In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.

F-15C 78-0543 is assigned to the 114th FS “Eager Beavers” and on January 7, 2020 at Kingsley Field ANG Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon it was unveiled wearing its new paint scheme. The scheme commemorates the heroic actions of David R. Kingsley, bombardier on B-17 “Sandman” during a raid over Ploesti, Romania. The B-17 was hit and falling and everyone was baling out. Kingsley spotted the wounded tail-gunner whose parachuted was missing so Kingsley gave the gunner his own parachute. Kingsley died and 75 years later is being honored for his supreme sacrifice with this special scheme.

Specifications for the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F-15 Eagle

• C – Single-seat, all-weather, air-superiority fighter - 483 built
• D – Dual-seat variant of the C – 92 built
• E – Dual-seat, all-weather, multi-role strike fighter - 237 built

Dimensions

• Length - C/D/E 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
• Wingspan C/D – 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
• E – 42 ft 9.75 in (13.05 m)
• Height C/D – 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
• E – 63 ft 9 in (5.63 m)
• Weights
• Empty C/D - 28,600 lb (12793 kg)
• E – 31,700 lb (14,379 kg)
• Maximum Take-off C/D – 68,000 lb (30,844 kg)
• E – 81,000 lb (36,741 kg)

Engines

• C/D – 2 X P&W F100-PW turbofans with afterburners, each engine rated @ 25,000 thrust (11,250 kg)
• E/F – Prior to August 1991 - 2 X P&W F100-P-220 turbofans, each rated @ 14,670 ls st (65.26 kN) dry and 23,830 lb st (106.0 kN) with afterburners
• After August 1991 – 2 X P&W F100-PW-229 turbofans, each rated @ 17,800 lb st (79.18 kN) dry and 29,100 lb st (129.45 kN) with afterburners

Range

• C/D Ferry - 3,450 miles (3,000 nm) with CFTs + 3 X external fuel tanks
• E Ferry – 3,570 miles (3,100 nm) with CFTs + drop tanks With Drop Tanks only – 2,765 miles (2,400 nm)
• Normal Combat Radius – 790 miles (685 nm)
• Maximum Combat Radius – 1,150 miles (1,000 nm)

Speeds

• C/D – 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 +)
• E Maximum Level Flight Clean @ High Altitude – 1,650 mph (2,655 km/h)
• Cruise @ Optimum Altitude – 570 mph (917 km/h)
• Ceiling
• C/D – 65,000 ft (19,697 m) E – 60,000 ft (18,290 m)

Armament

• C 1 X M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel internal gun, 940 rounds of ammunition
• 4 X AIM-9L/M Sidewinders
• 4 X AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles

Or

• Missile Combination - AIM-9L/M, AIM-7-F/M and AIM-120 E 1 X M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel internal gun, 512 rounds of ammunition
• 4 X AIM-9L/M Sidewinder on the under-wing stations
• 4 X AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles conformal fuel tank
• Maximum 8 X AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles
• 12 X CBU-52 (6 with wing tanks)
• 12 X CBU-59 (6 with wing tanks)
• 12 X CBU-71 (6 with wing tanks)
• 12 X CBU-87 (6 with wing tanks)
• 12 X CBU-89 (6 with wing tanks)
• 20 X MK-20 (6 with wing tanks)

Info:      F-15C Mod Eagle - 53rd FS, 52nd FW, USAF, Spangdahlem Air Base, mid 1990s