Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-15>HA4514

General Background

In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre".

The Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-15J 42-8838 was produced in 1984. The aircraft belongs to the 7th Wing, 305th Squadron at this time based at Hyakuri. The squadron’s base is near a park that has plum trees so a plum blossom on top of a Hinomaru (Red Sun Disc) is used as their emblem. To honor the 50th Anniversary of the JASDF’s formation the 305th undertook great detail in designing and painting their spectacular tribute on F-15J 42-8838. The pattern is a spectacular array of plum blossoms located over almost the entire aircraft.

Specifications :

Role:	C – Single-seat, all-weather, air-superiority fighter - 483 built
	D – Dual-seat variant of the C – 92 built
	E – Dual-seat, all-weather, multi-role strike fighter - 237 built
Dimensions
Length:	C/D/E 63 ft 9 in (19.43 m)
Wingspan:	C/D – 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
	E – 42 ft 9.75 in (13.05 m)
Height:	C/D – 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
	E – 63 ft 9 in (5.63 m)
Weight:
Empty:	C/D - 28,600 lb (12793 kg)
	E – 31,700 lb (14,379 kg)
Maximum Take-off:	C/D – 68,000 lb (30,844 kg)
	E – 81,000 lb (36,741 kg)
Engines:	C/D – 2 X P&W F100-PW turbofans with afterburners, each engine rated @ 25,000 thrust (11,250 kg)
	E/F – Prior to August 1991 - 2 X P&W F100-P-220 turbofans, each rated @ 14,670 ls st (65.26kN) dry and 23,830 lb st (106.0 kN) with afterburners
	After August 1991 – 2 X P&W F100-PW-229 turbofans, each rated @ 17,800 lb st (79.18 kN) dry and 29,100 lb st (129.45 kN) with afterburners
Range:
C/D:	Ferry - 3,450 miles (3,000 nm) with CFTs + 3 X external fuel tanks
E:	Ferry – 3,570 miles (3,100 nm) with CFTs + drop tanks
With Drop Tanks only:	2,765 miles (2,400 nm)
Normal Combat Radius:	790 miles (685 nm)
Maximum Combat Radius:	1,150 miles (1,000 nm)
Speeds:	C/D – 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 +)
	E - Maximum Level Flight Clean @ High Altitude – 1,650 mph (2,655 km/h)
	Cruise @ Optimum Altitude – 570 mph (917 km/h)
Ceiling:	C/D – 65,000 ft (19,697 m)
	E – 60,000 ft (18,290 m)
Armament:
C:	1 X M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel internal gun, 940 rounds of ammunition
	4 X AIM-9L/M Sidewinders And
	4 X AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles Or
	Missile Combination - AIM-9L/M, AIM-7-F/M and AIM-120
E:	1 X M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel internal gun, 512 rounds of ammunition
	4 X AIM-9L/M Sidewinder on the under-wing stations And
	12 X CBU-52 (6 with wing tanks)
	12 X CBU-59 (6 with wing tanks)
	12 X CBU-71 (6 with wing tanks)
	12 X CBU-87 (6 with wing tanks)
	12 X CBU-89 (6 with wing tanks)
	20 X MK-20 (6 with wing tanks)