History F-15 Eagle
The F-15 Eagle history is long and distinguished. It began as a Air Force fighter study in the early 1960s and was known as the Fighter Experimental (FX). By 1967 the Air Force began development of a new high performance fighter aircraft that would be extremely agile and would be capable of gaining and maintaining air superiority through air-to-air combat. The new design had to be optimized for combat with the power and agility to overcome any current or projected Soviet threat. The F-15 was the first air-to-air fighter requested by the Air Force since the F-86 Sabre. The resulting F-15 Eagle had an unequaled combination of performance, firepower, and avionics. It was the benchmark--the plane to beat.
To succeed in the air-to-air role, a plane needs the right airframe in combination with strong powerplant and avionics. The plane�s designers understood this and stretched technology to the limits. It was determined that a very low wing loading combined with heavy thrust from the engines would be required. U.S. fighter aircraft of the period were going faster (Mach 2 plus), but were heavy and lacked maneuverability compared to their Soviet counterparts. When combined with a capable airframe, better maneuverability can be achieved by maximizing thrust, thereby maximizing energy. The Pratt & Whitney F100 Turbofan engine provides the needed thrust. Each engine is capable of producing 15,000 pounds of thrust at maximum power, and 25,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner. This gives the Eagle a total of 50,000 pounds of thrust. In other words, a nominally loaded F-15 Eagle of 48,000 pounds has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.04 pounds of thrust to each pound of aircraft weight. Thrust of this caliber allows an F-15 to accelerate while going straight up! A specially modified F-15A Eagle known as the "Streak Eagle" was able to outclimb a Saturn V Moon Rocket to almost 60,000 feet. This same aircraft flew to 98,430 feet (30,000 meters) in 207.80 seconds (less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds).
The lightly loaded airframe is combined with an equally impressive flight control system. A hydraulically actuated, mechanically controlled flight control system is augmented by an electronic system known as the Control Augmentation System (CAS). This system takes the stick inputs from the pilot and deflects the flight controls in the proper direction at the proper rate for optimal aircraft handling. This system allows the pilot to fly the aircraft to the limits of its capabilities without losing control of the aircraft. The CAS can also actuate the flight controls via pilot input if the hydro-mechanical system is damaged.
In order to win air-to-air battles, the pilot must be able to see, shoot, evade, and destroy the adversary first. The Eagle has an impressive array of weapons and avionics which allow it to get the advantage. The APG-63 and 70 radars allow crews to see targets that are as far away as 100 miles. These "Eyes" are able to ferret out the targets even if the targets are flying at high speeds at low altitudes. A Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) lets the aircrew know if any threat is present. The Heads-up-Display (HUD), and the Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS), allow the Pilot to select, track and shoot the adversary without having to look back into the cockpit.
The impressive avionics suite is backed up by an equally impressive weapons capability. For close air-to-air combat the Eagle carries the six barreled 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. The Vulcan fires rounds at rates of 66 or 100 rounds per second. Further distances are covered by the heat seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, and the deadly AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.
The F-15 Eagle has been produced in five models. The single seat A and C models, the two seat B and D models, and the formidable F-15E Strike Eagle. The A through D models are air-to-air versions but the E Model can carry out an air-to-ground mission in addition to the original air-to-air mission.
The F-15E is capable of delivering over 20,000 pounds of air-to-ground ordinance while traveling at high speeds at very low altitudes (as low as 100 feet) at night. To perform this role the aircraft utilizes the sophisticated LANTIRN system (Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared for Night). This multi-role aircraft was conceived early in the development of the F-15 because it was easier to convert a thoroughbred air-to-air fighter into a ground attack platform than to complete this function in the opposite manner. The rear cockpit has become a dedicated air-to-ground crew station, housing several sophisticated multi-function display screens and two hand controllers. Added fuel is carried in conformal side fuselage tanks that increase the range without adding excessive aircraft drag. These conformal fuel tanks, fully integrated into the aircraft structure, contain hard point stations for additional air-to-ground ordinance loads.
Mission F-15 EagleThe F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat.
To succeed in the air-to-air role, a plane needs the right airframe in combination with strong powerplant and avionics. The plane�s designers understood this and stretched technology to the limits. It was determined that a very low wing loading combined with heavy thrust from the engines would be required. U.S. fighter aircraft of the period were going faster (Mach 2 plus), but were heavy and lacked maneuverability compared to their Soviet counterparts. When combined with a capable airframe, better maneuverability can be achieved by maximizing thrust, thereby maximizing energy. The Pratt & Whitney F100 Turbofan engine provides the needed thrust. Each engine is capable of producing 15,000 pounds of thrust at maximum power, and 25,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner. This gives the Eagle a total of 50,000 pounds of thrust. In other words, a nominally loaded F-15 Eagle of 48,000 pounds has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.04 pounds of thrust to each pound of aircraft weight. Thrust of this caliber allows an F-15 to accelerate while going straight up! A specially modified F-15A Eagle known as the "Streak Eagle" was able to outclimb a Saturn V Moon Rocket to almost 60,000 feet. This same aircraft flew to 98,430 feet (30,000 meters) in 207.80 seconds (less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds).
The lightly loaded airframe is combined with an equally impressive flight control system. A hydraulically actuated, mechanically controlled flight control system is augmented by an electronic system known as the Control Augmentation System (CAS). This system takes the stick inputs from the pilot and deflects the flight controls in the proper direction at the proper rate for optimal aircraft handling. This system allows the pilot to fly the aircraft to the limits of its capabilities without losing control of the aircraft. The CAS can also actuate the flight controls via pilot input if the hydro-mechanical system is damaged.
In order to win air-to-air battles, the pilot must be able to see, shoot, evade, and destroy the adversary first. The Eagle has an impressive array of weapons and avionics which allow it to get the advantage. The APG-63 and 70 radars allow crews to see targets that are as far away as 100 miles. These "Eyes" are able to ferret out the targets even if the targets are flying at high speeds at low altitudes. A Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) lets the aircrew know if any threat is present. The Heads-up-Display (HUD), and the Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS), allow the Pilot to select, track and shoot the adversary without having to look back into the cockpit.
The impressive avionics suite is backed up by an equally impressive weapons capability. For close air-to-air combat the Eagle carries the six barreled 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. The Vulcan fires rounds at rates of 66 or 100 rounds per second. Further distances are covered by the heat seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, and the deadly AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile.
The F-15 Eagle has been produced in five models. The single seat A and C models, the two seat B and D models, and the formidable F-15E Strike Eagle. The A through D models are air-to-air versions but the E Model can carry out an air-to-ground mission in addition to the original air-to-air mission.
The F-15E is capable of delivering over 20,000 pounds of air-to-ground ordinance while traveling at high speeds at very low altitudes (as low as 100 feet) at night. To perform this role the aircraft utilizes the sophisticated LANTIRN system (Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared for Night). This multi-role aircraft was conceived early in the development of the F-15 because it was easier to convert a thoroughbred air-to-air fighter into a ground attack platform than to complete this function in the opposite manner. The rear cockpit has become a dedicated air-to-ground crew station, housing several sophisticated multi-function display screens and two hand controllers. Added fuel is carried in conformal side fuselage tanks that increase the range without adding excessive aircraft drag. These conformal fuel tanks, fully integrated into the aircraft structure, contain hard point stations for additional air-to-ground ordinance loads.
Mission F-15 EagleThe F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat.
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