canberraman Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 The McDD/Boeing F-15 Eagle air superiority variant (A/B/C/D), is without doubt the most successful Western combat aircraft of the last 50 years, being responsible for over 100 air-to-air kills in numerous conflicts, (over half by the Israeli Defence Force), all without loss. Sadly, the end of the F15 fighter in US service is looming, and by March 2022 it is understood that USAFE will have withdrawn the type from RAF Lakenheath, where the 48 FW/493 FS is the last USAF sqn in the European theatre still operating the type, 45 years after it was introduced. (The 493 FS will re emerge at Lakenheath in due course after re-equipping with the F-35A). Also, there are no plans to retire the later and more advanced F-15E Strike Eagle variant which remains a potent USAF long range strike platform, with which the 492 and 494 FS are equipped at Lakenheath. As of Jan 2022, the US had nine F-15C/D squadrons still active - three in the USAF and six in the Air National Guard. Two of the Air Force squadrons are based in Japan, with a third based in Britain. Air National Guard squadrons are all based on American soil. The USAF intends to retire two squadrons of F-15C/D fighters, among the oldest in its inventory, in Fiscal Year 2022. The Eagle has been in service since 1976, and Cold War era variants of the jet have remained active long after their planned retirement date due to issues with the replacement program, the F-22 Raptor, which led to 75% of Raptor orders being cancelled. With the F-22 program seeing orders to terminate production given less than four years after it entered service, and the fighter effectively failing to serve as a viable replacement to the F-15, the Air Force is now expected to replace its old Eagles with a newer version of the F-15 that is in production today - the F-15EX. While the F-15C/D has a formidable range and flight performance, only a portion of the fleet have been upgraded with modern sensors and avionics. Maintenance costs are also increasing for the ageing airframes which have increasingly suffered from metal fatigue. The aircraft are increasingly seen to be outmatched by rival fighters, including not only other heavyweights such as the Russian Su-30SM, but also advanced lightweight jets such as the Chinese J-10 which the U.S. Congress, among others, has warned could outperform the Eagles in the air. Most surprisingly, at least 57 retired ex USAF Eagles currently remain on display or preserved around the globe, including two here in the UK. In this photo essay I will highlight those examples that my good friend Stewart Dempster and I have photographed on our travels during the last 15 years or so. AMARG at Davis Monthan AFB in the Tucson desert, is where most of the retired Eagles were sent, or will be, to meet their fate after retirement from active service. F-15A 76-0020 wearing the colours of the 5th FIS seen outside the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford. F-15A 74-0131 on display at the Wings of Liberty Memorial Air Park at RAF Lakenheath, painted to resemble an F-15C of the based 493d FS. A further two ex US Eagles are preserved in Germany. This photo is of F-15A 74-0109 on display outside the Auto Technik Museum at Speyer (photo courtesy S Dempster) At Spangdahlem AB, F-15A 74-0085 is one of two preserved aircraft that guard the entrance. It wears the markings of the 52 FW/53 FS, the F-15 sqn formerly assigned to the base. (S Dempster). This 2010 photo is of F-15A 76-0037, on display at Holloman AFB New Mexico, wearing the unit markings of the 49th TFW when the type was resident there. (S Dempster) F-15A 76-0110, marked to represent F-15C 86-0177, and in the markings of the 366th TFW at Mountain Home AFB Idaho. (S Dempster) F-15A 76-0008 at March Field Air Museum near Riverside California and photographed in 2014. This aircraft was rescued from the Sheppard AFB Training Center, hence the ST tail code. (S Dempster) F-15A 71-0285, mounted in a rather unusual manner, and preserved at the Boeing Avionic Antenna Laboratory at St Charles, Missouri. (S Dempster) F-15A 75-0055, displayed at Langley AFB Virginia, and wearing the markings of the resident 1st Fighter Wing (S Dempster) Also displayed at Langley is this early prototype YF-15A 71-0281 (S Dempster) F-15A 76-0042, on display in front of an impressive building at the USAF Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado.. wearing the TY tail code of the 325th FW at Tyndall AFB Fl. (S Dempster) F-15A 75-0065, wearing 5th FIS unit markings, and displayed at Minot ABB North Dakota (S Dempster) F-15B trainer variant, 77-0159, preserved at Volk Field Museum Wisconsin. In this 2018 image, the aircraft wears the marks of the 122 FS Louisiana ANG. (S Dempster) F-15A 76-0108 seen in 2012, marked as F-15C 85-0114 of the 33rd FW at Eglin AFB, one of numerous preserved aircraft at Lackland/Kelly AFB Tx. F-15A 74-0119 at Castle Air Museum Atwater, Ca, when seen in 2016, and wearing the FF tail code of the 1st FW at Langley. Sun bleached F-15A 74-0118 seen at the impressive Pima Air Museum at Tucson in 2012, wearing the unit markings of the 325th FW at Tyndall. F-15A 77-0170 in the markings of the Hawaii ANG, one of the exhibits in 'celebrity row' at AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB Az, shot in 2012. F-15B 73-0108, in the TAC 1 scheme, and photographed at Luke AFB Az. in 2014. F-15A 77-0146 on public display at the Veterans Park, Callaway Fl. seen in 2017, marked with the TY Tyndall tailcode of the 325th FW. F-15A 74-0124 on display at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB Fl, and marked as the CAG aircraft of the 33rd FW. F-15A 75-0043 seen on display near Warner-Robins AFB Georgia in 2017. The aircraft wears the GA tail code of the Georgia ANG. Hope these pictures are of interest. C&C always welcome. Mark 14 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Great stuff, thanks for posting! We have one preserved in the Netherlands as well, being the host of the 32nd TFS/FS at Soesterberg for years: https://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Netherlands/Soest/NMM_2/F-15A_77-0132.htm Cheers, Andre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 It makes me feel old to recall my visit to Luke AFB in 1979 when they were at the start of their career! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 wow... thanks. some of the displayed ones seem in worse condition than the AMARG examples.... some 900 USAF F-15s produced, some 200 remaining... they need to go somewhere, no? the end seems near -- but they are still being procured for the USAF as F-15EX Eagle IIs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 7 hours ago, Hook said: Great stuff, thanks for posting! We have one preserved in the Netherlands as well, being the host of the 32nd TFS/FS at Soesterberg for years: https://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/Netherlands/Soest/NMM_2/F-15A_77-0132.htm Cheers, Andre Andre, that ex Soesterberg bird looks immaculate. Think I may have to add that museum to my 'to do' list! Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Thank you everyone for the supportive comments and likes. In the next instalment I will feature the 493 FS anniversary jet ahead of the squadron disbandment in the next couple of months. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Thanks for the very informative post and pictures. I remember the first time I saw the F15, it was at RAF Binbrook at an airshow in 1978, I think it was a Bitburg based aircraft. Another bit of my aviation interest life has passed away. On a slightly different note it appears that the new F35A is out and about from Lakenheath as they have been seen over North Yorkshire, where the F15Es often play. Hopefully the E will be replaced by the EX at Lakenheath. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Superb shots! Shame about the ones with the ejection seats missing - they just don't look right. Nonetheless, a great collection though. Ta v much for posting these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Mr T and Latinbear, thanks both for the kind comments Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 (edited) Great photo collection! Here are some photos of the F-15A on display here at Lackland AB, Texas, where I live:, to add to your collection: https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-waymarking-images/32d63893-0577-4c13-8e41-2a6759190d98.jpg https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/san-antonio-tx-august-21-f15-83538502 http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/locations.php?location=5944 https://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=66621 Hard to believe they have been in service for that many years, like the F-16A's! Mike Edited January 24, 2022 by 72modeler corrected spelling 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 9 hours ago, 72modeler said: Great photo collection! Here are some photos of the F-15A on display here at Lackland AB, Texas, where I live:, too add to your collection: https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-waymarking-images/32d63893-0577-4c13-8e41-2a6759190d98.jpg https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/san-antonio-tx-august-21-f15-83538502 http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/locations.php?location=5944 https://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=66621 Hard to believe they have been in service for that many years, like the F-16A's! Mike Many thanks Mike! It sure is hard to believe the Eagle has been around so long but its place in aviation history is guaranteed from the number of preserved examples out there. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Awesome shots of a true classic, I hope you don't mind me adding a few! F-15C Wright Patterson AFB Guardian by tony_inkster, on Flickr Wright Patterson AFB McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle by tony_inkster, on Flickr Museum of the USAF F-15A Eagle 76-020 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Undercover at Duxford F-15 Eagle by tony_inkster, on Flickr Yanks Air Museum F-15 on display in main museum by tony_inkster, on Flickr IDF/AF Museum Hatzerim, Israel 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 1 hour ago, F-32 said: Awesome shots of a true classic, I hope you don't mind me adding a few! F-15C Wright Patterson AFB Guardian by tony_inkster, on Flickr Wright Patterson AFB McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle by tony_inkster, on Flickr Museum of the USAF F-15A Eagle 76-020 by tony_inkster, on Flickr Undercover at Duxford F-15 Eagle by tony_inkster, on Flickr Yanks Air Museum F-15 on display in main museum by tony_inkster, on Flickr IDF/AF Museum Hatzerim, Israel The more the merrier! Thanks Tony for these fabulous additions. Anyone else, feel free to add to. Mark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 Mark, EXCEPTIONAL and GORGEOUS photos of the F-15's. and F-32. Superb photos from you too. Thank you both. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted March 23, 2022 Author Share Posted March 23, 2022 Thanks Houston and all for the kind comments and likes - much appreciated! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 absolutely super shots Mark and a great idea for a thread. I have added a few to my bucket list 🙂 Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 And here's another photo I forgot I had taken. It's 73-0086 wearing 159 FW La ANG markings as seen preserved at US Army Jackson Barracks Louisiana. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Not sure how I missed this thread, Mark! I really enjoyed your photo essay of a very successful type that will be sadly missed. I was disappointed that I didn't get to Lakenheath this year before the C-models departed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted November 1, 2022 Author Share Posted November 1, 2022 14 hours ago, Alpha Delta 210 said: Not sure how I missed this thread, Mark! I really enjoyed your photo essay of a very successful type that will be sadly missed. I was disappointed that I didn't get to Lakenheath this year before the C-models departed. Many thanks Leigh! I too miss the C types at Lakenheath and was glad I managed a few days shooting there before the type vanished. I read that at Kadena Japan the F15C is also now being retired too so the days of the original ADV of the Eagle are numbered, but on the positive side I wonder if or when we will start seeing the new F15EX? Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 The F-15 at Lackland AFB has since been repainted in the prototype "Air Superiority Blue" and insignia orange paint scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now