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Eagle Country

48th Fighter Wing F-15E stepping video

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxi and takeoff to Łask Air Base, Poland, in support of NATO Air Shielding efforts, Aug. 5, 2022. The NATO Air Shielding mission integrates allies and partners while further demonstrating the alliance’s dedication to deter and defend the eastern European region.
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Eagle Country

Gunfighters Take to the Skies

A U.S. Air Force pilot and Weapons Officer from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, settle in to an F-15E Strike Eagle for a training mission August 22, 2022. The Mountain Home Range Complex terrain and airspace provides 9,600 square miles of unique and challenging training opportunities for the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hoskins)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 389th Fighter Generation Squadron prepare to launch a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle for a routine training mission at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, August 22, 2022. The FGS is comprised of maintainers and administrative personnel responsible for the health and generation of airpower and is aligned to the fighter squadron with the same numeric designation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hoskins)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 389th Fighter Generation Squadron prepare to launch a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle for a routine training mission at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, August 22, 2022. The FGS is comprised of maintainers and administrative personnel responsible for the health and generation of airpower and is aligned to the fighter squadron with the same numeric designation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hoskins)
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Eagle Country

173rd FW Sentry Devil Dog

U.S. Air Force Col. Lee Bouma, 173rd Fighter Wing commander, prepares to start the engine of an F-15 Eagle in preperation for a flight at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Aug. 15, 2022. The 173rd Fighter Wing spent two weeks flying and training with the F/A-18s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) and the F-35s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VFMAT-502). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cody Burkett, 173rd Fighter Wing, observes preflight operations at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Aug. 15, 2022. The 173rd Fighter Wing spent two weeks flying and training with the F/A-18s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) and the F-35s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VFMAT-502). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
U.S. Air Force Major Thomas McGee, 173rd Fighter Wing F-15 instructor pilot, preflights his aircraft in preperation for a flight at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Aug. 15, 2022. The 173rd Fighter Wing spent two weeks flying and training with the F/A-18s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) and the F-35s from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VFMAT-502). (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar)
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Eagle Country

48 FW F-15E Strike Eagle supports NATO Air Shielding

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jade Moore, 492nd Air Maintenance Unit avionics, prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for take-off at Łask Air Base, Poland, to support NATO Air Shielding efforts, Aug. 9, 2022. Air Shielding is a purely defensive mission designed to shield and protect allied territory and populations, and a key component of NATO’s deterrence and defense posture. (U.S. Air force photo by Staff Sergeant Danielle Sukhlall)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jade Moore, 492nd Air Maintenance Unit avionics, prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for take-off at Łask Air Base, Poland, to support NATO Air Shielding efforts, Aug. 9, 2022. Air Shielding is a purely defensive mission designed to shield and protect allied territory and populations, and a key component of NATO’s deterrence and defense posture. (U.S. Air force photo by Staff Sergeant Danielle Sukhlall)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Adam Gill, 492nd Air Maintenance Unit fuel systems maintenance, prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for take-off at Łask Air Base, Poland, to support NATO Air Shielding efforts, Aug. 9, 2022. Air Shielding is a purely defensive mission designed to shield and protect allied territory and populations, and a key component of NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.(U.S. Air force photo by Staff Sergeant Danielle Sukhlall)
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The F-15 Eagle turns 50

Congratulations to all of you who flew and worked on the F-15 Eagle and to the Might Mighty’s 50th anniversary.

50 years ago today, on July 27, 1972, under the control of McDonnell Douglas chief test pilot Irving L. Burrows, the F-15 Eagle first took to the skies over Edwards AFB, CA.

(McDonnell Douglas photo)

Burrows took the Air Force’s new twin-engine dedicated air superiority fighter on a 50 minute cruise, which topped out at 12,000 feet and 250 knots, before returning to base. The flight was uneventful other than a minor issue with a landing gear door.
“It was just like the simulator,” said Burrows upon departing the aircraft, S/N 71-0280, the first YF-15A prototype (F-15A). It was painted in “Air Superiority Blue” with orange flight test markings, and had square wingtips and an unnotched stabilator.
“This aircraft performed well from the first minute,” said Burrows later. “We knew we had a winner from the start.”

Irving L. Burrows (McDonnell Douglas photo)

Several more flights occurred in the week that followed. They included milestones such as achieving Mach 1.5 speed and reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet.

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