McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

F-15A Eagle
Description
Role	Air superiority fighter
Crew	1-2 (Strike Eagle)
Passengers	---
First flight	1972
Entered service	1974
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas
Produced	1603 (as of 2008)
Dimensions
Length	19,43 m
Wingspan	13,05 m
Height	5,63 m
Wing area	56,48 m²
Weights
Empty	12973 kg
Loaded	19000 kg
Maximum takeoff	25424 kg
Powerplant
Engine
Power (each)	17450 lbf	100,53 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	Mach 2.5+	2655 km/h (3000 km/h without external weapons)
Cruising speed
Range	4631 km
Ceiling	20400 m
Rate of climb              254m/s

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather, maneuverable fighter  designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. The F-15 is expected to be in service with the U.S. Air Force until 2025. It was built to replace the F-4 Phantom II.

Development

The History of the F-15 started with the F-X study („Fighter Experimental“), for an replacement for the F-4 Phantom II. A multirole fighter was needed that had to fly Mach 2.7 with a takeoff weight of 27 tons, for this concept a variable-sweep wing aircraft was needed, but while the F-111 was tested in this time the Air Force didn´t wanted another aircraft like the F-111. At the time the MiG-25 appeared first, the US Air Force thought it´s a way superior than the F-4 because of it´s bigger flaps and stabs it was thought that the MiG-25 is a very agile dogfighter. But in reality the MiG-25 is only a high speed interceptor and the big flaps were only to give it better stability and the MiG-25 was completely not useable for dogfight due to it´s bad thrust to weight ratio. In the next decades the Air Force changed it´s criteria, the new fighter had to save air dominance. It must have the same weapons than the F-4. The US Air Force wanted it to have a great range, high speed ( Mach 2.5 ) and agility. On 13th december 1969 McDonnell Douglas concept was declared as the winner. And in 1972 was the F-15´s first flight.

Air victories:104

• 27.06.1979 F-15A (Israel) - 5 x MiG-21MF (Syria)

• 24.09.1979 F-15A (Israel) - 4 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 24.08.1980 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 31.12.1980 F-15 (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 13.02.1981 F-15 (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Syria)

• 29.07.1981 F-15A (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Syria)

• 20.04.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Syria)

• 25.05.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 6.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 1 x MiG-23MS (Syria)

• 7.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)

• 8.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)

• 9.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 4 x MiG-23 (Syria)

• 7 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 10.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 6 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)

• 1 x SA342L (Syria)

• 11.06.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 4 x MiG-21 (Syria)

• 2 x MiG-23 (Syria)

• 25.06.1982 F-15A (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23MF (Syria)

• 2.07.1982 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Syria)

• 31.08.1982 F-15 (Israel) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Syria)

• 20.11.1985 F-15D (Israel) - 2 x MiG-23ML (Syria)

• 2.06.1989 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)

• 5.06.1984 F-15 (Saudi Arabia) - 2 x F-4E (Iran)

• 17.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-29 (Irak)

• 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

• 1 x Mirage F1BQ (Irak)

• 19.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-25PD (Irak)

• 2 x MiG-29 (Irak)

• 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

• 24.01.1991 F-15C (Saudi Arabia) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

• 26.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)

• 27.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)

• 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

• 29.01.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-23 (Irak)

• 2.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 1 x Il-76 (Irak)

• 6.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)

• 2 x Su-25K (Irak)

• 7.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 3 x Su-22 (Irak)

• 7.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 1 x Mi-24 (Irak)

• 11.02.1991 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x Mi-8 (Irak)

• 14.02.1991 F-15E (USAF) - 1 x Mi-24 (Irak)

• 24.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)

• 26.04.1999 F-15C (USAF) - 2 x MiG-29 (Serbia)

• 14.09.2001 F-15C (Israel) - 2 x MiG-29 (Syria)

• Losses in air to air combat: 0

Armament(F-15E "Strike Eagle")

• M61A1 "Vulcan": internally mounted 6 barrel cannon; 20mm. 950 rounds(maximum)
• AIM-9 "Sidewinder"(Air-to-Air ): carry up to four externally 
• AIM-7 "Sparrow"(Air-to-Air): carry up to four externally 
• AIM-120 AMRAAM(Air-to-Air): carry up to 8 externally
• Mark 82(Air-to-Ground)
• Mark 84(Air-to-Ground)
• GBU-10(Air-to-Ground)
• GBU-31(Air-to-Ground)
• MXU--648 Cargo/travel pod
• Hardpoints: Total 11(two under each wing)

Gallery

Serial: unknown This is an experimental camouflage scheme. Which resembles earlier designs made by camouflage artist Keith Ferris, who also designed a familiar scheme for the F-14.