How to Identify the F-15 Eagle

The McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle is the U.S. Air Force's premiere air-superiority weapon. The Eagle's design may be 25 years old, but few aircraft flying can equal its performance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Film
• Cameras
• Cameras
• Binoculars
• Binoculars
• Computers
• Camcorders
• Digital Cameras
• Camera Lenses
• SLR Camera
• Camera Accessories
• Camera Tripod
• Aircraft Band Scanner
• Air & Space Subscriptions
• Aviation Illustrated Magazine
• Telescopes
• Aviation History Subscription
• Pioneers Of Aviation Videos
• Polaroid Cameras
• Polaroid Film
• Desert Storm: Original Air Footage Videos
• The Wild Blue Yonder: The USAF Video

1. Look for a relatively large twin-engine jet fighter. The Eagle is more than 60 feet long with a wingspan of more than 40 feet.

2. Remember, many military aircraft are painted in low-visibility blue-gray.

3. Check the front view. You'll see fuel tanks mounted underneath the wing alongside the jet engine.

4. Notice the box-shaped jet intakes on each side of the fuselage.

5. Note the twin vertical stabilizers.

6. Remember the F-15's vertical stabilizers are mounted completely upright rather than at an angle.

7. Check the side view. The F-15 can carry three types of air-to-air missile and is also equipped with a 20mm cannon.

8. See how the nose extends to a rounded point with a noticeable downward angle from the front of the cockpit.

9. Look again at the jet-engine intake. The top portion angles downward slightly, and the forward edge slants backward from top to bottom.

10. Note that the vertical stabilizers have a slight forward angle along their trailing edges.

11. Look at the peak of the vertical elements. The probes extend forward.

12. Check the rear view. Note that the elements of the jet-exhaust nozzle move about in relation to the pilot's application of throttle.

13. Remember, like most modern jet fighters, the F-15 has a wing with a swept-back front edge and a straight trailing edge. The wing is also set back relatively far along the fuselage.

Tips & Warnings

• The F-15 Eagle is a high-performance aircraft. It can reach altitudes greater than 65,000 feet and speeds greater than Mach 2.5.
• The U.S. Air Force operates over 400 F-15s. Only around 40 are assigned to the Air Guard.
• The U.S. Air Force also has in service the F-15 Strike Eagle, a two-seat version with significant air-to-ground combat ability. The Strike Eagles worked as "Scud hunters" during Operation Desert Storm.
• There are 201 Strike Eagles in the U.S. Air Force inventory.
• Remember to honor all safety and security precautions when you have a chance to see a F-15 on a military airbase or at a civilian airport.