Eisernkreuz
unteroffizier
Since there's nothing really interesting posted in the KS as of late, I figured I'd start an aircraft thread, 'cause I'm a huge aerospace nut 
McDonnell Douglas made the F15, versions A through D, before Boeing took over for the F15E variant.
F15A was the original, with a maiden flight on July 27th, 1972, while the rest of the world was flying in broke-ass Mig-25s, Su-17s, Mirage IIIs and Mirage 5s. 1973 saw the development of the F15B two-seater trainer craft, and the upgraded single-seater F15C and two-seater F15D showed up in 1979.
In 1987, Boeing IDS developed the F15E Strike Eagle, a two-seat deep strike aircraft, capable of delivering air-to-ground ordinance deep into enemy territory, partially due to the improved air-to-ground avionics suite and the conformal fuel tanks which decreased drag compared to traditional external tanks.
With a high thrust to weight ratio and low wing loading, the F15 became the first American fighter aircraft built with superior handling abilities, a true dogfighter. It wasn't built to be the fastest, or carry the most payload, or have the highest operational ceiling, but to complete the mission in the most effective way possible.
The USAF received a fighter that virtually coined the "air superiority fighter" term, and stood head and shoulders above the competition
In Israel's 1978 operations in south Lebanon, IAF's F15s downed five Syrian MiG-21s. On the opening night of Gulf War I, USAF F15Cs, Ds, and Es knocked down 38 enemy aircraft, and cruised to a confirmed 26:0 kill ratio. Since 1978 (its first combat use with IAF), an active force of 396 F15s have shot down 104 enemy aircraft with 0 losses 
Not to mention that you can fly and land an F15 with one wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aKxAN7bAs
The F15 is therefore essentially unfuckwithable
Stats:
General Characteristics
Primary function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100, 220 or 229 turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: (C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine
Wingspan: 42.8 feet (13 meters)
Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters)
Weight: 31,700 pounds
Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 36,200 pounds (three external plus conformal fuel tanks)
Payload: depends on mission
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2 class)
Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Crew: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two
Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.
Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars);C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
Initial operating capability: September 1975
Inventory: Total force, 522
(F-15E Strike Eagle fact sheet, USAF, October 2007.)
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-15.htm
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15_Eagle
McDonnell Douglas made the F15, versions A through D, before Boeing took over for the F15E variant.
F15A was the original, with a maiden flight on July 27th, 1972, while the rest of the world was flying in broke-ass Mig-25s, Su-17s, Mirage IIIs and Mirage 5s. 1973 saw the development of the F15B two-seater trainer craft, and the upgraded single-seater F15C and two-seater F15D showed up in 1979.
In 1987, Boeing IDS developed the F15E Strike Eagle, a two-seat deep strike aircraft, capable of delivering air-to-ground ordinance deep into enemy territory, partially due to the improved air-to-ground avionics suite and the conformal fuel tanks which decreased drag compared to traditional external tanks.
With a high thrust to weight ratio and low wing loading, the F15 became the first American fighter aircraft built with superior handling abilities, a true dogfighter. It wasn't built to be the fastest, or carry the most payload, or have the highest operational ceiling, but to complete the mission in the most effective way possible.
The USAF received a fighter that virtually coined the "air superiority fighter" term, and stood head and shoulders above the competition
In Israel's 1978 operations in south Lebanon, IAF's F15s downed five Syrian MiG-21s. On the opening night of Gulf War I, USAF F15Cs, Ds, and Es knocked down 38 enemy aircraft, and cruised to a confirmed 26:0 kill ratio. Since 1978 (its first combat use with IAF), an active force of 396 F15s have shot down 104 enemy aircraft with 0 losses Not to mention that you can fly and land an F15 with one wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aKxAN7bAs
The F15 is therefore essentially unfuckwithable
Stats:
General Characteristics
Primary function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100, 220 or 229 turbofan engines with afterburners
Thrust: (C/D models) 23,450 pounds each engine
Wingspan: 42.8 feet (13 meters)
Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters)
Weight: 31,700 pounds
Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 36,200 pounds (three external plus conformal fuel tanks)
Payload: depends on mission
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2 class)
Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Crew: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two
Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.
Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars);C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
Initial operating capability: September 1975
Inventory: Total force, 522
(F-15E Strike Eagle fact sheet, USAF, October 2007.)
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-15.htm
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15_Eagle
