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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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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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144th Fighter Wing “Alaska DACT 22”

 photos by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn and Capt. Jason Sanchez

Airmen and F-15s assigned to the Calif. Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing are conducting dissimilar aircraft combat training with the 3rd Wing’s 90th and 525th Fighter squadrons at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and testing their ability to backfill for the alert air defence mission within the region.

The training at JBER focuses on fighter integration training between fourth-generation F-15 Eagles and fifth-generation F-22 Raptors and their ability to interoperate seamlessly. The training began April 11, 2022 and will conclude in approximately three weeks.

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F-15E aircraft arrive in Greece for INIOCHOS 22

U.S. Air Force Airmen and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, England, arrived at Andravida Air Base, Greece, to support INIOCHOS 22. The exercise is a Hellenic air force-sponsored operational and tactical level field training exercise, hosted by the Hellenic Air Tactics Center at Greece’s fighter weapons school, located at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from March 27 to April 7, 2022.

The exercise aims to enhance combat readiness and fighting capability, while providing participants the opportunity to develop capabilities planning and conduct complex air operations in a multinational, joint force environment.

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The 493rd Fighter Squadron Completes It’s Last NATO Mission With F-15’s

photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Albers

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from the 493rd Fighter Squadron assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England tests an air break deployment in preparation to depart Poland after completing a NATO enhanced Air Policing mission at Łask Air Basel Poland, Feb. 28, 2022. The 493rd FS executed NATO EAP for several weeks before being relieved by the 336th Fighter Squadron assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Albers)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Garret Womack, an F-15 C Eagle pilot assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, performs pre-flight checks before departing Łask Air Base, Poland, Feb. 28, 2022. The 493rd FS was deployed to Łask Air Base for several weeks in support of NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Albers)
A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from the 493rd Fighter Squadron assigned to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, takes off after completing a NATO enhanced Air Policing mission at Łask Air Base, Poland, Feb. 28, 2022. The 493rd FS executed NATO EAP for several weeks before being relieved by the 336th Fighter Squadron assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Albers)