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Photo Gallery: Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle

May 30, 2015 Photo Gallery: F-15E Strike Eagle
Scott Wolff, Jason Hyatt and Jonathan Derden No Comments Photos

Strike Eagle. Mud Hen. Dark Gray. SLAM Eagle. The names vary, but the beauty and whoopass remain the same. The Boeing F-15E, originally designed by McDonnell Douglas, is an absolutely incredible blend of an airframe created to own the sky yet transformed into an in-your-face, low-level, death-dealing monster.

Initially there was no interest in an F-15-derived air interdiction platform, but McDonnell Douglas quietly continued putting a plan together. In 1978 the USAF initiated a Tactical All-Weather Requirement Study (TAWRS), which put McDonnell Douglas’ plan in competition with the General Dynamics F-111. Ultimately the Air Force went with the McDonnell Douglas design in lieu of purchasing more F-111F’s, and the Strike Eagle was born.

Between 1979 and 1981, while working alongside Hughes on the design and capabilities of the aircraft, the USAF announced the Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) program which would officially replace the F-111 and put the F-15E back in competition again.

This time the competitor would be a variant of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (Yes, I said it). This Viper, designated the XL, would also be significantly different from it’s original design. We aren’t talking about that glorious aircraft just yet, though. Long story short, the winner of the ETF program was the F-15E.

I won’t spend any more time boring you with text when the awesomeness overfloweth below. Take a look at some of our favorite images of the jet an F-22A Raptor pilot called “the most capable aircraft in the USAF inventory.”

Enjoy!

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Two F-15Es from the 391 FS sit on the ramp under a beautiful fall sky.

Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA

389FS Strike Eagle Moonrise

From The Cockpit: Checkered Flag

A Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle equipped with the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.

Mountain Home F-15Es coming to Boise

"Scar" and "Razor" taxi out for a Red Flag mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

A Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle from the 389 FS returns to park at Mountain Home AFB after a late-day DCA sortie.

A 428FS F-15SG departs Eielson in spectacular fashion

The 391 FS "Bold Tigers" flagship sits on the ramp at Mather Airport during the California Capital Airshow.

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Burner Friday: Boeing F-15K SLAM Eagle

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Bold Tigers Rage In The Pacific!

Burner Friday: Singapore AF F-15SG

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From The Cockpit: Air Power Demo

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The Flagship F-15E from the 494 FS, RAF Lakenheath, takes off in full afterburner during an exercise at Nellis Air Force Base. (Photo by Jonathan Derden)

An F-15SG taxies into position on Eielson's runway. Notice the added sensor just above the intake.

The 428FS flagship starts up for a Red Flag-Alaska mission

Burner Friday: 389 FS Strike Eagle

About the Author

Scott Wolff is an accomplished writer and renowned aviation photojournalist. He has held the position of Managing Editor for a print flying lifestyle magazine, and is the Host and Editor for FighterSweep. Scott's area of expertise is military flight operations, drawing on ten years of experience working extensively with all branches of the armed forces. He holds an FAA pilot certificate, the culmination of a life-long passion for flying airplanes. Scott has received military altitude chamber training, emergency egress training, and has logged time in a variety of civilian and military aircraft. He is also a member of the International Society of Aviation Photographers and Nikon Professional Services.

Jason Hyatt is an aerospace industry professional with over 10 years of experience in the military and commercial aviation sectors. Born and raised in the Southwest United States, an area blessed with over 300 days of sunshine per year, he is fortunate to have been in and around aviation his entire life. After a brief stint as a semi-professional soccer player in the early 2000's, he realized his desire to live and work in aviation. While working for Boeing IDS (now BDS) in 2005, he first picked up a camera and started experimenting with aviation photography and photojournalism. As a freelance aviation photojournalist, he has been able to stay close to military aviation, his primary area of interest.

Jonathan Derden is an Airline Transport Rated-pilot with a regional airline in the mid-Atlantic region. Chair flying since being spoon fed as a child, Jonathan is a graduate of the aviation program at Jacksonville University and has been an airline pilot since 2007. When he's not flying for work, he's traversing the planet in search of the next opportunity as an aviation photojournalist. Jonathan began his photographic pursuits as a teenager while learning how to use his father's camera at a local general aviation airport, and has since broadened his horizons to include and now focuses on military aviation.

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