Israeli Air Force F-15D Baz #957 "Markia Schakim" (Sky Blazer) scored three air-to-air victories (in the form of three Syrian fighters, one MiG-21 and two MiG-23s) during the 1982 Lebanon War.

On May 1, 1983, while performing a dissimilar air combat training mission over the Negev, it collided with an A-4 Skyhawk. The A-4 pilot had to eject from his aircraft since it was irremediably damaged and the right wing of the Baz was sheared off roughly 2 ft from the root. Zivi Nedivi (pilot) and Yehoar Gal (navigator), the F-15 crewmembers, did not initially realize the extent of the damage, as fuel leaking profusely and vaporizing at the wing attachment was obscuring their view of the area where the wing once was. The Baz started rolling uncontrollably after the collision. Nedivi lit the afterburner, and eventually regained control of the aircraft. He was able to maintain control because of the lift generated by the large areas of the fuselage, stabilators, and remaining wing. Diverting to Ramon Airbase, the F-15 landed at twice the normal speed to maintain the necessary lift, and its tail hook was torn off completely during the landing.

The aircraft was transported by road to an IAF maintenance unit at Tel Nof, where it was repaired and ultimately went on to share the kill of another Syrian MiG-23 on November 19, 1985.

Designed to meet US Air Force requirements for an air superiority fighter to replace the F-4 Phantom, the F-15 Eagle first flew on July 27, 1972. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's design in 1969 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. Since entering service in 1976, it is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Israeli Air Force.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-15 is produced with a high metal content using state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques. The model features near seamless construction as seen on all Hobby Master products, and this is particularly evident with the tight-fitting conformal fuel tanks present on the F-15E variant. Separate open and closed canopy and speed brakes are included, yielding uncompromising detail that functional hinges would lack at this scale. Other fine features include a detailed cockpit interior, a variety of ordnance and drop tanks appropriate to the paint-scheme and landing gear that constructed as completed subassemblies for easy installation.

Info:      F-15D Baz IDF/AF 106th (Spearhead) Sqn, #957 Markia Schakim, Israel, 2011