Warbird Information Exchange

Also, the USAF recently has been deploying additional Conformal Fuel Tank packs to F-15C Wings, adding additional fuel tankage without the performance penalty of wing drop tanks. These were actually originally designed for the F-15C but first deployed on the F-15E as the additional weapon stations allowed for the much higher carry capacity the F-15E needed. It is only since the mid-2000's that the CFTs have actually seen use on the F-15C. The biggest benefit of the CFT is that they are almost 100% fuel and their shape is such that they fully offset the drag and nearly offset the weight (their lower lobe shape actually creates lift) so you're not loosing any maneuvering performance inflight from increased wing loading and you're not losing fuel efficiency. I am really impressed with what the guys who came up with the CFT did becuase it made the F-15E what it is and that's one helluva bird. It's worked so well in fact that Lockheed came up with a version for the F-16.

The F-15 is the best looking American fighter, ever! I wish the RAF had bought them instead of the Tornado F-3. BTW. If every you get sick of them, I'd be quite happy to look after one, in my back garden, I promise the bad guys wouldn't get near it.
My neighbours might be upset.......SOD EM!

Cking

Pat:

Aircraft production at St. Louis continues but apparently at a very slow rate. The Boeing website newsletter of 27 July states that for the first half of 2016 (period ending 30 June) the following aircraft output was reported:

F-15 Eagle 7 (a fraction of over one a month)
F/A-18 Hornet 14 (a fraction of over two month)

Of course we do not know who the customers were.

JDV
www.fuselagecodes.com

Do we know where these F-15's are sent? USAF? Or other nation's air forces? I thought I read somewhere, a few years ago, that the F-15's being built are going to Israel. Also that they are not configured as USAF Eagles. But I do not know if that's the case.

It's good that the production line is still open - there would be a chance of rapid production increase in case of all out conflagration.

I hope F-15s are around for a long time. From a pure aesthetic standpoint, I would much rather see these flying around (or A-10s and F-16s) than the F-22 or F-35.

One of my best friends worked on F-15Es during his time in the USAF and said he heard a lot of bad things about working on the Raptor. The F-22 crews apparently have some colorful nicknames for their aircraft. Of course, this was a few years ago so some of those bugs may be worked out by now and I won't claim to be any sort of expert on current defense issues.

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Matt

Well we do know about the order for Saudi Arabia. I would suspect that those rolling off the line here in the summer of 2016 would be part of that order. Saudi is a repeat customer, with this recent order for 80+ more in the version known as the F-15SA undoubtedly having some upgraded features. Korea order wrapped up a few years ago. Lines hopes for some other repeat customers. One source for the Saudi order: http://militaryedge.org/armaments/f-15sa/

All things being reasonably equal, what would the very approximate new build cost be per aircraft in similar sized lots for the F-16, F-18, F-15, F-22 and F-35? I know there's a lot of apples to oranges here, but I still find the question interesting.

I realize that between the politicians, the Air Force, and the corporations nobody wants us taxpayers to know much about this subject, but can anybody here hazard a guess?

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---