The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle twin-engine, all-weather, fighter that first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976, was designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat, a task that it excelled in outclassing all foes that it encountered with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights.
The History of the F-15 started with the F-X study for a replacement for the F-4 Phantom II, itself a combat legend. A multirole fighter was needed that had to fly Mach 2.7 with a take-off weight of 27 tons. The new fighter had to save air dominance. 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.
Earlier this year the USAF bid farewell to the last operational F-15C/D squadrons. For half a century it has been the USAF's premier air superiority fighter. With an unmatched air-to-air combat record and a design built for speed, climb, and lethality, the Eagle has guarded American skies.
The aircraft's age, rising maintenance costs, and the introduction of newer platforms like the F-15EX Eagle II and the F-35 finally pushed the classic Eagle from the front line.
The Eagle's unmatched record of 104 air victories with no air-to-air losses speaks for itself. It is indeed one of the most successful of the pre-WWII warbirds to have taken to the skies.
Top Guns RCs at Mobile Deployment Wing AFB Swartkop 375
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