Boeing F-15K41 Successfully Completes 1st Flight

Air Attack ^ | 4/23/2010 | Air Attack

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

On April 19 conducted the first flight of F-15K41, the first of 21 F-15K Slam Eagles the company is producing under the Next Fighter II contract for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The aircraft, flown by Boeing test pilot Steve Schmidt, took off from Lambert St. Louis International Airport at 2:36 p.m. Central time and landed at 3:44 p.m.

The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is extremely capable, survivable and maintainable. The F-15K enables the ROKAF to change its focus from the short-range defense of the past half century to a broader regional view that considers the omnidirectional threats it may face in the future. The aircraft's service life is planned through 2040, with technology insertions and upgrades throughout its life cycle.

Boeing completed delivery of the 40 Next Fighter I F-15K aircraft in October 2008.

[SoldierDad]

TTIWWP

[DemforBush]

[TheThinker]

beautiful aircraft

[Ramius]

Roger that.

[60Gunner]

...For a 40+ year-old design. And that's a compliment to the F-15's staying power, and not a slap at it. The Eagle kicks ass, no doubt about it.

My point, however, is that this congress (note the lower-case 'c') is killing innovation and the likelihood of our replacing the Eagle with adequate numbers of next-gen fighters is nil.

That is a sad thing indeed.

[Halgr]

Lets hope the Koreans can keep these birds somewhere safe.

[Erik Latranyi]

I grew up with the F-15 as my dream jet. It still gets my juices flowing 30 years later.

[Yo-Yo]

The aircraft that the RAAF should have bought to replace their retiring F-111Cs.

[Yo-Yo]

My point, however, is that this congress (note the lower-case 'c') is killing innovation and the likelihood of our replacing the Eagle with adequate numbers of next-gen fighters is nil.

Seeing as it's only 5th generation replacement is the F-22, and congress capped their purchase at 187, I'd have to agree.

[TheThinker]

It is a sad thing that we don't give our soldiers the best equipment to win more quickly and easily and thus have a better chance to survive.

I don't think America can depend on socialist appeasers or bake sales to give the most courageous the best equipment to protect the most beautiful country in the world.

[Yo-Yo]

Boeing released images of the F-15K41's first flight. Note the Russian T-50 Stealth camouflage paint scheme:

</sarc>