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The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American twin-engine
all-weather multirole strike fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas
F-15 Eagle. McDonnell Aircraft formalized the concept for the F-15 in
1967, when the company was selected to enter the second phase of the U.S
Air Force's FX competition. On 23 December 1969, after more than two
years of intensive testing and evaluation, the Air Force awarded
McDonnell Douglas the F-15 Advanced Tactical Fighter contract. The F-15
Eagle flew first on 27 July 1972, at Edwards Air Force Base in
California. Six months later, the Air Force approved the Eagle for
full-rate production. With a top speed in excess of Mach 2.5 at 11.000
mtrs, it was the first U.S. fighter with enough thrust to accelerate
vertically. The F-15 carries a large complement of armament. The first
flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) trainer was made in July
1973. The first F-15B Eagle was delivered in November 1974 to the 58th
Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. In January 1976,
the first single-seat F-15A Eagle destined for a combat squadron was
delivered to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in
Virginia. The second major production version of the single-seat Eagle,
the F-15C flew first on 26 February 1979. The F-15C (and F-15D) differs
from the F-15A (and F-15B) in having increased internal fuel capacity,
provision for a further 4.540 kg of fuel (or fuel and sensors) and for
conformat tanks (FAST packs) on the fuselage sides, plus programmable
radar signal processors. Production of the F-15C supplanted the F-15A
from mid-1980, the two-seat equivalent F-15D simultaneously supplanted
the F-15B. In December 1996, Boeing Co., the world's largest commercial
aircraft maker, bought its long-time rival McDonnell Douglas Corp. for
$13.3 billion in stock, creating the world's largest integrated
aerospace company. Boeing has continued to evolve the F-15 with advanced
technology. Production continued with advanced models for several international
customers, with in all models, more than 1,500 F-15s built.
The ICAO Aircraft
Type Designator for the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15E Strike Eagle is F15. |
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On 17 July 2004, the USAFE 492nd FS' Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15E Strike Eagle "91-0605 / LN" was seen at
Leeuwarden Air Base (EHLW/LWR). At that time, the F-15E Strike Eagle "91-0605" was operated
by 492nd Fighter Sqn, part of the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath. |
