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Eagle Country

44th Fighter Squadron Summer Surge

An F-15C Eagle pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron taxis to the apron after a training sortie in support of surge operations at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 23, 2022. During the surge, the 44th FS flew up to 40 sorties a day, honing air-to-air tactics and advanced combat maneuvers, and strengthening the readiness capabilities needed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron flies overhead in support of surge operations at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 24, 2022. Surge operations provide aircrew and support personnel the opportunity to train the skills necessary to maintain a ready force, capable of ensuring the collective defense of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron flies overhead in support of surge operations at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 23, 2022. Surge operations are a vital component to the development of aircrew and support personnel, allowing them to build and further improve the skills needed to remain a ready and capable force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)
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Eagle Country

Florida ‘Thunder’ rumble

U.S. Air Force aircraft armament systems specialists assigned to the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville, Florida, load weapons onto an F-15C Eagle aircraft, Sept. 7, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Chelsea Smith)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen “Shark” Pierce, an F-15C Eagle fighter pilot, waves before departure at the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, Sept. 14, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Monlezun)
An F-15C Eagle aircraft assigned to the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, takes off during night flying at the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Sept. 14, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Monlezun)
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Eagle Country

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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Eagle Country

Prototype F-15 71-0284

Celebrating 50 years of the Mighty Mighty this month. Today a closer look on the fifth prototype built. F-15A 71-0284. 0284 made its first flight on 7 March 1973, and was used as the trials aircraft for armament development. It was the first Eagle with the internal M61 cannon fitted. It was also used for external fuel tank jettison testing. Used by the combined McDonnell Douglas/USAF F-15 Joint Test Force at Edwards between 1973 and nov75 (noted with code ‘5’ on latter date). Early in 1974 the Air Force initiated Operation ‘Streak Eagle’, the time to climb record. One aircraft would have had to be modified, and the choice was between 71-0284 and 72-0119. The latter was chosen and 71-0284 continued its testing career.


71-0284 was retired and re designated a GF-15A; it became an instructional aircraft at the Sheppard TTC by April 1977. Remained in use until October 1991 at least; and although it arrived in its former test colors, it later was repainted in grey camo and carried an ‘HO’ code on one side of the aircraft and ‘FF’ on the other. Last noted as instructional aircraft in October 1990, it was noted with the name ‘City of Iowa Park’ during much of this instructional period. 71-0284 was noted on the dump at Sheppard in July 1992, but ended up as an instructional airframe at Goodfellow AFB (TX). First noted there in April 1995, last in May 2008, the aircraft carried the ‘GD’ tail code during this entire period.

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Eagle Country

MISSION READY
INSIDE THE BEST FIGHTER SQUADRON OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE

written by Patrick “Red” van Dam

Mission Ready is a visual narrative about a world that’s not accessible to most of us. Until now. Documentary photographer and creative director Patrick van Dam gives us a realistic and uncensored insight into the “Best Fighter Squadron of the U.S. Air Force”. Through compelling images, he offers an insider perspective of the legendary 493rd Fighter Squadron’s daily operations. This is not Top Gun. This is better. This is real.

From 2016 to 2021, Van Dam was granted access to several restricted military airbases and experienced first-hand what it takes to be a fighter pilot during a training mission in an F-15 Eagle. His contemporary photography is never shy of demystifying a sometimes romanticized world, yet always with an aesthetic point of view.