Boeing's F-15 tries to stay aloft

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | July 30, 2005 | Tim McLaughlin

[Righty_McRight]

Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-made F-15 Eagle used to be the sure thing of fighter jet procurement. Now the aging fighter is just a long shot in its own country.

Jim Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, says the odds are against the U.S. Air Force signing a multiyear deal to buy more F-15s. That assessment isn't surprising as the Pentagon prepares to spend billions of dollars over the next few decades for the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, two planes under development by Lockheed Martin Corp.

Still, some influential members of Congress say the Air Force needs a hedge against production delays or cost overruns. They believe the F-15 can play an important role in keeping the country's dwindling inventory of fighter jets at a healthy level during the transition to the Raptor and JSF.

One potential scenario has the Air Force buying anywhere from 100 to 144 F-15s as insurance against a slip in the JSF program, according to people familiar with informal discussions that started about two years ago.

That would be a boon for the F-15 program. Production of the storied combat plane will end in 2008, unless Boeing wins more orders. St. Louis defense workers have made more than 1,500 of the F-15s. The first F-15A flight was made in 1972.

Currently, the most hopeful market for more F-15s is Singapore, which could make a decision as early as next month on whether to take the Boeing plane or a French-made fighter in a competition worth an estimated $1 billion.

[martin_fierro]

[al baby]

Well perhaps they could make a civilian variant

[bill1952]

How does the JSF stack up against our current inventory, excluding the Raptor?

[EagleUSA]

The F-15 has alot of credentials -- it would not hurt to have more. It is cheap to build, very reliable, good multi-mode fighter/bomber --- just a good airplane. Heck, look how long the F-4 Phantom lasted us.... :-)

[SlowBoat407]

The design is 30 years old and should be scrapped immediately and never flown again. I can't believe they're still putting this thing up in the air.

Oh, sorry, I thought this was a space shuttle thread.

[KarlInOhio]

Since Boeing merged with Rockwell which had merged with North American, maybe Boeing can also build some P-51s or some F-86s for the Air Force.

The real question is "Does the Air Force have enough F-15Es to use as tactical bombers until the JSF is in production?" Since the F-22 is being fielded, I wouldn't even think about building the F-15 as a fighter anymore.

[Righty_McRight]

JSF has greater stealth properties than our current fighters, but it has a smaller payload. I'm not sure about range.

[Pukin Dog]

And so it begins. (chuckle)

See ya, JSF.

[martin_fierro]

Your image post got hosed by its server.

Clear your cache and see.

[Junior]

That would be a boon for the F-15 program. Production of the storied combat plane will end in 2008, unless Boeing wins more orders. St. Louis defense workers have made more than 1,500 of the F-15s. The first F-15A flight was made in 1972.

That's about 45 planes a year. Not a lot.

[bill1952]

*ping* Hey. It's not about this baby

but maybe you have a thought on my post 4?

[SC Swamp Fox]

Your image post got hosed by its server.

That's pretty clever.

[martin_fierro]

I swear, it was unintentional.

(what exactly about it was clever?)

[PAR35]

See ya, JSF.

Still flogging that dead horse?

[kAcknor]

You are paying Earthlink good money for webspace and access.

Sucks they don't let you use it as you see fit eh?

[Mr. Jazzy]

F-15 "Wild Weasel" variant, that's why.

Send them in with the F-22's and there would not even be a trace of opposition.

Personal opinion.

[Pukin Dog]

I have a self-imposed ban on discussing the JSF, except to repeatedly predict that it will never reach operational status.

It is fruitless to discuss it with some who feel they know better, as their jobs might depend on me being wrong. I'm not, but it will take time for that to be proved.

As an airframe, the JSF has few benefits over current technology. It is not as stealthy as the F-22, barely more maneuverable as your average F-16, and eats so much gas, it cant carry much to the fight. It is not that it is not fuel efficient, its that there just aint nowhere to put much gas.

[bill1952]

Thanks. I'll remember about your ban. ;^)