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F-15A 71-0283

Celebrating 50 years of the Mighty Mighty this month. Today a closer look to the fourth prototype built. F-15A 71-0283 made its first flight on 13 January 1973, and was used as the structural test aircraft. This was the first F-15 with the slightly smaller wingtips which had been redesigned to counter a severe buffet problem encountered during the test program. The aircraft was used by the combined McDonnell Douglas /USAF F-15 Joint Test Force at Edwards AFB from May 1973 (coded ‘4’). By 1978, 71-0283 had become a McDonnell Douglas test aircraft, and on 12 November 1979 it was noted in the red and white color

Note the original smaller-sized air brake on the spine. 71-0283 was finally retired in 1998. Undergoing restoration at Wright-Patterson AFB (OH) in July 1999, and ended up preserved at the Defense Supply Center, Richmond (VA) by October 2000.

Have a look at the other Eagle histories at https://skytrailer.nl/eagle-history/

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159th Fighter Wing Operation Noble Defender

the F-15 Eagles from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air Guard are currently deployed to Puerto Rico. The Bayou Militia is currently participating in Operation Noble Defender. Here some great behind the scene photos taken Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena and Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux.

Maj. Stanley Cheng, 122nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron project officer, walks toward an F-15C Eagle at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), 29 June, 2022. . (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)
Maj. Stanley Cheng, 122nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, signals to maintainers during F-15C Eagle pre-flight procedures at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), 29 June, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)
Maj. Stanley Cheng, 122nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, adjusts his helmet in an F-15C Eagle at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), 29 June, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)
An F-15C Eagle ready to taxi out at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico in .U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melody Bordeaux)
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44th Fighter Squadron air refueling

Tech. Sgt. Corban 4th Combat Camera Squadron, flew with the 44th Fighter Squadron “vampire Bats” on June 9, 2022. Providing Air Dominance in the Pacific, Tech Sgt. Corban shot these awesome photos during the flight. Enjoy!

U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, return to base after training operations in the Pacific, June 9, 2022. Team Kadena is committed to providing world class support to enable a range of U.S. operations and exercises to strengthen regional alliances and partnerships, as well as U.S. forces’ readiness to respond when called upon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Corban Lundborg)
A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, California, for aerial refueling, June 9, 2022. For decades, Kadena Air Base has served as the Keystone of the Pacific, enabling U.S. power projection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Corban Lundborg)
U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, conduct training operations in the Pacific, June 9, 2022. Team Kadena is committed to providing world class support to enable a range of U.S. operations and exercises to strengthen regional alliances and partnerships, as well as U.S. forces’ readiness to respond when called upon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Corban Lundborg)
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, California, conducts aerial refueling with Air Force F-15 Eagles assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 9, 2022. Team Kadena is committed to providing world class support to enable a range of U.S. operations and exercises to strengthen regional alliances and partnerships, as well as U.S. forces’ readiness to respond when called upon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Corban Lundborg)
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48th Fighter Wing “BALT OPS 22”

The 48th Fighter Wing, is participating this week in BALTOPS 22 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. BALTOPS 22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen the combined response capability critical to preserving the freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. Some great behind the scene photos made by Airman First Class Jacob Wood.

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