I had this same experience as a teenager in 1977. After an air show at Mcguire air force base in NJ, we were hanging around the static display F-15. The crowds had gone, and we were among the stragglers. Then a golf cart arrived, and out popped the F-15 pilot and a rep from the base. The pilot shook hands with the rep, got in his F-15 and began the checklist for take off. They never told us to leave,... we were literally within 30 feet of this thing, but we drifted back a bit as the engines came to life. And, of course, the takeoff was the cherry on top. Hands down one of the most thrilling experiences in my life. Back then, all I had was a bunch of aviation books with photographs. No videos to watch on RU-vid. So to experience a real, live, F-15 engine start was thrilling.
X-CALIBER! 82016 - my old trusted warhorse when I flew her at Langley AFB, Va. with the 71st FS Ironmen in the early 90’s. Still looking mighty mighty after all these years… 🇺🇸
SWEET! Watching him continue down the runway at 30 ft AGL - on burner - I knew we were about to see one heck of a climb...and he did not disappoint!!😎👍
Not a strike eagle, but better! C model! They probably didn't give special priority, but it makes sense to put the faster one earlier in sequence. Great video!
I was stationed at Langley AFB, VA from’74 to ‘77. We were winding down the C-130 wing and we watched all of the brand new F-15s for the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing 4:51 come in 5 at a time! They were all painted “Air Superiority Blue” back then, but once all 72 aircraft were there, they started painting them the light gray they are now. That start-up whine and the engine noise is unforgettable!! F-15 = BADASS!!!👍👍😄
Jim, I was at Langley from 76-80. I was an electrician in the 27th squadron. Lots of great memories. The F-15 that was at McGuire was probably from Langley. I had to go up to McGuire once to fix an F-15 from Holloman with a landing gear problem. Who knows, maybe we met.
In 1973 I was very lucky to get a summer job at the massive McDonnell Aircraft plant at the St Louis airport. I had a clerical assignment working on the very first blocks of the brand new F-15. They were even still building new F-4 Phantoms for export at the time. Its hard to believe that an aircraft model that I worked on 50 years ago is still in service.
My son flew the Strike Eagle for 8 years, he was an instructor his first four years out of fighter training and when finished he was able to select his fighter and there was no other choice. it is an awesome plane
I spent 20 yrs in the usaf. Got to take a ride in a f15 once what a frill that I will never forget...just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I spent 22yrs. with about 8yrs. of that on the flight line with Eagles and Hogs. I had my altitude card and I could hop in the back of tubs to head out before the main units of maintainers arrived. Best time ever was flying out before Desert Storm to look for bed down locations for multiple wings. Once an Eagle Keeper, always an Eagle Keeper.
I was stationed a Holloman AFB back in the early 90's when they still had the F-15's, I miss the sound of the JFS winding up, sounds like victory. I also went TDY to Klamath Falls Oregon where the Oregon NG was stationed where this jet is based at. It is a C model. The strike eagle wasn't released until 1988, this aircraft is a 1982. Air superiority at it's finest. Great video!
I hate to be that guy, but this F-15 is from the Portland ANG base. I hope you enjoyed your TDY at Klamath Falls. I worked in the engine shop at Kingsley Field for the better part of 26 years
I was stationed at Kirtland 78 - 80 Security Police and we got word an F-15 was here for the first time. Didn’t get to see it on the flight line but certainly could hear the thunder when it left and went straight up. What a sight. Love the Eagle.
Which flight were you on? I was there from 79-80. I was on C Flight with Msgt Presnell and TSgt Fisher. Guarding Manzano might have been the worst duty ever.
@@JamieSmith-fz2mz Manzano. I believe C flight as well but don’t recall those names. long time ago so don’t remember many names. I remember my sector sup was from New Hampshire he had that accent , I was from Jersey. We had a female LT. I remember another sector sup Tsgt Dotson You’re right awful duty. The fence line was like a prison sentence sitting in those crappy CJ 5s baking in the heat. I practically lived in the bar Friars East. Some names I remember Stan Butler Dennis Carter great guys. Ssgt Murry Cantrell pot head and all his buddies. I see they built an underground facility for the weapons so no more Manzano. Hope you’re well fellow 1608 SP. and that’s been changed to 377 gone back to the Viet Nam designation.
I was at March at the time(SAC of course), so I didn’t see F15s on a regular basis except I got a mini air show one time at Edwards! Years later in the 80s they (F15s) frequented Eielson AFB, AK(we still had “Alert” F4s)and I got to see some impressive flying! **SPS** all the way!!
abs fantastic footage,certainly miss watching F-15C's flying with the 493rd fs 48th FW at Raf Lakenheath,sadly replaced by F-35's but thankfully still 2 squadrons of F-15E's 492nd & 493rd fs still operating with the 48th FW,again great footage of a legend
Looks like that F-15C is part of the 142nd fighter squadron (Redhawks), of the Oregon Air National Guard. They are going to be the getting the new F-15EX soon. They're the very first squadron to receive them. I can't wait to see those flying around Portland.
I was so jealous of my dad who flew the RF-4 and on the week of my commission in the Army after OCS I was able to ride with my dad during his FINI flight (last time flying in the USAF before retirement 28 years. Some people have all the fun!!
Definitely not the Strike Eagle. This is the F-15C model, it only has a single seat and no Fast Pack fuel tanks. The F-15E has Fast Pack conforming fuel tanks on the fuselage with built in bomb racks while Charlie does not.
I grew up in the Philippines. My Dad was stationed at Clark ( his first post at Clark AFB was in the summer of 1941 - guess how he spent the war) in the middle to late 1950s. After that we returned stateside to Kirtland AFB. I was in 3rd to 4th grade at the time. Housing was around the end of the runway - as I remember - you can still see the streets on Google Earth but all the housing is gone. I remember one day we had company and a couple of jets took off right over the house, probably F-100s or F-101s. Our visitor asked my Mom; "HOW can you stand that noise?" To which my Mom answered quite cooly; "What noise?". Recently moved back to NM, Corrales actually, and am hoping I can get on the Base for a visit.
I was stationed at Bitburg AB, Germany, from 1976-1979, when F-15s replaced the F-4s the wing had been flying. It was like an air show every day. Good times.
I was at Hahn AB from 80-82 and we still had F-4E's. I worked the night shift in red section and there was a Bitburg F-15 out on the ramp there. We were out working in one of the TAB-V's when the F-15 started up down at the other end of the section. Had never heard a JFS before and sound of that thing howling away when the pilot engaged the finger lift kinda scared the crap out of us. Sounded like some kind of demon howling in the darkness of the woods! LOL
Loved the F-15s...before they got converted to two-seaters...always was convinced they should've been given to the Navy & Marines as well as the Air Force.
Cool Video! I see them when they come to Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield Massachusetts 104th FW / 131st FS. F-15c/d here also. But by 2026 the F-15s here will be replaced by F-35A (18) also Westover Air Reserve Base is behind where I Iive ..they have C-5M (8) Chicopee Massachusetts (Patriot Wing) Western Massachusetts..it’s also like a layover base going to and coming from the U.K…
Was at the Air Force Museum this Spring when the double MiG killer F-15C from Barnes was delivered. It was awesome watching the pilot make several passes before landing it for the final time. Even got to meet him later in the Museum. Glad we have it on display inside the Museum now.
I did contract work at Seymour Johnson AFB in 2011-12 on ready buildings next to the flight line. I was an inspector and air monitor so during my down time I could sit on the building roof and watch the F15E Strike Eagles practice take offs and landings for hours. A full afterburner miltary take off is a wonder to behold. SJAFB Home of the 4th Fighter Wing. Motto "Fourth But First" The FA- FO warriors. 95 F-15E Strike Eagles in two operations Squadrons are stationed there along with 2 training squadrons and other support units This is The F15 Strike Eagle Training base for the USAF.
I was aircraft maintenance officer at Elgin 79 - 81 ... I got to see this from the back seat of a D model ... One thing I noticed on start-up was the Jet Fuel Starter seems much louder and more robust than I remember. Was this an upgrade since 1990 when I retired?
Stationed at Kadena 79-81. Saw Eagle's put through their places w pattern shut down. 2-3K AGL doing tightest turns i had ever seen. Then at 1200 there was the daily SR71 Habu launch. Back when we were a great nation led by men, not senile in chief.
Love me some F-15, i was at an Eagle base in Europe for two years. Saw plenty of Alert Scrambles, They are just one behind the F-14,,,, Sorry I am old school, and grew up with the Tomcat, and got to work around them!!!!
The order is F-15 A, B, C, D (2-seat variant) and Strike Eagle, which is a dual role platform - able to do precision strike missions as well as air-to-air fighting.@@trueairspeed130
I don't see anything mentioning a Strike Eagle, so not sure where that's coming from. But anyway, that's one of our good ole F-15C's out of KPDX. Nice video man!
I seen it F-18 takeoff at Tri-Cities airport after an airshow in Kingsport, Tennessee after he got airborne at the end of the runway, he went straight, vertical up in the air out of sight
Hear me once. I was on another passenger plane and had to wait. For a couple of these Superiority Fighters take off. I could feel the Thunder of the twin GE engines allowing them to go vertical to 25000 feet in seconds.
Bad ass!! U.S. Fighter pilots while low pay, still have the very best job on the planet! I was shocked the first time I stood next to an F-15 and an F-18 Super Hornet. They’re both massive fighters up close.
You are very welcome Sir! I'm an old "fosil" B-52 and KC-135, and also an ex United Air Lines D-C6 and "rectum rocket" (B727) mechanic from back in the 1960s. I just love all kinds and types of airplanes. I'm really fond of old WWll airplanes as well. Anyway, keep up the good work Sir!@@trueairspeed130
Good but not great, no weapons on those hard points. They climb like that to avoid the airspeed noise over Albuquerque, because of the mountain range holding the sound at the ground.
Wicked good video...just a note, that's an F-15C...not an E-Model Strike Eagle. Fantastic Max climb on takeoff....that's about a 4G load at the snap....had the privilege of a back-seat incentive ride in my younger days, and experienced the same climb....
They are called vertical stabilizers or vertical stabs. The F-14 Tomcat vertical stabs are also straight up. The F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E/F/G SuperHornet/Growler all use the canted vertical stabs as does the F-22A Raptor. If you cant the vertical stabs or better yet, eliminate them(think B-2A Spirit/B-21A Raider and some of the GEN 6 fighter concepts) there are major benefits in regards to Low Observability aka stealth. The F-15 Silent Eagle concept used canted vertical stabilizers as part of its reduction in RADAR Cross Section(RCS). It's very difficult, if not impossible to make a GEN 4 jet into a GEN 5 LO/VLO platform.
142nd Fighter Wing Oregon Air National Guard out of Portland, Oregon. 173rd Fighter Wing Oregon Air National Guard is out of Klamath Falls. They are the other F-15 unit in the state, for now.
Only thing is that is F - 15 C Eagle . The F -15 E Strike Eagle is (painted Gunship gray like B -52 & the Bone . It is also a two seater . Where is WSO (weapons systems officer usually at least the rank of Major) gonna sit ?? . . . .
