F-15 Eagle

I began working on the F-15 A & B models at Holloman Air Force Base, NM in March of 1983. I was stationed at Holloman AFB until April of 1989. While there I participated in a Checkered Flag deployment to Holland with the 8^th TFS Black Sheep.

I was also privileged to deploy to Nellis AFB, Nevada 3 times and once to Decker Field in Wendover, Utah.

The F-15 is an all weather fighter/interceptor with a published top speed in excess of Mach 2.5 (2 1/2 times the speed of sound!). The A & B model depicted above carries over 900 rounds of 20mm ammunition as well as 4 AIM 9 heat seeking missiles and 4 AIM 7 radar guided missiles. It carries a lookdown/shoot down APG-65 Doppler radar. It has an internal fuel capacity of over 11,500 lbs of jet fuel and total fuel capacity can be increased to over 23,000 lbs with the addition of 3 external fuel tanks. The F-15, like all modern fighters, can be air refueled. It has a combat ceiling of 65,000 feet. The F-15 A & B was stationed at Holloman from 1977 until the early 1990s. It's presence was replaced by the F-117A Stealth Fighter. Besides the 8^th TFS, the F-15s at Holloman were also operated by the 7^th TFS Bunyaps and the 9^th TFS Iron Knights (Tin Heads).