I don't think you've hear the latest on John Boyd.. Short story, he isn't regarded as the maverick everyone likes to think he was. Some of his stuff are great (OODA loop) but some are completely disregarded in the modern fighter jet development and tactics (being a part of the fighter mafia he disliked complex multirole fighters with advanced radars, stealth, etc..) Also the video of the F-15 with one wing flying is fake.. This actually did happen and there are photos of the jet on the ground but there is no video of it flying. This was shown in a documentary about the F-15 so the authors used CGI to cut its wing.. I think you as a pilot should have realized that the F-15 without the wing is flying perfectly which would be impossible..
I flew the mighty Eagle, most memorably with the 43rd tfs at that time based at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. This was back in the first half of the 1980's, and we had frequent headbutting with Russian pilots who loved to poke at the ADIZ just so we would come run them off. When I saw Top Gun in ... What was that, 1986? It felt so familiar, the cat and mouse games, very similar to how it was portrayed in the movie, except of course they weren't flying black T-38's with even numbered designations, and I don't remember the sense of pressure portrayed in the movie. We owned them, we both knew it, and it had become something of a game, although we were aware of the potential consequences. We called them the flying vineyard, because... Well, they were. We could make Russian wine anytime we liked, WVR , BVR, it didn't matter. It was good to be King. Best time of my life. It ended so soon, it was hard to walk away. I ended up flying for Continental until I retired, spending the last half of my career in the 757. Great airplane, I enjoyed my time in it. But it was no eagle. Check six, friends.
The records were set by the "Streak Eagle" in early 1975. The jet was left unpainted to save weight and flew from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The location and time of year was picked so the air was cold and dry...ergo nice and dense. My Dad was part of that team :-)
back then they used to cheat quite a bit... Once a F-104 was tied on the runway with a chain, engine was put into full afterburner, chain was released. Otherwise the brakes would not have been able to prevent the F-104 from rolling (which would have caused the clock start). F-104 even beat an Eagle in a climb to altitude from two parallel runways. F-104 had almost now fuel onboard and indeed won. But pilot had to declare an emergency right after he had won. Interesting times back then.
its more than just less paint, the streak was stripped of everything non essential for the testing. radar and all ew gone, environmental was an small bottle of oxygen. they wanted to beat its soviet mirror, the p42 a modified sukhoi. im suprised the pilot wouldnt know this
@@byloyuripka9624 P42 was a stripped SU-27 that beat the F-15 records in the mid-80s. The Streak Eagle was after the MiG-25. While many records were broken, the prize was time-to-climb to 30k meters
My dad helped design many planes the A4 at Douglas then the F-15 and F-18 and the Super Harrier when he worked at Douglas later MacDonnell Douglas. He had been a POW in WWII and was a top turret gunner in a B 17 over Ploesti, they got shot up so bad on their 40th mission they couldn't get over the mtns in Yugoslavia (only one engine left) to get back home in Foggia Italy and had to crash land in Croatia and ended up walking to Poland as a prisoner of war. He always thought about what he went through when he worked on new aircraft and i believe did his best to make sure no one else would end up that way. He passed away back in 1998 but would have been proud to see his work was still going strong 25 years after passing. I miss him.
My daughter is a 2W1X1 and Seymour was her first duty station. She absolutely LOVED the F15 and how easy it was to work on the weapons systems and got real good at it when deployed to Al Dhafra. Her favorite was changing out the Vulcan. So she left Seymour and went to Kunsan and had to switch to the F16. She hated everything about that air frame LOL. She tried to explain to me (I was Air Force also, btw) that it was like trying to work on a small car with a big block (I am a car guy) and everything was tight. LOL - She is now an Instructor @ Sheppard. Love your video!!!
She'd have presumably loved working on A-10s. Guys at Ft Wayne (163d FS/122 FW) are going BACK to F-16s after transitioning from older F-16s to A-10s in 2009. One of their older pilots was talking about coming into the unit after the transition, going to the maintenance hangar, being shocked to hear a tech literally banging away on sheet aluminum with a hammer, which is obviously anathema to a Viper.
@@earlarthur9378 sweet! I'm retired Army Field Artillery (Guard and Reserve) and even spent a few weeks at Nellis, so anything that does air-to-ground is cool to me, including the BUFFs my old college roommate used to work on at Barksdale. We went to Purdue. I was an Agricultural guy and he was Aviation Tech. Now he's teaching A&P, or whatever they call it now, in Shreveport for LSU. Was a maintenance chief on B-52s as an E-4 at the outset of OEF because he said they pulled all the 5s & 6s to B1&2 ground crews, and he was overqualified, as were the Embry-Riddle guys. Also was an Army brat. Old Man was a fixed wing chief mech for C-12s.
The Eagle has what is called a "lifting body design" which means that the body of the airplane also develops lift which is why the Israeli F-15 was able to return to base after the mid air collision. The pilot landed the aircraft at 265 miles per hour because he couldn't control the aircraft at a slower speed. My uncle was working for McDonald Douglas and was sent to Israel to inspect the aircraft before it was repaired. I have a piece of the wing skin that my uncle brought home from the trip.
@@colonalklink14 they both have. It's called the pancake. Also the Blackhawk's fuselage also produces lift. From the side it looks like a section of an airfoil. Somewhat flat bottom with a camber over the top.
I was at a UK airshow once during the 80s or it might have been the 90s, can't remember which one it was now, and the F-15 display did a high speed vertical climb to altitude. When it reached it's maximum climb altitude, it then did a downward slow vertical spin while the airshow commentator counted out each spin rotation. I can't remember how many rotations it achieved, but it was quite amazing to watch. Wow that sure was one awesome display! I was also at the Farnborough airshow in the late 70s, when the F-15 made it's first appearance at a UK airshow. 👍 ✊😎
The AESA radar in the F-15EX integrates with the F-35 system. Imagine the powerful AESA illuminating ground targets from a stand off position while the ground radar focuses on the F-15 as the stealthy F-35 uses that data to move into position to destroy the enemy radar and blind them. Then the F-15 comes in like a Peterbilt to destroy the target.
That is the best thing I think the Air Force is doing. Is Integrating all there New Stuff to all be able to work together, share data info, Targets, everything. That is a very smart way of doing things. Just like all the New stuff we are building will all be able to collect Information and Data from everything so everybody on the battlefield has the same knowledge. From Ship, Planes, Tanks, Anti Air Systems, Subs, Satellites, Humvees, down to the regular Infantry man...
The F-15 also has the only kill of a satellite. Used to work on an Air Force range, and it was like an airshow every day. The F-15s and F-16s can do maneuvers that look impossible. It was a great job.
As a kid in the late 80’s growing up with my elementary school being with in sight of the flight line at Elmondorf AFB the F-15 will always be the quintessential fighter aircraft. Seeing them launching in the dark winter mornings was an absolutely thrilling thing to watch.
I wanted to work on Vipers when I joined the AF and when I got my orders, it was F-15’s. Initially I was bummed out but that quickly changed. My inventive flight in ‘99 was amazing, I tried to press the MPD buttons under G and it was impossible, hence reason for HOTAS. 45 minutes of pure adrenaline, and kept my cookies where they belong 😅. Serial number 89-0487 was the F-15E that got that helicopter kill. Worked on that bird a hundred times.
Salute, I was the Lame ass SP driving around the flight line waiting to shoot anybody that interrupted your Critical Work, you guys and Gals are the reason the USAF can generate unmatched numbers of Sorties that make us the Greatest Air Force in the World!
Winter Bitburg Germany 1967, Victor Alert. The cops had to guard the nukes from a phone booth with no heat. At night, we crew chiefs would man up and drive around in the bread truck, supplied with food and coffee and give them a warm up inside the truck. You’d think the richest country in the world would give them a Coleman lantern or something. Got to chat with some very grateful airmen out there. @@dhbroussard89
Maybe I misunderstood or something.. but you said the kill was with a Jdam bomb, and then you said the WSO moved the Laser designator forward "with" the helo.. hence a LGB.. so which one was it? Maybe GBU54 which is both?
I was at Kadena, Okinawa when they got F-15s to replace the F-4s. The F-15s were an enormous leap in performance over the smoky old F-4s. The F-15s could circle in full burner 500ft of the deck and stay above the field, than accelerate staight up to 30k ft.
The shriek as they banked over our house was too cool. I worked at MDC at the end of the F-4 and while the F-15 and F-18 were being built. Our lunch time was often sitting at the end of the main runways and watching the "Viking" departure. You know roll a little way down the runway and then straight up! I think it was on 30 L. Also saw one barrel roll out of Lambert (STL) while I was golfing at Berry Hill.
It’s my favorite fighter in the skies with the F-22 and F-16 right next to it. Years ago I wasn’t much of an F-16 fan because I liked twin engines. As I got older and realized how good the F-16 actually is and the fact that it can pull 9g plus all day long is just mind blowing. I’ve always found it amazing at how tight it can turn at speed without anything like thrust vectoring. So, the fact that the F-15 is the air superiority champion is just amazing. The fact no none have been lost in combat is just crazy!
So just to be clear - you ran the Strike Eagle without conformal tanks. Is that to say you were running completely slick, or that you had a drop tank? I’ve often wondered just how much that additional surface area from munitions and other external accessories reduces the overall performance of the aircraft. I was a Farsi linguist in the Air Force between early 2001 and early 2010, but my dream was to commission and hopefully fly the F-15 or A-10. I’ve been absolutely in love with the F-15 since I was a little boy. Later, I learned that an extra engine and enough room for your golf clubs is the most important consideration. Sadly, I wasn’t able to achieve my dream due to a medication that I have to take every day. My heart is still broken. I’m 41 now and know I’ll never get the chance to experience what it’s like to go up in one for a familiarization ride. I’d give my right nut for that chance!
Amen to that, I would be standing right behind you in line to give up that right Nut! By far my favorite Jet in the U.S. Arsenal. Even over the F-22 Raptor! Great jet don't get me wrong, but I'd rather fly the F-15 to tell you the truth...
I had just arrived at Shady J in late 1989 just as they started transitioning to the F15E from the F4. It was cool to see both aircraft types on the ramp at the same time. Was also in Al Kharj when that helicopter was taken down with a GBU15. Fun times
Thanks for the comment about Colonel Boyd. I read a biography on him (I think it was just called "Boyd") and it was filled with fascinating info. John Boyd LITERALLY "wrote the book" on ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering) and it also went into his COMPLETELY non-orthodox approaches into both flying AND dealing with superior officers who "just didn't get it"! His OODA Loop has been accepted by virtually all members of the various war colleges across the globe, not just for aviation, but in all forms of combat and competition. He was almost constantly at risk of being "cashiered", but usually was saved by some officer who knew him and his philosophy. He was known as "Forty Second Boyd", due to his ability to get a firing solution on EVERY pilot he flew against. He served in Korea, but never got a chance to shoot at an adversary there. Not bad for a guy who started his military career as Army enlisted...
I am no exert but a jet buff. I have read much about the F15 and due to it's illustrious history, I am pleased to see that it continues to this day in the F 15 EX model. This jet's track record and capabilities both air to air and air to ground, plus its lift capability puts it in a league all on its own. I only wish that my country would invest in such an awesome aircraft. I would feel much safer knowing one is around and on my side !!
The F-15 has always been my favorite attack aircraft and hearing all of these stats (some of which I'd heard before) did nothing to take away to that impressive legacy that the F-15 carries with it. It was inevitable that a newer jet was going to come along to replace the F-15, that's just the nature of innovation, but this jet will still always be my favorite attacking jet!
The Second Stage of After Burner is called V-Max. If you brake the safety wire and flip the switch up, the fuel control manifold opens to it physical max of inflow. That's a 4 1/2 inch diameter pipe of fuel. If your lucky you'll get 5 minutes flight time on internal fuel load. McDonald Douglas tested it during flight testing in the 70's. Created for one time use to escape something catastrophic.
Yep, something like dropping a nuke. F16 have these also, same reason. It's the "I just dropped a nuke and need to get the F out of here before the shockwave gets me" switch lol
I love it!! F-15E Strike Eagle is my first and truly only love! I was a Jet Engine Troop at Shady J for 10 years (97-07). 5 of those were with the 336th Rocketeers. Man I miss working that jet.
I was blessed to be a Crew Chief in the 58th Fighter Squadron during the early 90's. If you don't know this unit then you don't know anything about killing MiG's and you need to go and learn about this squadron on the internet. Pilots like Cesar 'Rico" Rodriguez, Rory Draeger, Larry Pitts, Craig Underhill and a lot more that I've forgotten. You'll read quite a bit about them for sure, they're pilots. What you won't hear about are the maintainers behind them. I could list all those names but they wouldn't be names you can look up and learn about...they're not pilots. They were lead by CMSgt Jose Matos and without them, there would've been a bunch of high-priced paper weights sitting on the flight line instead of F-15's flying Combat Air Patrol to knock down the MiGs that came up. Names like Larry White, Karl Johnson, Brett Jewel, BJ Murray, Charles Arrasmith, David Westrup, John Glantz, Peggy Edwards....and A LOT more that escape memory are all people who made it happen but you won't read about them anywhere.
Rico's kill is on the History Channel here on TH-cam! Draeger also I believe. Ya in The History Channel under Dogfights, I believe Rico's Video is "Air Combat Transformed in Desert Storm"... I can actually see it on my side bar while typing this message. I have been watching a lot of those Video's of late. They do a really great job of Really Animating the entire Mission! I love them. The video of the first Israeli Kill is in there, The Eagle with One Wing, The Mission when the F-15 took out the first Satellite, and Many Many More. I suggest Everyone take a look at these Video's, lot's of Live Kills caught on Camera and it is usually Narrated by those Pilots that flew that mission or were in that mission. And there are a few video's of Boyd and the other guy there he called the Mafia. They have a video of Boyd's first mission! They really are Great Videos and I recommend anyone and everyone go watch them. Just type in the search bar, History Channel "Dogfights"!
Max, Thanks for your service and LOVE YOUR SHOW!! Your podcast is awesome. I have always been an aviation fan. You should think about doing a joint podcast with C.W. Lemoine "Mover" ... I bet you guys chatting about stories or topics would be really cool... training, etc. Just an idea!
My father flew the F-15C (57th FIS Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Iceland, 9th Fighter Squadron in New Mexico). I had always planned on joining the AF to fly the F-15, but a few weeks before my senior was to start, my friend lost control of his car, ripped it in half, and put me in the hospital for a year which made me medically unable to join. One of my favorite games was Super Strike Eagle for the SNES.
@@MT-Pink Conformal Fuel Tanks. A lower drag method of carrying external fuel. The F-15E Strike Eagle employs them regularly. Also called "Fast Packs" in early literature. Quite the mission scrambling into your jet to go and meet a Soviet missile carrier aircraft with nothing but water all around. I have a book called Global Air Power. One of my favourite pics is the pic of 2 light gray Eagles of the 57th FIS out of Keflavik Iceland. Page 127 jet 040 and jet 030 both with IS tail flashes and both jets part of fiscal year 1980 also painted on the tails of the F-15s. With the caption beside the picture stating: "Two F-15s from the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Keflavik Naval Air Station formate on a Soviet Bear over the Arctic Circle. The F-15 pilots if the 57th FIS probably eyeball more Soviet aircraft than any other USAF flying unit." Kinda cool that one of my favourite pics while growing up was of a couple Iceland F-15s from your father's old fighter squadron. Small world.
I can still remember like it was yesterday , the first time I saw a formation of F-15s flying over the park my babysitter took me too for the day . I was five years old , and soo many decades later I can still remember the sound and the sights , from then and always , the F-15 gives me incredible pride for this , The Greatest Nation to ever exist .
Hard to believe the Eagle is 50 years old. I was born in 1955. Seemed like we were getting neW jets every year when I was growing up. I think I was already through my first enlistment in the Army when the F-15 went into service. Still an awesome bird, well deserving of then name. My grandson is an Air Force WSO. He's just started an exchange assignment in Growlers up at Whidbey Island. He hopes to go to Seymour-Johnson when that is over. BTW, he watches your stuff religiously. It would really really give him a charge if he got a shou-out from you. 1LT Robert Bieshelt (Bobby). I hope he doesn't get hung with"BOB" for a callsign.
You're right. I was born a few years before you, 1949. Jet fighter technology (design, engines, weapons, avionics, training, you name it) were all evolving rapidly -- and the same could have been said about prop fighter planes in WWII. How long was the service life of the P-51 in WWII? You could measure it in months. By the Korean War, the Mustang was toast. Ditto for the F-86 Sabre Jet, star of the Korean War. A decade later, you didn't see them in Vietnam (never saw one in my travels up and down that country during my 18-months Navy tour from Da Nang to Rach Gia). I remember seeing F-15s and F-16s decades ago, and they're still doing yeoman service for the Air Force, albeit with many, many hardware and software upgrades -- but the airframe design itself was golden. I remember watching F-16s do touch-and-goes from NAS San Diego on my last day in the Navy 29 years ago (wondering why the Navy would even allow "foreign" Air Force fighters to use a Navy runway in the first place!). They were beauties! Ditto for the F-18s and the Super Hornets of the Navy. Reminds me of the PC computer (including Macs) technology race of the late 1970s through the end of the century. I worked at JPL, and we were always replacing one- or two- or three-year old computers with newer ones (with software chasing right behind). I remember spending hours tweaking hardware and installing upgrades almost endlessly. Exhausting (at least mentally -- "didn't we just upgrade that department six months ago, and they're complaining again!?!?!"). Now, computing technology evolution has slowed to the point where you can take a breath and enjoy the machine you built or purchased a few years ago (at least) without worrying about whether it can take that next software upgrade (except for, maybe, ahem, Windows 11!).
They WERE coming out with new birds every year (or more, on average) back then. It all ended with F-15 because it really was so far beyond everything else at the time that there was no need to improve it. Even the F-16 and F-17 (later 18) were only developed to be cheaper and supplement the Eagle, not replace it. It was so great they keep making new variants to fill gaps in the war machine as older aircraft are removed from service (like the E). It wasn't really slated to be replaced until the 90s when they had the F-22/F-23 competition, and 30 years later the Eagle is STILL the point of the sword. I know when I was based in West Germany at the end of the 80s the F-15 was still the undeniable No. Air Superiority aircraft in the world. Cheers.
So I live in Western Massachusetts near a Air/Army National Guard Base that used to house A-10's which I will get to. I am 42 now and was 14 when we moved here, and when I was young I hated the A-10 for just the look cause I knew nothing about it. But after 9/11 they moved the Air National Guard A-10s to another base and for the first time I got to see the First Fighter Jet in Flight in my life. They moved 3 or 4 Squadrons of the F-15 C/D to this base 1.5 Miles behind my house! I never fell in Love with a Plane so much in my life, matter a fact they were not a part of my Radar at the age of 21-22! But wow I was Amazed at this Beautiful, Powerful, Lethal Machine that is now in my Backyard! So I totally Fell in Love with The F-15! These were stationed in Eastern Mass on the Cape. So they moved them here cause I guess it is a few minutes shorter in fly time to N.Y. or D.C. So I have been blessed to be able to watch an Airshow every week for the last 20 years! And they actually have a Airshow every other year usually with the F-16 Thunderbirds and about 10 miles away is Westover Air Reserve Base which has a Airshow every other year opposite of the one by my house. And I was able to see the Blue Angels there a few times. But it brakes my heart now knowing that the F-15's are being Replaced with F-35A's by 2027. So while I am excited to see the F-35A fly all the time cause I just did for the first time this summer at the Airshow they had one F-35. I am also so so Sad to see the F-15 leave! I will miss they're Airshow Take Offs every so often when they just Full Power it down the runway and go Straight up to about 15-20,000 feet and turn Inverted till they straighten out and then roll back over on they're wings! And they're crazy Scary Fly By's when returning back to base! When they are coming at you at 350 knots you can't hear anything till they are already long by you, so it ends up scaring the shit out of you. And I am also not looking forward to listening to these MUCH NOISIER F-35's on their training missions when they are flying over at 5am on a Sunday morning or taking off at all hours of the night. But at least it is only while they are doing Training missions which only happen about twice a year. The local news lets us know when they are having these training missions so people are not Panicking. Cause it is not normal for them to be flying at night, we are all used to their Schedule. So when it changes people kinda freak and think something is going on. Oh back to the A-10, now that I am older, holly molly what a fricking Tank with Wings! That is my 2nd favorite Jet after the F-15 EX, then F-22, F-35, F-16, and F/A-18 Hornet.
That was basically the way it was in the 50s and 60s. Fighter designs just flew out of the constructors back then. There were about 6 constructors too.
Yep the design came from the jet produced by Canada. It flew over NY followed by the President of USA (won't mention) warned Canada and our Prime Minister (Defienbaker) had the pilots bail and final plane fly into Lake Michigan. This plane was even superior to the F15 because Radar could not pick it up. Had these two people had put their heads together this plane would have protected the North American Continent and a superior force for world. It was years ahead of what came later. All the Canadian Engineers on this project were hired by NASA True Story.
Was there any sort of pilot hierarchy when you interacted with other pilots? Would everyone regard F22 pilots as the "best" vs someone piloting an F15 or is everyone pretty cool and treat each other equally? Do Thunderbird pilots get extra respect for their incredible flying skills or do they get overlooked because they're not participating in combat missions?
I live in Goldsboro NC, home of SJAFB and the F-15Es. I was told by an F-15E pilot that the F-15C (air superiority) pilots look down on them as only being 'landscapers'; they drop bombs. My friend pointed out that they can do EVERYTHING a C model can do, and more. The design may be getting old, but they are still very impressive. And the EX variant should make them relevant well into the future.
@@kevindavis7407 It can do many things that a C model could do but everything that a C model could do can do better than what a E can e.g dogfight better. C was lighter and better for air superiority while E variant wasn't designed like that so yeah they are kinda right about them being landscrapers but f15e can carry more load for ground
It always sounds like the pilots of one fighter jet type look down on the fighter pilots of every other jet type, no matter what jet they it the other flies.
@@kevindavis7407 Ridiculous that anyone in the U.S. Military would look down upon any other Soldier is not right!!! We are all one Team and it is not a game, and even if people think it is, we are still on the same team so why talk BS?!?!?
The F-15 STOL/MTD has 2D thrust vectoring, as well as canard wings. From what I understand, it was kind of a beast. But it wasn't anything more than a maneuverability test platform. It was never a production line military fighter.
@@napalmsanctuaryx4129 if I remember correctly they also kind of used that as a test bed for thrust vectoring which let them figure it out and then apply that to the f-22 which was under development
That was a stellar sales pitch if I ever heard one. I recently found Ward Mooch Carroll and think the F-14 Tomcat is a super cool asset. Is it just a better bet for naval takeoffs and landings? I'm curious about the airtime the 14 vs 15 might be with the Tomcat soar option. I've only heard about the best stuff about the F-15. I just would appreciate your view on where each craft had their place. I'm a total novice, sorry. Super curious, though
Asking any AF driver to compare their jet to any Navy bird is like asking would they rather have a jet or a prop. The AF jets are lighter and more nimble because they can't stand up to life at sea, it's simple as that. Ask them would they rather dogfight or make a carrier trap in ideal conditions, tho, that'll tell ya bout the driving skills! 😅
@@koori3085 - That makes sense, thanks. I messed around with Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane simulator years ago with some add-ons that the pilot forums mostly agreed were as good as it gets, real time weather add-ons included. After reading the aircraft manuals and maxing out the "realism" settings I was humbled. I was decent at aircraft carrier landings... with the Piper Cub and a headwind that was strong enough to keep me at a snail's pace. Put me in the pilot's seat of any aircraft that requires a solid skill set, I'm a bull and the world is my china shop. Glad professional pilots have to train really hard.
@clintstinkeye5607 Some of those simulators can get the blood going for sure, I only drove Cessnas for real, but spend a lot of time with pros, including close family. With USAF and USN drivers at one table, they respect each other's abilities and equipment, but the AF guy thinks the Navy guy is crazy and he thinks the AF guy is an airshow pilot! Happy flying man, get up in a Cessna if you get a chance, that's where the joy of flying is bud
@@koori3085 - It's been a while and I just recalled that part of maxing out realism is maxing out the damage and G effects, too. My simulated engines, airframes, flaps and passengers on anything more complicated than a Piper Cub were grateful when I turned the computer off.
@clintstinkeye5607 HAHAHA, that would have been anyone when I tried those things also! Took my g/f up once in a 172, she didn't appreciate the turbulence, either.
Pretty fast for an E model. I was a crew chief on 15’s. A,B,C,D’s. Flew back seat in my D model and got to 1.2 in Alaska. VMAX switches were always broken open. Had to use heavier safety wire to keep the pilots honest. Keep up the good videos.
So crazy.. i saw a 15 taekoff from McChord and do exactly what you described with the straight up and split s RIGHT above a think cloud line. Was the coolest thing ive ever seen a jet do. Dude.. what an awesome life. So much respect. TY for your time in, Sir.
I watched my brother do an unrestricted climb-out in an F-15A with a light fuel load-out back in the 70s. Except there was no split S, it just...disappeared. Loudest thing I've ever heard, made our Mom cry.
yes F22 is without a doubt the best at this time, I saw a F-22 demo at Fairchilds Airforce base, it blew my mind, but when the F15 took off I could not stop grinning, that was a blast. 104-0 air to air, and a F-15 broke all those climb records, and also shot a satellite down that is just amazing
Thanks for your service. I was stationed at Seymour Johnson from 1976 to 1980 as a Electronic Warfare Systems technician, My ECM shop was part of the 4th Component Repair Squadron, pre POMO organization working on the F-4E Gun Nose Phantoms. That was back when the 4th Wing was part of the Tactical Air Command.
Hey Max, F-15 maintenance officer from 2Lt to LtCol either on the flightline or on staff fighting for structural upgrades, GE engines (from them PW-100), weapons etc.. In the 80s while stationed in Europe holding back the Soviet Mongol Hord in the Fulda Gap. Ended up with over 40hrs back seat time flying ahead of larger packages doing site surveys. Foreign Military sales, lots of acquisition time (PowerPoint Ranger) and blessed to serve with some of the best fighter pilots who went on to get their 4-stars. Nothing compares to the Eagle/Mudhen, happy they are bring back newer versions. Great channel you have, keep it up and keep'em flying.
Great post, as usual. I really enjoy your enthusiasm about the Air Force especially about the F-15 (in all iterations). I must say that I'm a tad jealous about the passion you exude over over your chosen vocation, I enjoyed my work but it's very clear that you truly love yours. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for bringing back old memories! I was an avionics maintainer from 1980 - 2000. I started on A-models at Bitburg, and spent my last 12 years as a Rocketeer.
I just subscribed to your channel. This is a great video. I love the F-15, it's one of my favorites. My wife and I have been to many airshows and have seen the F-15 perform. AWESOME!
My grandpa worked at McDonnell-Douglas and was involved in all the following fighter projects: F-101, F-4, F-111, F-15, and F-18. (They farmed him out to General Dynamics for the F-111). The F-15 has always been and always will be my absolute favorite. Saw one in person at Mac a year or so after they went into production, and I was in love.
I worked 31 years at McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing mostly on the F-15. I built C/D models and every E model. Many planes built for foreign countries. Nothing like seeing an unrestricted takeoff from the parking lot right next to the runway.
Great video. Thx for sharing. I was a young crew chief at shady j in the early 90’s. 336th fs, but worked f-4’s with the 335th upon pcs. 336th had deployed to Saudi. Your point about f4’s is also applicable on the mx side too. F15 was so much more mx friendly. Ex: engine R2. F4 took almost 4 shifts. F15 R2 with engine run in 1 shift. Before I pcs’d out of sjafb, I remember there was a high speed ejection. Back seater didn’t survive and front seater was banged up. The pilot was on one of those history channel episodes. Those were produced very well. I’m in one of them for about 3 seconds. On a different note, I also remember this cool restaurant/bar called Billy’s in downtown Goldsboro. Lot’s of cool stories from there too, but not appropriate to share on yt. 😜✌️
New sub. Just found this channel today. Seems like something I'll get addicted to quickly. Just watched the vid on Iran's ambitions for the future. Very well done. No fluff, no bs just expert opinion with receipts.
I'm not a fixed wing DCS guy but I learned a lot from this about an aircraft that is super cool. A great format that keeps you chewing popcorn the whole time. 🙂
Thank you for your Service Sir! I had the privilege of working with COCESS with Civil Engineering at Seymour Johnson AFB for 7+ years, working for a civilian company bringing in supplies in conjunction with Logistics, ending in 2018 when I retired. Best job I ever had, met some great amazing people while I was there. I got to see the F15 up close, but never was fortunate enough to get a ride in one. Many thanks again to all our Service Men and Women, and our Veterans for keeping our Country safe!
Awesome! Love your t shirt! 😎🤘☠️ I lived in Alaska for 6 years and I've been to 3 Arctic Thunder Air Shows at Elmendorf air base. Best air show on earth in my opinion! I talked with pilots and even got to talk to the commander of the Hellions squadron (F-22 squadron)!
This brings back a million memory’s. Mostly working and loading the Vulcans on F4s back in the 70s. I actually shot the gun a couple times. Not many enlisted guys around anymore that did that but I was in before lazer bore sighting. We cabled the plane down and sighted the gun in just like a big deer rifle. Had the round limiter set to fifty, pulled the trigger and then the roar. They ask if I wanted to do it again. Are you kidding? Bummed me out when two firings was all we needed. Changing the guns at night was tough. Loading was simple compared to what I see in the videos. Love staying caught up on the weapons systems and how far they’ve coming but also good to see the Vulcans still in service and state of art. Makes me feel a little less obsolete.
As a kid, my family was stationed at Bitburg Airbase in Germany during the cold war. Within that stint, there were A,B,C, and D models at the base. Loved watching various exercises and witnessing the aerial demos during airshows. The crackling rumble of the afterburners gave me a natural high. I've always been fascinated with the F-15.
The F-15 is still my favourite fighter of all time. I've just been watching a few vids about the F-15EX too so it looks like it'll be around for many years to come yet which is testament to the incredible design of the air frame. Great vid MA, many thanks.
Absolutely love your videos. The Viper is still my favorite but I love both. I'm going to make a drinking game though: every time we hear you say "At the end of the day".. lol 😂
The terrain following radar system is awesome. Especially having a hard and soft setting. The F-15 is a beast. That Israeli pilot that flew without a wing shows how powerful it really is.
I remember one Red Flag at Nellis during the cold war one of the Marine squadrons got tired of losing as scheduled, and decided "Intelligence was Wrong." Instead of following the flight schedule, they launched the planes they had available. The surprise was enough to teach a major lesson about surprise and complacency.
Hey! Thanks for checking out this video. Support this channel by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/MaxAfterburner
I don't think you've hear the latest on John Boyd.. Short story, he isn't regarded as the maverick everyone likes to think he was. Some of his stuff are great (OODA loop) but some are completely disregarded in the modern fighter jet development and tactics (being a part of the fighter mafia he disliked complex multirole fighters with advanced radars, stealth, etc..)
Also the video of the F-15 with one wing flying is fake.. This actually did happen and there are photos of the jet on the ground but there is no video of it flying. This was shown in a documentary about the F-15 so the authors used CGI to cut its wing.. I think you as a pilot should have realized that the F-15 without the wing is flying perfectly which would be impossible..
I flew the mighty Eagle, most memorably with the 43rd tfs at that time based at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. This was back in the first half of the 1980's, and we had frequent headbutting with Russian pilots who loved to poke at the ADIZ just so we would come run them off. When I saw Top Gun in
... What was that, 1986? It felt so familiar, the cat and mouse games, very similar to how it was portrayed in the movie, except of course they weren't flying black T-38's with even numbered designations, and I don't remember the sense of pressure portrayed in the movie. We owned them, we both knew it, and it had become something of a game, although we were aware of the potential consequences.
We called them the flying vineyard, because... Well, they were. We could make Russian wine anytime we liked, WVR , BVR, it didn't matter.
It was good to be King.
Best time of my life. It ended so soon, it was hard to walk away. I ended up flying for Continental until I retired, spending the last half of my career in the 757. Great airplane, I enjoyed my time in it.
But it was no eagle.
Check six, friends.
The records were set by the "Streak Eagle" in early 1975. The jet was left unpainted to save weight and flew from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The location and time of year was picked so the air was cold and dry...ergo nice and dense. My Dad was part of that team :-)
back then they used to cheat quite a bit... Once a F-104 was tied on the runway with a chain, engine was put into full afterburner, chain was released. Otherwise the brakes would not have been able to prevent the F-104 from rolling (which would have caused the clock start). F-104 even beat an Eagle in a climb to altitude from two parallel runways. F-104 had almost now fuel onboard and indeed won. But pilot had to declare an emergency right after he had won. Interesting times back then.
its more than just less paint, the streak was stripped of everything non essential for the testing. radar and all ew gone, environmental was an small bottle of oxygen. they wanted to beat its soviet mirror, the p42 a modified sukhoi. im suprised the pilot wouldnt know this
The video's of this are fantastic.
@@byloyuripka9624 P42 was a stripped SU-27 that beat the F-15 records in the mid-80s. The Streak Eagle was after the MiG-25. While many records were broken, the prize was time-to-climb to 30k meters
CAMO painted F4 ' s knocked a few hundred miles off the top speed off of a polished metal finish .
My dad helped design many planes the A4 at Douglas then the F-15 and F-18 and the Super Harrier when he worked at Douglas later MacDonnell Douglas. He had been a POW in WWII and was a top turret gunner in a B 17 over Ploesti, they got shot up so bad on their 40th mission they couldn't get over the mtns in Yugoslavia (only one engine left) to get back home in Foggia Italy and had to crash land in Croatia and ended up walking to Poland as a prisoner of war. He always thought about what he went through when he worked on new aircraft and i believe did his best to make sure no one else would end up that way. He passed away back in 1998 but would have been proud to see his work was still going strong 25 years after passing. I miss him.
Not only it is a very powerful aircraft, it is also the most beautiful in my opinion
Hands down.100👍🏾
Absolutely beautiful and terrifying at the same time. If that was co.ing at me in the sky I would just eject
My daughter is a 2W1X1 and Seymour was her first duty station. She absolutely LOVED the F15 and how easy it was to work on the weapons systems and got real good at it when deployed to Al Dhafra. Her favorite was changing out the Vulcan. So she left Seymour and went to Kunsan and had to switch to the F16. She hated everything about that air frame LOL. She tried to explain to me (I was Air Force also, btw) that it was like trying to work on a small car with a big block (I am a car guy) and everything was tight. LOL - She is now an Instructor @ Sheppard.
Love your video!!!
She'd have presumably loved working on A-10s. Guys at Ft Wayne (163d FS/122 FW) are going BACK to F-16s after transitioning from older F-16s to A-10s in 2009. One of their older pilots was talking about coming into the unit after the transition, going to the maintenance hangar, being shocked to hear a tech literally banging away on sheet aluminum with a hammer, which is obviously anathema to a Viper.
@@anthonykaiser974 Good call because she's headed to Davis-Monthan next month and will be an A10 gal.
@@earlarthur9378 sweet! I'm retired Army Field Artillery (Guard and Reserve) and even spent a few weeks at Nellis, so anything that does air-to-ground is cool to me, including the BUFFs my old college roommate used to work on at Barksdale. We went to Purdue. I was an Agricultural guy and he was Aviation Tech. Now he's teaching A&P, or whatever they call it now, in Shreveport for LSU. Was a maintenance chief on B-52s as an E-4 at the outset of OEF because he said they pulled all the 5s & 6s to B1&2 ground crews, and he was overqualified, as were the Embry-Riddle guys. Also was an Army brat. Old Man was a fixed wing chief mech for C-12s.
Bro you are an extremely lucky parent, cherish that it's super rare for our children to share our interests.
What's 2w1x1
The Eagle has what is called a "lifting body design" which means that the body of the airplane also develops lift which is why the Israeli F-15 was able to return to base after the mid air collision. The pilot landed the aircraft at 265 miles per hour because he couldn't control the aircraft at a slower speed. My uncle was working for McDonald Douglas and was sent to Israel to inspect the aircraft before it was repaired. I have a piece of the wing skin that my uncle brought home from the trip.
SO COOL!! I bet you would not trade that wing skin piece for anything!! I don't blame you!!
The F-15 does not have a lifting body fuselage.
The F-14 had that.
@@colonalklink14 they both have. It's called the pancake. Also the Blackhawk's fuselage also produces lift. From the side it looks like a section of an airfoil. Somewhat flat bottom with a camber over the top.
@@sandpebbles The eagle has both engines close together, so where is the pancake?
Do yourself a favor. Google “f15 lifting body”. Then apologize to @sandpebbles
I was at a UK airshow once during the 80s or it might have been the 90s, can't remember which one it was now, and the F-15 display did a high speed vertical climb to altitude. When it reached it's maximum climb altitude, it then did a downward slow vertical spin while the airshow commentator counted out each spin rotation. I can't remember how many rotations it achieved, but it was quite amazing to watch. Wow that sure was one awesome display! I was also at the Farnborough airshow in the late 70s, when the F-15 made it's first appearance at a UK airshow. 👍 ✊😎
The AESA radar in the F-15EX integrates with the F-35 system. Imagine the powerful AESA illuminating ground targets from a stand off position while the ground radar focuses on the F-15 as the stealthy F-35 uses that data to move into position to destroy the enemy radar and blind them. Then the F-15 comes in like a Peterbilt to destroy the target.
That is the best thing I think the Air Force is doing. Is Integrating all there New Stuff to all be able to work together, share data info, Targets, everything. That is a very smart way of doing things. Just like all the New stuff we are building will all be able to collect Information and Data from everything so everybody on the battlefield has the same knowledge. From Ship, Planes, Tanks, Anti Air Systems, Subs, Satellites, Humvees, down to the regular Infantry man...
@@jmtpolitico80USAF boutta turn ace combat 7 into a real thing lmao
The F-15 also has the only kill of a satellite.
Used to work on an Air Force range, and it was like an airshow every day. The F-15s and F-16s can do maneuvers that look impossible. It was a great job.
Mig 25 has also
@@DonnieDarko727 I tried to find anything about a Mig-25 shooting down a satellite, but found nothing. ?????
The U.S.A AIR FORCE IS THE BEST EFFECTIVE EFFICIENT AIR FORCE OF THE WORLD.
As a kid in the late 80’s growing up with my elementary school being with in sight of the flight line at Elmondorf AFB the F-15 will always be the quintessential fighter aircraft.
Seeing them launching in the dark winter mornings was an absolutely thrilling thing to watch.
I wanted to work on Vipers when I joined the AF and when I got my orders, it was F-15’s. Initially I was bummed out but that quickly changed. My inventive flight in ‘99 was amazing, I tried to press the MPD buttons under G and it was impossible, hence reason for HOTAS. 45 minutes of pure adrenaline, and kept my cookies where they belong 😅. Serial number 89-0487 was the F-15E that got that helicopter kill. Worked on that bird a hundred times.
Salute, I was the Lame ass SP driving around the flight line waiting to shoot anybody that interrupted your Critical Work, you guys and Gals are the reason the USAF can generate unmatched numbers of Sorties that make us the Greatest Air Force in the World!
Winter Bitburg Germany 1967, Victor Alert. The cops had to guard the nukes from a phone booth with no heat. At night, we crew chiefs would man up and drive around in the bread truck, supplied with food and coffee and give them a warm up inside the truck. You’d think the richest country in the world would give them a Coleman lantern or something.
Got to chat with some very grateful airmen out there.
@@dhbroussard89
Maybe I misunderstood or something.. but you said the kill was with a Jdam bomb, and then you said the WSO moved the Laser designator forward "with" the helo.. hence a LGB.. so which one was it?
Maybe GBU54 which is both?
I was at Kadena, Okinawa when they got F-15s to replace the F-4s. The F-15s were an enormous leap in performance over the smoky old F-4s. The F-15s could circle in full burner 500ft of the deck and stay above the field, than accelerate staight up to 30k ft.
You mentioned the worst thing about the old F-4s- their smoke trail. A great aircraft, otherwise, but that was a pretty bad tell...
the F4 is also a great aircraft and is still used by some countries today.
The F15 is the best fighter, period. But I do miss the very low approaches over highway 70 of the F4’s landing at SJ. Those were the days!
Best of its time.
The shriek as they banked over our house was too cool. I worked at MDC at the end of the F-4 and while the F-15 and F-18 were being built. Our lunch time was often sitting at the end of the main runways and watching the "Viking" departure. You know roll a little way down the runway and then straight up! I think it was on 30 L. Also saw one barrel roll out of Lambert (STL) while I was golfing at Berry Hill.
You focus too much on what, instead of what drives it.
@@HWG-wm8ld what?
@@MrMcGiblets1 Obviously what?
It’s my favorite fighter in the skies with the F-22 and F-16 right next to it. Years ago I wasn’t much of an F-16 fan because I liked twin engines. As I got older and realized how good the F-16 actually is and the fact that it can pull 9g plus all day long is just mind blowing. I’ve always found it amazing at how tight it can turn at speed without anything like thrust vectoring. So, the fact that the F-15 is the air superiority champion is just amazing. The fact no none have been lost in combat is just crazy!
Awesome! Thx for the great video
Proud of you brother , love the F-15 my favourite jet ever . F-15 Fanatic forever
Hey thanks a ton! Glad you are here.
The F-15E sounds like a very cool aircraft to fly, thank you for all of your info Ryan!
I LOVE the F-15! It’s an amazing and beautiful jet!
Great set of facts. Really interesting stuff. Thx
Very cool info!!! 1st video I've seen of yours, liked and subscribed!!
So just to be clear - you ran the Strike Eagle without conformal tanks. Is that to say you were running completely slick, or that you had a drop tank? I’ve often wondered just how much that additional surface area from munitions and other external accessories reduces the overall performance of the aircraft.
I was a Farsi linguist in the Air Force between early 2001 and early 2010, but my dream was to commission and hopefully fly the F-15 or A-10. I’ve been absolutely in love with the F-15 since I was a little boy. Later, I learned that an extra engine and enough room for your golf clubs is the most important consideration. Sadly, I wasn’t able to achieve my dream due to a medication that I have to take every day. My heart is still broken. I’m 41 now and know I’ll never get the chance to experience what it’s like to go up in one for a familiarization ride. I’d give my right nut for that chance!
Amen to that, I would be standing right behind you in line to give up that right Nut! By far my favorite Jet in the U.S. Arsenal. Even over the F-22 Raptor! Great jet don't get me wrong, but I'd rather fly the F-15 to tell you the truth...
I had just arrived at Shady J in late 1989 just as they started transitioning to the F15E from the F4. It was cool to see both aircraft types on the ramp at the same time. Was also in Al Kharj when that helicopter was taken down with a GBU15. Fun times
Awesome episode. You are appreciated for your service and this video.
Thank you so much for the info man
Thanks for the comment about Colonel Boyd. I read a biography on him (I think it was just called "Boyd") and it was filled with fascinating info. John Boyd LITERALLY "wrote the book" on ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering) and it also went into his COMPLETELY non-orthodox approaches into both flying AND dealing with superior officers who "just didn't get it"! His OODA Loop has been accepted by virtually all members of the various war colleges across the globe, not just for aviation, but in all forms of combat and competition. He was almost constantly at risk of being "cashiered", but usually was saved by some officer who knew him and his philosophy.
He was known as "Forty Second Boyd", due to his ability to get a firing solution on EVERY pilot he flew against. He served in Korea, but never got a chance to shoot at an adversary there. Not bad for a guy who started his military career as Army enlisted...
I am no exert but a jet buff. I have read much about the F15 and due to it's illustrious history, I am pleased to see that it continues to this day in the F 15 EX model. This jet's track record and capabilities both air to air and air to ground, plus its lift capability puts it in a league all on its own. I only wish that my country would invest in such an awesome aircraft. I would feel much safer knowing one is around and on my side !!
Wow!!! Great video. :) Learned a lot. Thanks. :)
Another awesome video! Tks for making my Sunday a little better with your content 👍
The F-15 has always been my favorite attack aircraft and hearing all of these stats (some of which I'd heard before) did nothing to take away to that impressive legacy that the F-15 carries with it. It was inevitable that a newer jet was going to come along to replace the F-15, that's just the nature of innovation, but this jet will still always be my favorite attacking jet!
The Second Stage of After Burner is called V-Max. If you brake the safety wire and flip the switch up, the fuel control manifold opens to it physical max of inflow. That's a 4 1/2 inch diameter pipe of fuel. If your lucky you'll get 5 minutes flight time on internal fuel load. McDonald Douglas tested it during flight testing in the 70's. Created for one time use to escape something catastrophic.
Yep, something like dropping a nuke. F16 have these also, same reason. It's the "I just dropped a nuke and need to get the F out of here before the shockwave gets me" switch lol
Great info!!
I love it!! F-15E Strike Eagle is my first and truly only love! I was a Jet Engine Troop at Shady J for 10 years (97-07). 5 of those were with the 336th Rocketeers. Man I miss working that jet.
I was blessed to be a Crew Chief in the 58th Fighter Squadron during the early 90's. If you don't know this unit then you don't know anything about killing MiG's and you need to go and learn about this squadron on the internet. Pilots like Cesar 'Rico" Rodriguez, Rory Draeger, Larry Pitts, Craig Underhill and a lot more that I've forgotten. You'll read quite a bit about them for sure, they're pilots. What you won't hear about are the maintainers behind them. I could list all those names but they wouldn't be names you can look up and learn about...they're not pilots. They were lead by CMSgt Jose Matos and without them, there would've been a bunch of high-priced paper weights sitting on the flight line instead of F-15's flying Combat Air Patrol to knock down the MiGs that came up. Names like Larry White, Karl Johnson, Brett Jewel, BJ Murray, Charles Arrasmith, David Westrup, John Glantz, Peggy Edwards....and A LOT more that escape memory are all people who made it happen but you won't read about them anywhere.
My BIL was assigned to that squadron in his first assignment. Ever work for/with 'Papa' Maw?
@@markschmit1896 Can't remember anybody with the last name Maw. Not sure what a BIL is either...?
Rico's kill is on the History Channel here on TH-cam! Draeger also I believe. Ya in The History Channel under Dogfights, I believe Rico's Video is "Air Combat Transformed in Desert Storm"... I can actually see it on my side bar while typing this message. I have been watching a lot of those Video's of late. They do a really great job of Really Animating the entire Mission! I love them. The video of the first Israeli Kill is in there, The Eagle with One Wing, The Mission when the F-15 took out the first Satellite, and Many Many More. I suggest Everyone take a look at these Video's, lot's of Live Kills caught on Camera and it is usually Narrated by those Pilots that flew that mission or were in that mission. And there are a few video's of Boyd and the other guy there he called the Mafia. They have a video of Boyd's first mission! They really are Great Videos and I recommend anyone and everyone go watch them. Just type in the search bar, History Channel "Dogfights"!
I read about them here, from you. Thank you. Without the plane crews...
The planes don't matter.
Hey dude, I was with the 58th but we had E models at that time. Back in the 70s.
Dude, you've gone 550 mph faster than 98% of the human population. lol
I flying 230km/sec around blackhole in the center of milkyway
@@SandMartinshotgun?
Awesome vid. Learned a ton.
Awesome video! Thank you!
Max, Thanks for your service and LOVE YOUR SHOW!! Your podcast is awesome. I have always been an aviation fan. You should think about doing a joint podcast with C.W. Lemoine "Mover" ... I bet you guys chatting about stories or topics would be really cool... training, etc. Just an idea!
My father flew the F-15C (57th FIS Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Iceland, 9th Fighter Squadron in New Mexico). I had always planned on joining the AF to fly the F-15, but a few weeks before my senior was to start, my friend lost control of his car, ripped it in half, and put me in the hospital for a year which made me medically unable to join. One of my favorite games was Super Strike Eagle for the SNES.
Those guys were the only C/D light gray Eagles that regularly ran the CFTs while guarding the GIUK Gap.
@@hoghogwild CFTs?
@@MT-Pink Conformal Fuel Tanks. A lower drag method of carrying external fuel. The F-15E Strike Eagle employs them regularly. Also called "Fast Packs" in early literature. Quite the mission scrambling into your jet to go and meet a Soviet missile carrier aircraft with nothing but water all around. I have a book called Global Air Power. One of my favourite pics is the pic of 2 light gray Eagles of the 57th FIS out of Keflavik Iceland. Page 127 jet 040 and jet 030 both with IS tail flashes and both jets part of fiscal year 1980 also painted on the tails of the F-15s. With the caption beside the picture stating:
"Two F-15s from the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Keflavik Naval Air Station formate on a Soviet Bear over the Arctic Circle. The F-15 pilots if the 57th FIS probably eyeball more Soviet aircraft than any other USAF flying unit."
Kinda cool that one of my favourite pics while growing up was of a couple Iceland F-15s from your father's old fighter squadron. Small world.
@@hoghogwild My mom (who was also in the AF) told me about one time he scrambled to intercept a Bear.
I can still remember like it was yesterday , the first time I saw a formation of F-15s flying over the park my babysitter took me too for the day . I was five years old , and soo many decades later I can still remember the sound and the sights , from then and always , the F-15 gives me incredible pride for this , The Greatest Nation to ever exist .
This is just amazing! The video, the presentation and the speaker! Thank you! 🙏
Hard to believe the Eagle is 50 years old. I was born in 1955. Seemed like we were getting neW jets every year when I was growing up. I think I was already through my first enlistment in the Army when the F-15 went into service. Still an awesome bird, well deserving of then name. My grandson is an Air Force WSO. He's just started an exchange assignment in Growlers up at Whidbey Island. He hopes to go to Seymour-Johnson when that is over.
BTW, he watches your stuff religiously. It would really really give him a charge if he got a shou-out from you. 1LT Robert Bieshelt (Bobby). I hope he doesn't get hung with"BOB" for a callsign.
You're right. I was born a few years before you, 1949. Jet fighter technology (design, engines, weapons, avionics, training, you name it) were all evolving rapidly -- and the same could have been said about prop fighter planes in WWII. How long was the service life of the P-51 in WWII? You could measure it in months. By the Korean War, the Mustang was toast. Ditto for the F-86 Sabre Jet, star of the Korean War. A decade later, you didn't see them in Vietnam (never saw one in my travels up and down that country during my 18-months Navy tour from Da Nang to Rach Gia). I remember seeing F-15s and F-16s decades ago, and they're still doing yeoman service for the Air Force, albeit with many, many hardware and software upgrades -- but the airframe design itself was golden. I remember watching F-16s do touch-and-goes from NAS San Diego on my last day in the Navy 29 years ago (wondering why the Navy would even allow "foreign" Air Force fighters to use a Navy runway in the first place!). They were beauties! Ditto for the F-18s and the Super Hornets of the Navy. Reminds me of the PC computer (including Macs) technology race of the late 1970s through the end of the century. I worked at JPL, and we were always replacing one- or two- or three-year old computers with newer ones (with software chasing right behind). I remember spending hours tweaking hardware and installing upgrades almost endlessly. Exhausting (at least mentally -- "didn't we just upgrade that department six months ago, and they're complaining again!?!?!"). Now, computing technology evolution has slowed to the point where you can take a breath and enjoy the machine you built or purchased a few years ago (at least) without worrying about whether it can take that next software upgrade (except for, maybe, ahem, Windows 11!).
They WERE coming out with new birds every year (or more, on average) back then. It all ended with F-15 because it really was so far beyond everything else at the time that there was no need to improve it. Even the F-16 and F-17 (later 18) were only developed to be cheaper and supplement the Eagle, not replace it. It was so great they keep making new variants to fill gaps in the war machine as older aircraft are removed from service (like the E). It wasn't really slated to be replaced until the 90s when they had the F-22/F-23 competition, and 30 years later the Eagle is STILL the point of the sword. I know when I was based in West Germany at the end of the 80s the F-15 was still the undeniable No. Air Superiority aircraft in the world. Cheers.
So I live in Western Massachusetts near a Air/Army National Guard Base that used to house A-10's which I will get to. I am 42 now and was 14 when we moved here, and when I was young I hated the A-10 for just the look cause I knew nothing about it. But after 9/11 they moved the Air National Guard A-10s to another base and for the first time I got to see the First Fighter Jet in Flight in my life. They moved 3 or 4 Squadrons of the F-15 C/D to this base 1.5 Miles behind my house! I never fell in Love with a Plane so much in my life, matter a fact they were not a part of my Radar at the age of 21-22! But wow I was Amazed at this Beautiful, Powerful, Lethal Machine that is now in my Backyard! So I totally Fell in Love with The F-15! These were stationed in Eastern Mass on the Cape. So they moved them here cause I guess it is a few minutes shorter in fly time to N.Y. or D.C. So I have been blessed to be able to watch an Airshow every week for the last 20 years! And they actually have a Airshow every other year usually with the F-16 Thunderbirds and about 10 miles away is Westover Air Reserve Base which has a Airshow every other year opposite of the one by my house. And I was able to see the Blue Angels there a few times. But it brakes my heart now knowing that the F-15's are being Replaced with F-35A's by 2027. So while I am excited to see the F-35A fly all the time cause I just did for the first time this summer at the Airshow they had one F-35. I am also so so Sad to see the F-15 leave! I will miss they're Airshow Take Offs every so often when they just Full Power it down the runway and go Straight up to about 15-20,000 feet and turn Inverted till they straighten out and then roll back over on they're wings! And they're crazy Scary Fly By's when returning back to base! When they are coming at you at 350 knots you can't hear anything till they are already long by you, so it ends up scaring the shit out of you. And I am also not looking forward to listening to these MUCH NOISIER F-35's on their training missions when they are flying over at 5am on a Sunday morning or taking off at all hours of the night. But at least it is only while they are doing Training missions which only happen about twice a year. The local news lets us know when they are having these training missions so people are not Panicking. Cause it is not normal for them to be flying at night, we are all used to their Schedule. So when it changes people kinda freak and think something is going on. Oh back to the A-10, now that I am older, holly molly what a fricking Tank with Wings! That is my 2nd favorite Jet after the F-15 EX, then F-22, F-35, F-16, and F/A-18 Hornet.
That was basically the way it was in the 50s and 60s. Fighter designs just flew out of the constructors back then. There were about 6 constructors too.
Yep the design came from the jet produced by Canada. It flew over NY followed by the President of USA (won't mention) warned
Canada and our Prime Minister (Defienbaker) had the pilots bail and final plane fly into Lake Michigan. This plane was even superior to the F15
because Radar could not pick it up. Had these two people had put their heads together this plane would have protected the North American
Continent and a superior force for world. It was years ahead of what came later. All the Canadian Engineers on this project were hired
by NASA True Story.
Was there any sort of pilot hierarchy when you interacted with other pilots? Would everyone regard F22 pilots as the "best" vs someone piloting an F15 or is everyone pretty cool and treat each other equally? Do Thunderbird pilots get extra respect for their incredible flying skills or do they get overlooked because they're not participating in combat missions?
I live in Goldsboro NC, home of SJAFB and the F-15Es. I was told by an F-15E pilot that the F-15C (air superiority) pilots look down on them as only being 'landscapers'; they drop bombs. My friend pointed out that they can do EVERYTHING a C model can do, and more. The design may be getting old, but they are still very impressive. And the EX variant should make them relevant well into the future.
@@kevindavis7407 It can do many things that a C model could do but everything that a C model could do can do better than what a E can e.g dogfight better. C was lighter and better for air superiority while E variant wasn't designed like that so yeah they are kinda right about them being landscrapers but f15e can carry more load for ground
It always sounds like the pilots of one fighter jet type look down on the fighter pilots of every other jet type, no matter what jet they it the other flies.
Good questions!
@@kevindavis7407 Ridiculous that anyone in the U.S. Military would look down upon any other Soldier is not right!!! We are all one Team and it is not a game, and even if people think it is, we are still on the same team so why talk BS?!?!?
Thanks for all the sharing of these less known features!
Great info! Amazing plane! Thanx!
Hi Max, would thrust vectoring a great upgrade for the F15? Or is the airframe not designed for that purpose?
The F-15 STOL/MTD has 2D thrust vectoring, as well as canard wings. From what I understand, it was kind of a beast. But it wasn't anything more than a maneuverability test platform. It was never a production line military fighter.
@@napalmsanctuaryx4129 if I remember correctly they also kind of used that as a test bed for thrust vectoring which let them figure it out and then apply that to the f-22 which was under development
That was a stellar sales pitch if I ever heard one.
I recently found Ward Mooch Carroll and think the F-14 Tomcat is a super cool asset.
Is it just a better bet for naval takeoffs and landings?
I'm curious about the airtime the 14 vs 15 might be with the Tomcat soar option.
I've only heard about the best stuff about the F-15.
I just would appreciate your view on where each craft had their place.
I'm a total novice, sorry.
Super curious, though
Asking any AF driver to compare their jet to any Navy bird is like asking would they rather have a jet or a prop. The AF jets are lighter and more nimble because they can't stand up to life at sea, it's simple as that. Ask them would they rather dogfight or make a carrier trap in ideal conditions, tho, that'll tell ya bout the driving skills! 😅
@@koori3085 - That makes sense, thanks.
I messed around with Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane simulator years ago with some add-ons that the pilot forums mostly agreed were as good as it gets, real time weather add-ons included.
After reading the aircraft manuals and maxing out the "realism" settings I was humbled.
I was decent at aircraft carrier landings... with the Piper Cub and a headwind that was strong enough to keep me at a snail's pace.
Put me in the pilot's seat of any aircraft that requires a solid skill set, I'm a bull and the world is my china shop.
Glad professional pilots have to train really hard.
@clintstinkeye5607 Some of those simulators can get the blood going for sure, I only drove Cessnas for real, but spend a lot of time with pros, including close family. With USAF and USN drivers at one table, they respect each other's abilities and equipment, but the AF guy thinks the Navy guy is crazy and he thinks the AF guy is an airshow pilot! Happy flying man, get up in a Cessna if you get a chance, that's where the joy of flying is bud
@@koori3085 - It's been a while and I just recalled that part of maxing out realism is maxing out the damage and G effects, too.
My simulated engines, airframes, flaps and passengers on anything more complicated than a Piper Cub were grateful when I turned the computer off.
@clintstinkeye5607 HAHAHA, that would have been anyone when I tried those things also! Took my g/f up once in a 172, she didn't appreciate the turbulence, either.
Thanks for your service and awesome video. Patriot !
This video was very informative and just awesome. Thank you I’m glad I found your channel
Pretty fast for an E model. I was a crew chief on 15’s. A,B,C,D’s. Flew back seat in my D model and got to 1.2 in Alaska. VMAX switches were always broken open. Had to use heavier safety wire to keep the pilots honest.
Keep up the good videos.
Really loved this !! I give you full credit for flying Mach 1.3 , you practically flew an X -15. ❤
not even close........ f15s are incredible but they are not in the same league or class as the x15
So crazy.. i saw a 15 taekoff from McChord and do exactly what you described with the straight up and split s RIGHT above a think cloud line. Was the coolest thing ive ever seen a jet do. Dude.. what an awesome life. So much respect. TY for your time in, Sir.
I watched my brother do an unrestricted climb-out in an F-15A with a light fuel load-out back in the 70s. Except there was no split S, it just...disappeared. Loudest thing I've ever heard, made our Mom cry.
Wow, great f-15 info. Thanks for the amazing video
F15 is the best fighter ever
I’d still take the f-22 over the f-15. Mad respect to the f-15 🫡
yes F22 is without a doubt the best at this time, I saw a F-22 demo at Fairchilds Airforce base, it blew my mind, but when the F15 took off I could not stop grinning, that was a blast. 104-0 air to air, and a F-15 broke all those climb records, and also shot a satellite down that is just amazing
Kids talking!
Couldn't agree more.
Thanks for your service. I was stationed at Seymour Johnson from 1976 to 1980 as a Electronic Warfare Systems technician, My ECM shop was part of the 4th Component Repair Squadron, pre POMO organization working on the F-4E Gun Nose Phantoms. That was back when the 4th Wing was part of the Tactical Air Command.
Awesome aircraft - and great explanation!!
Love the stache brother, and great eagle info!
It is good to hear that Boyd is making his way back into the USAF.
Thanks! I was a F-15 A-D flightline weapons troop back in the 80s. Got a ride in a clean B, fun.
Epic thank you for what you did!
Excellent vid!
Great vid, alot of info I didn't know about the F-15
Hey Max, F-15 maintenance officer from 2Lt to LtCol either on the flightline or on staff fighting for structural upgrades, GE engines (from them PW-100), weapons etc.. In the 80s while stationed in Europe holding back the Soviet Mongol Hord in the Fulda Gap. Ended up with over 40hrs back seat time flying ahead of larger packages doing site surveys. Foreign Military sales, lots of acquisition time (PowerPoint Ranger) and blessed to serve with some of the best fighter pilots who went on to get their 4-stars. Nothing compares to the Eagle/Mudhen, happy they are bring back newer versions. Great channel you have, keep it up and keep'em flying.
Excellent video!! I enjoyed learning all these new facts on the F-15.
Nice video Max......Ohhh Yurrrr!
Great post, as usual. I really enjoy your enthusiasm about the Air Force especially about the F-15 (in all iterations). I must say that I'm a tad jealous about the passion you exude over over your chosen vocation, I enjoyed my work but it's very clear that you truly love yours. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for bringing back old memories! I was an avionics maintainer from 1980 - 2000. I started on A-models at Bitburg, and spent my last 12 years as a Rocketeer.
I was at Bitburg for the fly-in of F-15s in 1976. Spangdahlem continued to have just F-4s.
Bravo, very informative Thank You!
I just subscribed to your channel. This is a great video. I love the F-15, it's one of my favorites. My wife and I have been to many airshows and have seen the F-15 perform. AWESOME!
Bad ass jet with the right name....Eagle, what more can be said.. Im a F-14 Tomcat Fan myself, but I do have super respect for the Eagle
amazing, interesting and fun! thanks so much!
"not a pound for air to ground" was a maxim for success!
you always bring a smell of fresh air!! tx brother
enjoyed your video.
My grandpa worked at McDonnell-Douglas and was involved in all the following fighter projects:
F-101, F-4, F-111, F-15, and F-18. (They farmed him out to General Dynamics for the F-111).
The F-15 has always been and always will be my absolute favorite. Saw one in person at Mac a year or so after they went into production, and I was in love.
I worked 31 years at McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing mostly on the F-15. I built C/D models and every E model. Many planes built for foreign countries. Nothing like seeing an unrestricted takeoff from the parking lot right next to the runway.
@@joeblumenkemper5648 Respect to you!
Wow. 😳 😊
You're a Great Presenter! :)
Definitely 1 👍 😊
Thank you for The Great Video! ✈️
Great video. Thx for sharing. I was a young crew chief at shady j in the early 90’s. 336th fs, but worked f-4’s with the 335th upon pcs. 336th had deployed to Saudi. Your point about f4’s is also applicable on the mx side too. F15 was so much more mx friendly. Ex: engine R2. F4 took almost 4 shifts. F15 R2 with engine run in 1 shift. Before I pcs’d out of sjafb, I remember there was a high speed ejection. Back seater didn’t survive and front seater was banged up. The pilot was on one of those history channel episodes. Those were produced very well. I’m in one of them for about 3 seconds. On a different note, I also remember this cool restaurant/bar called Billy’s in downtown Goldsboro. Lot’s of cool stories from there too, but not appropriate to share on yt. 😜✌️
Awesome comment thank you! Glad you are here!
Pretty much the coolest aviation video that I've watched all year, well done. MAINEiacs
Thanks, Maxafterburner.
Awesome video!! I worked the Eagle for 20 years, just a great platform
Live 30 minutes from Nellis and love watching the f-15 and F-16 as well as the A-10. Great video.
Great video. I’ve been to watch your colleagues flying F15s out of RAF Lakenheath. They always put on a great show while training. Awesome aeroplane.
New sub. Just found this channel today. Seems like something I'll get addicted to quickly. Just watched the vid on Iran's ambitions for the future. Very well done. No fluff, no bs just expert opinion with receipts.
I'm not a fixed wing DCS guy but I learned a lot from this about an aircraft that is super cool. A great format that keeps you chewing popcorn the whole time. 🙂
I'm new to your channel. One great video.
Thank you for your Service Sir! I had the privilege of working with COCESS with Civil Engineering at Seymour Johnson AFB for 7+ years, working for a civilian company bringing in supplies in conjunction with Logistics, ending in 2018 when I retired. Best job I ever had, met some great amazing people while I was there. I got to see the F15 up close, but never was fortunate enough to get a ride in one. Many thanks again to all our Service Men and Women, and our Veterans for keeping our Country safe!
I had no idea until now. Thanks.
Awesome! Love your t shirt! 😎🤘☠️ I lived in Alaska for 6 years and I've been to 3 Arctic Thunder Air Shows at Elmendorf air base. Best air show on earth in my opinion! I talked with pilots and even got to talk to the commander of the Hellions squadron (F-22 squadron)!
FYI...that Israeli F15 that landed with 1 wing actually collided with other Israeli A4 during training missions,..and the A4 pilot ejected safely....👍
This brings back a million memory’s. Mostly working and loading the Vulcans on F4s back in the 70s. I actually shot the gun a couple times. Not many enlisted guys around anymore that did that but I was in before lazer bore sighting. We cabled the plane down and sighted the gun in just like a big deer rifle. Had the round limiter set to fifty, pulled the trigger and then the roar. They ask if I wanted to do it again. Are you kidding? Bummed me out when two firings was all we needed.
Changing the guns at night was tough. Loading was simple compared to what I see in the videos.
Love staying caught up on the weapons systems and how far they’ve coming but also good to see the Vulcans still in service and state of art. Makes me feel a little less obsolete.
As a kid, my family was stationed at Bitburg Airbase in Germany during the cold war. Within that stint, there were A,B,C, and D models at the base. Loved watching various exercises and witnessing the aerial demos during airshows. The crackling rumble of the afterburners gave me a natural high. I've always been fascinated with the F-15.
The F-15 is still my favourite fighter of all time. I've just been watching a few vids about the F-15EX too so it looks like it'll be around for many years to come yet which is testament to the incredible design of the air frame. Great vid MA, many thanks.
Thanks Afterburner......Old Shoe🇺🇸
Absolutely love your videos. The Viper is still my favorite but I love both. I'm going to make a drinking game though: every time we hear you say "At the end of the day".. lol 😂
As a kid back in late 70's the F15 was the first model kit I built. I love the F15, awesome plane. Respect from the UK.
Saw one at an airshow as a kid and had a poster of the F-15 on my wall. My favorite jet. Respect from the UK.
Love the f-15! It's my favorite fighter jet of all time. Thanks for sharing the facts and history of this legendary bird.
The terrain following radar system is awesome. Especially having a hard and soft setting. The F-15 is a beast. That Israeli pilot that flew without a wing shows how powerful it really is.
Thanks man, you actually told me facts about the F-15 I didn't know.
I was am a F 15 Avionics and test equipment specialist AFSC 45154
I love the F 15
I repaired the F 15 E Strike Eagle during Desert Storm!
I always loved watching the F-15E screaming over the runway at Edwards AFB with the hammer down.
This was just awesome.
I remember one Red Flag at Nellis during the cold war one of the Marine squadrons got tired of losing as scheduled, and decided "Intelligence was Wrong." Instead of following the flight schedule, they launched the planes they had available. The surprise was enough to teach a major lesson about surprise and complacency.