r as hofa1 3 1 s tF i ght er , Mi s s our i ANG, F 1 5Con2November2007 , f ol l owi nga t r ophi cs t r uc t ur alf ai l ur et hatr es ul t ed i nt he ai r c r af t i ngupi nf l i ght .
PaulFi l mer
F15SESi l entEagl e’ s
F 1 5 S E‘ S i l e n tE ag l e ’
Whathaskeptt heF 1 5ass uc hanat t r ac t i vepr opos i t i onbot hf ori t spar entc us t omerandai rf or c esar oundt he abi l i t yt or ei nventi t s el fandr emai nr el evanti nt hec hangi ngwor l dofai rc ombat . Thi si st heageofs t eal t h, andt he i t sownj our neyi nt ot hatdi mens i onofmoder ndaywar f ar e, i nt hef or m oft heF 1 5S ES i l entEagl e, addi ngnew d t r i edandt es t edai r f r ame.Enhanc ement ss uc hass t eal t hyc oat i ngsappl i edt ot hel eadi ngedgesoft heai r c r af bl oc ki ngequi pmentc oul ds i gni f i c ant l yr educ et heai r c r af t ’ sr adarpr of i l e. Ot herkeyel ement soft hi snew gener a i nc l udeBAES ys t ems ’ Di gi t al El ec t r oni cWar f ar eS ys t ems( DEWS ) , newConf or mal WeaponsBays( CWB) anddi gi t al f l At r ul y21 s tc ent ur yF 1 5Eagl e.
K e e p i n gU pAp p e ar an c e s Ast hevar i ousupgr adesand enhanc ed var i ant s c ont i nue t o mai nt ai nt he F 1 5’ sr el evanc e,t he ai r c r af ts t i l lmanagest or et ai nsi t sbeaut y asa f i ght erai r c r af t . Whi l s ts omec ombatai r c r af tqui c kl y s how t hei rage i nt er ms oft hei rs hape and ar c hi t ec t ur e,t heF 1 5( i nt hi saut hor ’ sopi ni onat l eas t )c ont i nues t oc ut t hr ough t he ai r wi t h pr ec i s i onandgr ac e. TheF 1 5hasbeent her eand bac kanddonet hej obt i meandt i meagai n.I t s c ombat r ec or di s unbl emi s hed and i s hi ghl y r egar ded by bot ht hos e who oper at e herand r es pec t ed by woul dbe opponent s .Cer t ai nl y, when s peaki ng t o US AF F 1 5c r ews ,t hey ar e al waysver y ent hus i as t i caboutt hei rai r c r af t ,i t s c apabi l i t i esandi t sabi l i t yt odot hej ob.TheF 1 5 ver ymuc hdes er vesi t s40t hbi r t hdayc el ebr at i on.
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sunvei l i ng ( Boei ng)
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r age) Tur ni ng f i nalat Hyakur iAB agai nst t he set t i ng sun i st hi s F15J f r om 305 Hi kot ai ( PaulDunn)
Tr ai ni ngf orwhatt heydobest :Fl yi ngl ow andf ast ,t hi sF15ESt r i keEagl ef r om t he492nd t hr ought heWel shval l eys ( Gl enn Beasl ey)
Thi s ex122nd FS,159t h FW,Loui si ana Ai r Nat i onal Guar d F15A wasst i l la r el at i vel yr ecentar r i valatt he 309t h AMARG when t hi spi ct ur e wast aken i nJ anuar y 2009. I twasoneoft hel astAmodel st obewi t hdr awn ( Kar lDr age)
The second gener at i on ai rsuper i or i t y ver si on wast he F15C whi ch ent er ed ser vi ce wi t ht he 18t h Tact i cal Fi ght erWi ng atKadena,Oki nawa i n 1979.Di spl ayi ng al lt hr eesquadr on badgeson t hei nt akewal l ,780533 i sseenatTyndal lAFB,Fl or i da,whi l epar t i ci pat i ngi nt he 1982“ Wi l l i am Tel l ”compet i t i on ( Li ndsayPeacock)
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