The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15C Strike Eagle is an American twin-engine all-weather multirole strike fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. McDonnell Aircraft formalized the concept for the F-15 in 1967, when the company was selected to enter the second phase of the U.S Air Force's FX competition. On 23 December 1969, after more than two years of intensive testing and evaluation, the Air Force awarded McDonnell Douglas the F-15 Advanced Tactical Fighter contract. The F-15 Eagle flew first on 27 July 1972, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Six months later, the Air Force approved the Eagle for full-rate production. With a top speed in excess of Mach 2.5 at 11.000 mtrs, it was the first U.S. fighter with enough thrust to accelerate vertically. The F-15 carries a large complement of armament. The first flight of the two-seat F-15B (formerly TF-15A) trainer was made in July 1973. The first F-15B Eagle was delivered in November 1974 to the 58th Tactical Training Wing, Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. In January 1976, the first single-seat F-15A Eagle destined for a combat squadron was delivered to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The second major production version of the single-seat Eagle, the F-15C flew first on 26 February 1979. The F-15C (and F-15D) differs from the F-15A (and F-15B) in having increased internal fuel capacity, provision for a further 4.540 kg of fuel (or fuel and  sensors) and for conformat tanks (FAST packs) on the fuselage sides, plus programmable radar signal processors. Production of the F-15C supplanted the F-15A from mid-1980, the two-seat equivalent F-15D simultaneously supplanted the F-15B. In December 1996, Boeing Co., the world's largest commercial aircraft maker, bought its long-time rival McDonnell Douglas Corp. for $13.3 billion in stock, creating the world's largest integrated aerospace company. Boeing has continued to evolve the F-15 with advanced technology. Production continued with advanced models for several international customers, with in all models, more than 1,500 F-15s built.

On 17 April 2015, the Florida Air National Guard / 125th Fighter Wing' McDonnell Douglas F-15C-30-MC Eagle "81-0023" was seen at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands during Frisian Flag 2015. The Florida Air National Guard 125th Fighter Wing is normally stationed at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Jacksonville, Florida. The F-15C Eagle 81-0023 is one of twelve Eagles of the Florida and Oregon Air National Guard deployed to Europe and temporarily stationed at Leeuwarden AFB. The U.S. Air Force deployed the twelve F-15C Eagles and approximately 200 Airmen out of units in Florida, Oregon, California, Massachusetts and various bases throughout Europe, to Eastern Europe. Regardless of their origin, together, they make up the 159th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Within the months 159th EFS are abroad, they participate in Frisian Flag, a multinational exercise in the Netherlands, and then move to Graf Ignatievo in Bulgaria. During this time the 159th EFS will be conducting routine flight training alongside joint partners.

►  aeroplanes index   helicopters index   EC120 - H120 productionlist   Micro Light Aeroplanes   European Airfields ◄