Eagle Country – Page 22 – USAF F-15 Eagles & F-15E Strike Eagles

85 TES F-15C fires first IRST-cued AMRAAM

Post author By Jan-Peter
Post date August 27, 2021
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By 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin

The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron conducted the first-ever live fire of an Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile from an F-15C Eagle using an Infrared Search-and-Track system, successfully shooting a QF-16 aerial target, Aug. 5, 2021.

An F-15C Eagle from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, showcasing Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod IRST Block 1.5 system. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin)

The F-15C was equipped with Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod IRST Block 1.5 system. The IRST passive target tracking capability was combined with the APG-63v3 RADAR to datalink the target location to the AIM-120, explained Maj. Brian Davis, 85th TES Chief of Air-to-Air Weapons and Tactics. During the test, the sensors in multiple spectrums collaborated for the missile to successfully intercept the target and closed kill chains.

Skytrailer.nl

SJAFB pilot selected for the Thunderbirds

Post author By Jan-Peter
Post date August 27, 2021
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By Senior Airman Kimberly Barrera

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, selected Capt. Lauren Schlichting, 333rd Fighter Squadron evaluating pilot and executive officer, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, to join their team. Schlichting is set to fly Thunderbird 3, becoming the teams right wing pilot.

Capt. Lauren Schlichting, 333rd Fighter Squadron evaluating pilot and executive officer, performs and instrument check on an F-15E Strike Eagle at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, August 4, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kimberly Barrera)

From a young age Schlichting knew she wanted to become a fighter pilot.

“Some astronauts came to my school in second grade,” said Schlichting. “The astronaut piece didn’t really resonate with me but them being fighter pilots did. Minnesota has little military presence and I am not from a military family. When I came home, at eight-years-old, and told my mom I was going to join the Air Force and become a fighter pilot, it was shocking for her. It just kind of stuck.”

Skytrailer.nl

Sentry Aloha 2021

An F-15 Eagle pilot from the 144th Fighter Squadron completes a pre-flight checklist Aug 13. 2021, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Eagles, and other combat aircraft, received in-air refueling from KC-135 Stratotankers, based out of JBPH-H and the mainland U.S., throughout a series of dissimilar-air-combat-training missions. Sentry Aloha is a Hawaii Air National Guard-led exercise, which provides participants a multi-faceted, joint venue with supporting infrastructure and personnel. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. John Linzmeier)

An F-22 Raptor crew chief prepares to marshal out his designated aircraft Aug. 12, 2021, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Airmen generated training sorties as part of exercise Sentry Aloha-21. The exercise is held to provide participants a multi-faceted, joint venue with supporting infrastructure and personnel. This iteration consists of several hundred Airmen and 28 aircraft from five states. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. John Linzmeier)