| The
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is regarded as one of the most formidable
jet fighters in the world today. Ever since its maiden flight in July
1972, this record breaking flying machine has been a yardstick for jet
fighter design. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofan
engines, it is capable of speeds in the Mach 2.5 range.
The F-15 Eagle can carry a
heavy and devastating complement of weaponry such as its internal 20mm
M-61A-1 rotary cannon, plus four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, and four
AIM-7F Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles. The early production F-15 was
designated the F-15A, while the two-seat version was called the B model.
In 1979, an improved and
upgraded F-15 was introduced. One notable change was a 15% increase in
internal fuel capacity, while even more fuel was made possible by
utilizing conformal tanks that snuggle beneath the wing ad against the
jet inlet ramps. In order to accept this extra fuel weight, the landing
gear had to be reinforced. These modified F-15's are called the C-type
for the single-seater and F-15D for the two seat version. The F-15C owes
its superb performance to many technological and electronic wonders, and
shall certainly continue to play its role as an air superiority fighter
for many years to come. |