McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: McDonnell Douglas. Model: F-15B. Nickname: Eagle
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Tactical Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane ME Land
> Engine Description: twin Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofan engines

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 10/30/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1.5
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: F-15 various models

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 101
> Date First Flown: 11/5/1999
> Location First Flown: Eglin AFB, FL
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Eglin test squadron, Capt (Maj?) Boe

Recollections: I flew the F-15B with the operational test unit at Eglin AFB, as part of a DT-2, while I was assigned as the XO of USNTPS.  

What I remember most was that the airplane seemed super-simple to operate and that it was one of the nicest-flying airplanes I’d ever flown.  I don’t know the exact sequence, but the F-15 is of a similar vintage as it’s sister-ship in the company, the F-18.  The F-15B has hydromechanical controls (think “old school”), whereas the F-18 is fly-by-wire (FBW…think “computer in charge”).  While there clearly are advantages to FBW, there’s something to be said for the smoothness and tradition of an old-school analog airplane…at least for me.