After 20 years, the Air Force is getting brand new F-15s So, I know it's not Transformers, but come on, we are all thinking it! (Obviously not toy news. Please do not front page this.)
You misunderstand, externally they are the exact same. They’ve just got more recent improvements within.
Fresh paint job? Fresh inside? Is the outside frame in the trunk wide? Are the rims big? Do it ride good? Can I lean back right hand on the pinewood?
Kind of old, order was for 8-12 made last year IIRC. The article writer said the F-35 carries a total of 4 missles but that's INTERNALLY whereas the F-15C/EX can carry 22 externally via amber racks. F-35 in "beast mode" using all external stations carries a lot more than 4 missles externally. And some of these are all new builds meant to last into the 2040's as the current F-15's the USAF has were all made in the 80's/90's IIRC with many hours on them at this point. The wings are entirely new and the engines are similar to the uprated GE engines that some of the export E variants have. Avionics, FBW flight controls, new airframes and extended weapons payload due to amber racks are the big selling point for the C/EX.
The F-15 must have been a hugely versatile airframe if they're still using it with internal upgrades.
It is. It was built with growth potential in mind, there were FAST pack options designed decades back to swap out depending on the mission. It's also very dependable.
To think that the USAF was thinking of retiring the F-15 about a decade ago. I remember when one of my past base stations (at Tyndall AFB; this was before the hurricane; my unit's mission at the time was to support pilot training and weapons testing) moved their Eagle squadrons to ANG bases and replaced them with F-22 Raptors. My office was located right on the flightline so I got the privilege to see both planes fly often. Always did love the F-15 Eagle ever since the G1 Transformers cartoon days with the Seekers, so I'm happy that they're here to stay and still serving (same with the A-10 Thunderbolt II, another plane whose retirement has been talked about for years but hasn't happened yet).
And I don't think the B-52 Stratofortress is going anywhere any time soon. That sucker is closer than not to a full centenary of service.
So no excuse from movie companies for the next TF movie to make Starscream something other then an F-15 since it is a current in use jet.
This greatly pleases me. The F-15 has always been my favorite fighter plane, and I was genuinely heartbroken when it was being “replaced”. Still the most gorgeous looking of them all. Now if only they could find a justifiable way to also get the big ol’ Tomcats out there again...
Yeah. That'd be awesome if they could bring back the F-14. The military still uses a lot of Cold War era tech.
Don't expect F-15 and F-16 going away any time soon. Those airframes can be updated with modern internals as long as you can fit upgrades in. There's also a number of Soviet-originated airframes designed with this in mind. This news is making me reconsider getting the Earthrise Seekers.
First shipment of F-15's Grey with red highlights Second shipment blue and grey Third shipment black with purple accents DOOO IT!"
I used to be a Crew Chief on F-15s a long time ago. Great birds when they flew, but when they broke. They broke hard. Those were 78 models with like 5-6k hours on them though. Worked many 12+ hours shifts getting birds ready the next day.
As a child of the 80's, thanks to movies like Top Gun & Iron Eagle, shows like Super Carrier, and the fucking awesomeness of all things Transformers, the F-15, F-14 and F-16 will always be my unparalleled Holy Trifecta of military jets.
