Set World Time-To-Climb Records February 1, 1975 Aircraft is Unpainted to Save Weight - Pilot: Maj. W.R. Macfarlane, Maj. Roger Smith, Maj. Dave Peterson. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It was developed for the United States Air Force, and first flew in July 1972. It is one of the most recognized fighters of the modern day. The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative is an all-weather strike fighter that entered service in 1989. The F-15 has not been shot down in air-air combat as of 2008. The U.S Air Force plans to keep the F-15 in service until 2025.