The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter that has secured its place in aviation history with its spotless air-to-air combat record of over 100 victories and zero losses. It first took to the skies on July 27, 1972, at Edwards Air Force Base under the skilled hands of test pilot Irving L. Burrows and continues to serve with distinction in the U.S. Air Force and other nations.
One of the most incredible testimonies to the F-15’s robustness took place on May 1, 1983. During an airfield defense training flight over the southern part of Israel’s Negev region, an Israel Air Force F-15D experienced a mid-air collision with an A-4 Skyhawk. These caused nearly the entirety of its right wing to get torn off the F-15, with only two feet remaining intact. Yet despite that terrible damage, pilot Zivi Nedivi was able to regain control of the aircraft and successfully land it at Ramon Air Base.”A normal approach is around 130 knots, but we made ours at around 250 to 260 knots,” explained Nedivi, indicating just how unusual the measures taken were in bringing that damaged Eagle home.
This incident identifies just how hardy and well-engineered the F-15 was. Later, engineers from McDonnell Douglas analyzed the damaged aircraft and concluded that its wide lifting body, when propelled at high speeds, was essentially a rocket. The repaired aircraft, which already downed four enemy aircraft during the 1982 Lebanon War, was put back in service and downed another Syrian MiG-23 in November 1985.
But the F-15’s legacy goes even beyond combat: inspiring generations of pilots, like Lt. Col. Victor Knill with the 173rd Fighter Wing. “I saw the F-15 and I fell in love with it—I still have the picture of me in front of the jet,” recalled Knill. His fascination with the Eagle got him through school and his career drive continued his romance with the aircraft.
To the pilots that fly it, the F-15 is lovingly referred to as the “W.G.A.S.F.”, the world’s greatest air superiority fighter due to a storied history and unparalleled success. Lt. Col. Tyler Cox, commander of the 114th Fighter Squadron at Kingsley Field, said the F-15 was designed from the beginning to kill enemy planes, with superior handling and superior power to complement that mission with advanced radar and weapons systems. “It’s unheard of in the fighter community,” he added, referring to the aircraft’s flawless combat record.
It is still flying high in the skies, an icon of engineering prowess and a military muscle showcase. Entrenched with exceptional feats and dependability unmatched in its legacy, the focus is on how the Eagle will continue to inspire and guard for many years to come.