Book Review of
McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F-15 Eagle
Author: J.P. Viera
MMP/Stratus Books
ISBN: 978-83-65958-91-4
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.00
ISBN: 978-83-65958-91-4
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.00
HISTORY:
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter.
The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. It is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Israeli Air Force.
The Eagle has been exported to Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The F-15 was originally envisioned as a pure air-superiority aircraft. Its design included a secondary ground-attack capability that was largely unused.
The aircraft design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, an improved and enhanced version which was later developed, entered service in 1989 and has been exported to several nations.
As of 2017, the aircraft is being produced in different variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Air superiority fighter, multirole combat aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight: 27 July 1972; 48 years ago
Introduction: 9 January 1976; 45 years ago
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, Israeli Air Force
Produced : 1972–present
Number built: F-15A/B/C/D/J/DJ: 1,198
Variants: McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD, Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Mitsubishi F-15J
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter.
The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. It is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Israeli Air Force.
The Eagle has been exported to Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The F-15 was originally envisioned as a pure air-superiority aircraft. Its design included a secondary ground-attack capability that was largely unused.
The aircraft design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, an improved and enhanced version which was later developed, entered service in 1989 and has been exported to several nations.
As of 2017, the aircraft is being produced in different variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Air superiority fighter, multirole combat aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight: 27 July 1972; 48 years ago
Introduction: 9 January 1976; 45 years ago
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, Israeli Air Force
Produced : 1972–present
Number built: F-15A/B/C/D/J/DJ: 1,198
Variants: McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD, Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Mitsubishi F-15J
THE BOOK:
This book is hard bound of 42 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows color side profiles of 3 F-15’s posed against an all-white background. These are repeated inside the book.
The top one
There are 43 color side profiles in the book. These are laid across the wide dimension of the pages and you have to put the book on its side to fully view them.
There are 21 in U.S.A.F. colors and markings, 6 in Israeli AF colors and markings, 2 in Royal Saudi AF color and markings, 2 in the National Air & Space Agency colors and markings (one with a long needle nose), 3 in Japanese AF colors and markings, 1 in Republic of Korea AF colors and markings, 1 in Royal Saudi AF colors and markings, 2 in Singapore AF colors and markings and 2 in Qatar Emiri AF colors and markings.
The one at the top is a F-15B Eagle, ser. no. 71-0291 It was a McDonnell Douglas demonstrator in 1976.
The one below is a F-15C Eagle, ser. no, 79-0041. It was with the 114Th Fighter Sqdn. 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard.
The last page of the book shows 6 black and white cover arts of other MMP/Stratus books in the Spotlight On series: “Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star”, “Henschel Hs-129”, “Dassault Mirage III & Mirage JP Viera”, “Spad 13C1”. “Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet” and “Ilyushin IL-2”.
This book is hard bound of 42 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows color side profiles of 3 F-15’s posed against an all-white background. These are repeated inside the book.
The top one
There are 43 color side profiles in the book. These are laid across the wide dimension of the pages and you have to put the book on its side to fully view them.
There are 21 in U.S.A.F. colors and markings, 6 in Israeli AF colors and markings, 2 in Royal Saudi AF color and markings, 2 in the National Air & Space Agency colors and markings (one with a long needle nose), 3 in Japanese AF colors and markings, 1 in Republic of Korea AF colors and markings, 1 in Royal Saudi AF colors and markings, 2 in Singapore AF colors and markings and 2 in Qatar Emiri AF colors and markings.
The one at the top is a F-15B Eagle, ser. no. 71-0291 It was a McDonnell Douglas demonstrator in 1976.
The one below is a F-15C Eagle, ser. no, 79-0041. It was with the 114Th Fighter Sqdn. 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard.
The last page of the book shows 6 black and white cover arts of other MMP/Stratus books in the Spotlight On series: “Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star”, “Henschel Hs-129”, “Dassault Mirage III & Mirage JP Viera”, “Spad 13C1”. “Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet” and “Ilyushin IL-2”.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
J. P. Viera is a freelance illustrator producing military history and aviation-themed artwork. He is entirely self-taught and aims to constantly improve both the technical and artistic aspects of his work.
He works both using traditional (particularly paper and pencil for sketches) and digital (for painting) methods.
The attention to details and the constant pursue of improvements in realistic images , makes his artworks both accurate and artistically pleasing.
He works are published in many magazines and books and he collaborates with several authors, editors and publishing companies.
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning to do a model of the F15 and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web site at:
J. P. Viera is a freelance illustrator producing military history and aviation-themed artwork. He is entirely self-taught and aims to constantly improve both the technical and artistic aspects of his work.
He works both using traditional (particularly paper and pencil for sketches) and digital (for painting) methods.
The attention to details and the constant pursue of improvements in realistic images , makes his artworks both accurate and artistically pleasing.
He works are published in many magazines and books and he collaborates with several authors, editors and publishing companies.
This book will be of great interest to modelers planning to do a model of the F15 and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Pen & Sword books for this review sample. All Pen & Sword titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web site at:
Highly recommended.