The F15 Eagle: The Greatest Fighter Jet of All Time

Discover the story of the F-15 fighter jet, born from the US Air Force's need for a faster, more agile plane. With an impressive track record, it remains one of the greatest fighter jets of all time.
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[@PROTLxONgame]

To me, the eagle is the first one I think of when someone mentions fighter jets. When I look at it I just think "this is how a fighter jet SHOULD look like."

[@mho...]

yeah its basically the textbook example, isnt it?!

[@jaws666]

If it LOOKS right hen it will FLY right.

[@jaws666]

Whats an F-11?.....last time i checked it was called an F-111......And it prounced as f one elven and NOT F triple one

[@PapaPilt]

Preferably with both tail fins 🤷‍♂️

[@marcbeebee6969]

​@@jaws666 Simon will love this comment. I'm sure he will feature this on brain blaze 😂

[@StreetPreacherr]

It's amazing that most 'fighter jets' never seem to look 'old'. I mean, the F-15 is practically my age, but still looks just as cool as it did in the 70s!

[@BigBossIvan]

All the best stuff came from then and prior, and I’m saying that as a 90s kid.

[@defenestrated23]

YF-23 still looks straight from the future

[@PrograError]

@@defenestrated23 and yet it's called ugly...

[@biginchsmallblock]

@@PrograError the YF-23 looks awesome. Schedule an eye doctor appointment ASAP.

[@PrograError]

@@biginchsmallblock well... don't shoot the messenger mate I ain't the first one to say that tho..

[@kananisha]

The F15 is also the only aircraft in history to score an air to air kill using a bomb.

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

It also only needs one wing to fly.

[@marcbeebee6969]

Simon, we need a video on this. What the hell, how?!

[@yolkiandeji7649]

@@marcbeebee6969 F-15E dropped a laser guided bomb on a helicopter.

[@moistgoat8170]

This needs to be talked about more.

[@marcbeebee6969]

@@yolkiandeji7649 🤯

[@brendenparadis9224]

The C&D models are actually still in service, particularly with the Air National Guard. I actually worked on one of the tail #s showed in the video just yesterday!

[@Phillip-ino]

I see my old jets. 6:56 JZ

[@kdrapertrucker]

Air Force ordered 24 new EX models.

[@Steven_Edwards]

California Air National Guard? I think we've got what like a fleet of 30 or so now?

[@281cu6]

There are still F-15Cs in Air Force inventory. They are retiring a lot of them soon, however.

[@TheBear710]

@@281cu6 replaced by f15ex congress suprised the airforce with them lmao...

[@colonelb]

Also for those of us that grew up in the 1980s, the F15 is the plane model that Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker were in the Transformers cartoon.

[@jaws666]

And "Leader one" from the Gobots /Robo Machine series.

[@alexander1485]

One was a f14...

[@danteunknown2108]

I always say heavy influences in Robotech and Gundam Core Fighters designs

[@jaws666]

@@alexander1485 which one?....i think you may mean "jetfire" which was NOT an F-14 but a straight up repaint of the Bandai /takatoku toys "super VF-1S" from Super dimension fortress macross

[@ToaArcan]

Poor Soundwave's altmode was already outdated by the end of the 80s, and he's never been able to escape it because his entire gimmick is "Contains dudes who turn into squares", meanwhile Screamer and his mechanical Mean Girls posse have been up-to-date for 40 years without even trying.

[@ayuchanayuko]

The eagle that scored an air-to-space satellite kill. The eagle that scored an air-to-air kill with a bomb. The eagle that survived after losing a wing.

[@devildog3575]

And now there is a new model with one tail only on the right intentionally just to show the badassness of this aircraft!

[@ziam8558]

eagle with the eye patch and a clubfoot 🤣🤣🤣

[@rob6345]

The eagle that got beat by the f-14 numerous times. 😂😂😂

[@daleleisenring4275]

​@@rob6345 You shouldn't make such a bold statement without proof. F-15 is the best fighter aircraft ever.

[@richardmartin8998]

​@@rob6345 the F-14 never reached its full potential, but the Eagle did. Frankly the numbers are on the Eagle's side.

[@photocreation34]

There might be a small problem with the tail on the thumbnail 😅. Otherwise, great job 👏

[@mbrandt75]

That’s what makes it the greatest I guess

[@b1646717]

You will leave the aircraft in 10, 9...

[@Danksta911]

Awesome catch 😂

[@blitzkrieg2142k]

Same thinking here. Was like uh... thats just a tad bit off.

[@user-ii1iy8fz1d]

Combat damage....? Obviously after dropping a lot of ordinance on a nation of poor coloured people 😂

[@iowa_don]

I was at Luke AFB in 1974 when the F15 Eagle was first brought there for pilot training. It was very cool indeed. It was the first fighter with a thrust to weight ratio greater than one so it could accelerate straight up right after takeoff.

[@PatrickJDoyle-bw3fu]

I got to Luke in May 75, was assigned to F-4's till they were being mustered out, got chosen to be part of the F-15's O T & E program, then helped train the Israeli Airforce along with the other units that were selected to receive the Eagle, seeing the 2 aircraft, F-4 and F-15 sit side by side, it was hard to tell they were made by the same company, beautiful aircraft, even had that new airplane smell.

[@alexschenewerk7436]

I thought that was the f-16

[@MrPossumeyes]

New airplane smell? Is that like new car smell? Do pilots get all nuts like most young guys, sniff that smell and go off to a dirt road nearby, gas it and hang the arse out on a few corners just to see how good it really is? Do girl pilots think Mmmm, smells nice but can it do what I want it to do - let's find out, but carefully. Gotta love girls, right?

[@jaysleezy5464]

Oh yeah? Look up a video of an English Electric Lighting doing that. First flight was 1954.

[@iowa_don]

@@jaysleezy5464 If you look it up, "at very light weights" it had a thrust to weight greater than one. Even the F-4 Phantom had a thrust to weight greater than one IF "fuel was low". The F15 had a thrust to weight 1.17. So at takeoff, loaded it could climb straight up.

[@tmzwcky]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the F15 that lost a wing in a mid-air collision and still flew home and landed

[@darthvirgin7157]

it helps that the fuselage, like its wings, act as a lifting body. so a missing wing shouldn’t be a problem.

[@Souls0798]

Yep, I was going to say that. This aircraft is amazing

[@yoamal1187]

​@@darthvirgin7157 it literally should be a problem You get more lift on one wing which will roll the aircraft

[@darthvirgin7157]

@@yoamal1187 admittedly, Dynamic Stability and Control was a weak subject for me in school. BUT even i know that LIFT can be neutralized or minimized on a wing through its flaps and/or spoilers…and the rudder to counter yaw from the resulting drag imbalance. simultaneously, increase thrust to increase lift on the fuselage. horizontal stabilizers can be split to generate roll in the opposite direction. so no. it’s NOT A PROBLEM as long as the pilot OR the computer knows what it needs to do to compensate.

[@yoamal1187]

@@darthvirgin7157 and that's the thing, the pilot didn't know they had the wing missing, they just knew the plane was hard to control Also Concidering they've used the afterburner to gain more stability, the computer couldn't use flaps/slats otherwise they would jam

[@Acheronus80]

The Vulcan cannon is not in the nose, its in the Starboard wing root, the Port wing root has the in-flight refuelling receptacle.

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

This channel is mostly inaccurate in videos about military stuff... I'm not surprised that are so many fundamental error in it...

[@vortexgen1]

I was an Eagle Keeper in the USAF at Holloman AFB, NM in the mid to late 80's and is still my favorite to watch fly.

[@mikehagins1713]

I was there from 1987-1991

[@philparnell757]

Sup man! Tboldt crew chief here with the 389th!

[@vic5015]

It's F *111* , not the F11. Also, the pilots in Top Gun are US Navy pilots who flew the F14 Tomcat, *not* the F15.

[@rexw2203]

I was a crew chief on C/D for 19 years from 1991 to 2010. There's some great stuff in this video and this aircraft will always have a special place in my heart. Right beside the A-10 that I was a crew chief on from 2010 to 2013. Great stuff here Simon! With only a few little details to quibble over this was a very nice production. The details committed to my memory aren't the kind of details that the general public is even interested in so I won't add anything to this nice bit of content! 😉

[@chrisj7656]

Dang, I worked with a guy who was F-15C/D's from 1995 to 2015, with only a one year break for a stint in Korea in like 2012 or so. You never see people on the same airframe for that long anymore, let alone the same model.

[@MaxPower-11]

Small correction: the F-15’s RADAR was developed and manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Corporation (later Raytheon), not McDonnell-Douglas (which built the airframe).

[@michaelhankes7587]

True. But McDonnell Douglas worked with the RADAR manufacturers to integrate it into the airplane.

[@AugmentedGravity]

There are a lot of small corrections needed here.

[@rookiexreviews]

@@AugmentedGravity what are they ( I honestly just interested) if you don't mind anyways * (edit) oh maybe you didn't include cuz there already in other comments just noticed there's a few

[@AugmentedGravity]

@@rookiexreviews i will have to rewatch the video but i have noticed that there are quite a few inaccuracies in all of Simon’s videos on these specific topics, i.e. fighter jets and military aviation. I might be nit picking but that is where my passion lies and therefore the subject i actually know alot about. They are fantastic channels tho and i know for a fact that it is hard to get all these very intricate things completely correct.

[@donwyoming1936]

Worked on F-15s for most of my time in the Air Force. F-15Es fly over the house almost every day. Powerful engines plus a powerful radar was a winning combination.

[@Legitpenguins99]

I live right outside Luke AFB and holy fuck do they annoy the shit out of me. Every time I'm trying to talk on the phone outside I hear one above me. I hear those fuckers 10 times a day

[@thedungeondelver]

I won't be around to see it but I'd wager the Eagle will still be flying 50 years from now.

[@Steven_Edwards]

Given the Japanese turn out their own with the F-15J via license with Mitsubishi, I expect they may be flying for at least that long. Hell with upgrades they could do over the decades on their own, it really wouldn't surprise me to see them still flying defensive roles around the world.

[@JonMartinYXD]

I wouldn't bet against you. The US C/D fleet averages 8,400 flying hours and the EX is being built to have 20,000.

[@highlightphotography2834]

The F-15EX's official name is the Eagle II (i.e. they're not two separate types...EX and Eagle II are the same thing)

[@themightymoose5047]

Been waiting for this one! F-15 Is a living legend

[@kyle870]

Right he’s done the F14, F16 and the F/A-18 but just now getting to the F15 😂

[@thesuncollective1475]

Me too, will be great when they are flying in UKR..I can't wait to see it

[@shenmisheshou7002]

The legend is the AWACs and The AIM -7. The vast majority of F-15 kills were beyond visual range kills on order from an AWACs, that had tracked a threat and plotted an intercept at which point the AWACs command and control would give the go to fire the AIM -7 which is what actually did the kill. The F-15 was on most cases, a delivery van that just positioned the radar and the AIM -7 to the launching point. IT is the AIM -7 that reaches out for the kill. If the F4 had AWACs it might have done better than it did, and if the F-15 didn't have AWACs, it probably would not have done as well as it did. The F-15 is no doubt a much better plane than the F-4, but the reality is that the F-15 had the enormous advantage of having AWACs and much better Identification Friend or Foe technology and controls, that have nothing to do with the plane itself, but rather to do with the totality of the air superiority system and the spectacular AIM -7, which is where all of the kills actually came from.

[@extubator]

Tom Cruises character was actually flying an F14. Other than that, awesome job as usual. Still one of my favorite, if not my all-time favorite channels.

[@swj719]

Haven't seen the new movie, have ya?

[@dananderson6697]

Have you? Top Gun: Maverick is all about the F18.

[@Binkley-rj6gf]

@@swj719 In the new movie, the US pilots fly F/A-18s.

[@constantius8769]

@@swj719 F-18s in the new movie, buddy.

[@cleverusername9369]

​@@swj719 I'm wondering if you have, there's not a single F-15 in either Top Gun movie.

[@bravedirtyhawk5912]

As a current F-15 mechanic I can assure you that the C and D models are still in service currently.

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

This channel is mostly inaccurate in videos about military stuff... I'm not surprised that are so many fundamental error in it...

[@pgwchaos]

One fun story about the F-15 I always liked was during a training exercise there was a mid-air collision between an Israeli F-15D and A-4. The pilot of the A-4 ejected and the jet was a lost; however the pilot of the F-15 was able to regain control of the F-15, he couldn't make out the damage to the right wing because of leaking fuel, but was able to land. On the group he got a better picture of the right wing, or lack of one. McDonnell Douglas did figure out the wide body of the jet and speed was able to keep it flying. The aircraft was repaired and I believe is still in service.

[@nicholasaudy6064]

The guy also stated that if he knew the wing is gone, he would've ejected lmao. Lucky he didn't know

[@mrtlsimon]

I think Simon's researchers may have been incorrect about criticism over the speed of the F4 Phantom. The F4 set 5 world speed records that weren't broken until the F15. It flew a 100 mile closed circuit course at top speeds of 1390 mph/2237 kph. I served in the USMC Air Wing and supported some of the last F4 Phantoms in USMC service. There were no complaints about the speed even 30 years after its record breaking flights. I enjoy the videos, keep up the good work.

[@davidfuller581]

Yeah, it just handled like a brick. It was never meant to do turn and burn dogfighting. The F-15, on the other hand, is.

[@brentbartley6838]

He also said the Mig 25 was more maneuverable. 😂

[@alexfortin7209]

The sentence is “too slow and hard to maneuver particularly at low altitude” - not talking about pure speed but agility and maneuverability in dogfight.

[@brentbartley6838]

​@@alexfortin7209 In the first 10 seconds of the video when he's talking about the Mig 25 he said it was VASTLY more maneuverable. Which it was not even remotely. Big and very heavy with very thin wings, so not great wing loading potential there.

[@brentbartley6838]

Lol, he also said the F-15's cannon is in the nose, nope that's F-18. F-15 cannon is in the outer edge of the starboard engine intake.

[@Felto123]

The C and D are still in service with the USAF. The C and D cannot carry 24 air to air missiles. I think 8 was the max. There are also I, K and SA versions. There was no F-15 Twos. The EX is called the Eagle II. Jordanians did not have MiG-25s, the Syrians did.

[@Blade4952]

Few things are off, but still a fun video.

[@HDSME]

And the E !!!!! The most dangerous

[@SpardauDebesi]

There's F15J Japanese version who everyone forgot. 😒

[@counterfit5]

The F-15 also did not see combat in Vietnam. The first airframe delivered to a combat unit was in Jan 1976, and the first A2A kill was in 1979 by an Israeli pilot.

[@BrianZinchuk]

I couldn't believe the number of errors. Thanks for picking up on all these. Wow. I thought Simon was generally reliable in these videos, but this one was absolutely horrible for accuracy.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The F-15 is featured in the 1997 film Air Force One. The Eagle was also shown in advertisements for the 2000 film Thirteen Days. The ads were withdrawn when it came the attention of New Line Cinema that the F-15, which first flew in 1972, was out of place for a film set in 1962. This was problematic for New Line, who had termed the film a "by-the-numbers recreation" and "close to perfect". A New Line spokesman said the advertisement was created by an outside agency.

[@shdymoj0]

Small correction; the F-15 II you mentioned is actually the same thing as the F-15 EX. The EX model just simply dubbed Eagle II, after the F-15E Strike Eagle. What's awesome is that the F-15 is still in production this day with the USAF buying 104 Eagle II's, with major demand from other countries like Qatar, Isreal, India, Indonesia, and even Japan, Korea and Singapore want to either upgrade their current fleet, or just outright buy new jets. Source: trust me bro.

[@FPClarks]

Worked of F-15's for most of my time in the USAF. Good Jet.

[@JoeBeaudette]

I don’t recall any F15s flown by Tom Cruise in either Top Gun.. also kinda disappointed you never mentioned the F15 ACTIVE. I know it’s not a combat aircraft but it’s still so cool and contributed some of the advancements that went into developing the F22

[@nicholaspribble7971]

Tom cruise used naval aircraft to fly off carriers with, f 14 and f 18.

[@donkeysunited]

@@nicholaspribble7971 Tom Cruise didn't fly anything off a carrier.

[@glendownton]

Glad you finally covered the awesome F-15. But have a quiet word to your researchers/writers for not including the incident where an F-15 successfully returned to base and landed after having one wing completely sheered off in an air-to-air collision!

[@SodiumGreen]

It was an IAF F-15D. The collision was with an A-4 Skyhawk. The pilot was able to land safely. McDonald Douglas reps showed up, looked at the damage and thought is was a ground incursion. The F-15 can fly with one wing.

[@ncguyredneck]

Best part is the bird was repaired and later got an air to air kill.

[@geodkyt]

​@@SodiumGreen The engineers thought it was a ground collision *until* they saw the damage that showed clear proof the damaged area was exposed to hundreds of mile an hour winds.

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqm4k6qIlKlqn5I

[@nexpro6118]

Simon...C and D variants are still In service with the US. The Air National Guard uses em still and the new, F-15EXs are costing, 95 million, not 150 million.

[@TK199999]

One suggestion for these type of video's is try to show pictures of the other planes proposal that lost. Like the designs that lost to the McDonnell Douglas F-15. The contrast makes the video about the winning plane more interesting. I also pretty sure the Eagle II and EX are the same plane now. With both being folded into the EX program and the USAF planning on upgrading or buying at least 80 planes so far. The biggest benefit of the EX is that it can talk to F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 and F-35. This combined with EX having what appears to be highest combat load of any aircraft outside of strategic bombers. Means as a missile/bomb truck, the EX can support stealth fighters/interceptors by being able to receive data from them and using that data to fire off long range missile payloads its carrying, without ever seeing their targets on their own radar.

[@rdmgwinn]

Involved with the F15 for 10 + years. Fell in love at first sight in 1975. With a 3 year "break" stayed with it until 1988. Could be a real PIA at times. All was forgiven when the gear was sucked up and the Eagle was on it's way to whatever was ask of it. Info to you. The B & D were simply trainer versions of the A & C. Slightly less capable then the A & C due to lack of the avionics that was carried in the equipment bay (rear seat area) of the A & C. The C & D where a more capable aircraft then the A & B due to many upgrades including much beefier structure. Never had any hands on with the E but "knew it" fairly well. Was primarily designed for the strike role but was / is quite capable air to air. Amazing an aircraft that held the place of TIP OF THE SPEAR for so many years is still being built 50 years later.

[@RobertoAllen]

I would argue this is the best sounding jet of all time. Gives me goosebumps every time I hear an f-15 close by.

[@kingbenjamin22]

Those Eagles keep flying high and always looking amazing while doing so.

[@vortecmacs]

The greatest fighter jet of all time. You nailed it, sir.

[@Buddha_the_Pug]

Kinda hoped you would tell the story of an early export F15 to israel, who had some sort of accident, but managed to save the jet, despite the pilot not knowing he had lost an entire wing

[@ionwerks]

Definitely the most beautiful, love its mix of svelte curves and aggressive angles.

[@otanguma]

I've never heard the descripción of F4 too slow 😅

[@winglessviper]

Kudos for showing a FL ANG F-15C. They fly over my house at some point at least once a week. I still stop and watch,even after getting out back in 95. Eagle Keeper at Bitburg for 2 years.

[@paulng]

After my discharge in October 78 I returned to the Eifel and worked as a computer tech for Borroughs at Bitburg AB till 82. Always enjoyed watching them fly.

[@cturdo]

Not only still in service, but still in production.

[@roolawreal]

There’s nothing like watching these unbelievable machines blast out of RAF lakenheath

[@jevonmudd1710]

The F-15 has to be one of the most Bad-Ass looking jets ever.

[@user-ee7bz3ip2b]

I got to give it to SU 35 Flanker

[@rexringtail471]

The Eagles record speaks for itself but it's sister, the F-14, to me has a more impressive record despite not being undefeated. Eagles never faced the kind of peer threat no-holds-barred air brawl that the Persian Cats did in the Iran Iraq war.

[@Jabba.Da.Hutt_]

I’ve been waiting for you to do a video about the F-15, and now it’s here. 🔥 Ty Simon

[@martinstallard2742]

1:05 development 2:54 evolution of the f-15 9:52 historic deployments 12:57 modern & future deployments 14:45 conclusion

[@RockNRuen]

@the_fat_electrician has a very colorful video ❤ "The F-15 is the most gangster fighter that is basically a rocket!"

[@dwe4]

Is 7:31 footage of an F-18 taking off from an aircraft carrier? Hopefully, someone with an eagle eye (no pun intended) and more knowledge than I can clear it up for me.

[@alexlocatelli2876]

A true aviation legend.

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

With some myths... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqm4k6qIlKlqn5I

[@SimonsAuntPhyllis]

It's F-16s that Ukraine has been asking for, not 15s. Mainly because of the 16's air-to-ground capabilities for supporting a counteroffensive. Though I'm sure they wouldn't mind having both.

[@comradecrawdaddy3343]

Hell yeah! My favorite fighter! I enjoyed watching these at air shows and learning about them growing up as a kid.

[@markslegl3529]

Would it be possible to see a video done on the F-16 Fighting Falcon? I’ve always thought they are really cool.

[@CigarRegal]

When they do make an episode about it, I just hope they don't show the F-16's hideous smile.

[@MoparMissileDivision]

You didn't mention one of the most amazing feats of any fixed wing aircraft in history. I believe it was an Israeli F-15 that was involved in a mid air collision, losing it's entire right wing in combat, but because of it's power and the speed it is capable of, it was able to fly all the way back to base and land safely!

[@oldschool4456]

Was stationed at Edwards air force base in early 70s during the time they were figuring out what the F15 was actually capable of. It was like an air show nearly every day.

[@jjfromthebigland781]

The Raptor and Lighting are amazing aircraft but the Eagle is a stark raving monster in the air...

[@streakermaximus]

Starscream: I support this message.

[@holton345]

Simon! Shame! The F-15 Eagle is an Air Force fighter. Top Gun is a Navy picture, so smiling Tom flew the F-14 Tomcat! AAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!

[@blackace7782]

Watching these leave Eglin AFB almost daily as me and my pa were fishing is something I'll remember for the rest of my life

[@manwiththemachinegun]

Was waiting for your video on this plane. Really an unbelievable service record.

[@PapaPilt]

Why are they missing a tail fin in the thumbnail lol

[@extraordinary_ordinary]

If anyone is interested in more details about the F-15EX then check out Ward Carrol's youtube channel. He goes into fairly deep discussion about it in one of his videos.

[@yo_boi_john4471]

I like watching your videos about aerial vehicles while trying to build them in Kerbal space program.

[@bradszymanski9910]

Also a note on why the F4 was replaced was the fact it had no gun. At first they thought that missiles would do all the work but they didn’t work all the time and migs learned to get us in close where dogfights were necessary. They eventually made pylon mounted guns but then the F15 came along and completely dominated the F4 in testing.

[@Abadox20]

Brilliant video, I just wish you’ve put more light on the F15 that was used by NASA for testing new technologies and the RSAF’s operation during the Iraq-Iran war where they scored the air arm’s first confirmed kills of two Iranian F4 phantoms. Another thing is that you completely didn’t mention the Japanese Air Force which was the second biggest user of the plane before the last Saudi acquisitions. And it was in Dessert storm where the F15 downed a MiG 25, the aircraft it was designed to counter. Keep up the good work 😊

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqm4k6qIlKlqn5I

[@MiningTheWorldYT]

Great video as always. Worth noting that the development of the F-15 owed a lot to the advancements in materials technologies by DARPA in the 1970s, namely the development of rare earths-based permanent magnets that were much stronger than other magnetic materials. This paved the way for further developments in REE-based magnets, with F-35s today using an estimated 920 pounds of rare earth material (and one of the main reasons the United States is so concerned about Chinese control of rare earth value chains, but that's another story).

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

Even just average ppl. pointed out lots of inaccuracies in the video. This channel is mostly inaccurate in videos about military stuff... I'm not surprised that are so many fundamental error in it...

[@phoenixa7z234]

There are so many inaccuracies in this video. 1. The F-15C/D are still in service with the USAF and ANG. 2. The F-15C/D can only carry 8 Air-to-Air Missiles, max. 3. The AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder were not "Brand New" missiles when the F-15C was introduced into service. 4. The F-15E is most definitely not lighter than the F-15C. (F-15C Empty Weight - 28,000 lb / F-15E Empty Weight - 31,700 lb) 5. The F-15EX is called the Eagle II Just to name a few.

[@SevenDeMagnus]

F-15 I love the muscular look. God bless fighter designers.

[@djtruth8425]

The navy never flew the F15. I didn’t see the new Top Gun movie, but in the original he flew the F14. Current top gun pilots fly the FA18. I’m not sure if this was just an error on the part of your writer; or it, for some unknown reason, Hollywood decided to place a navy pilot in an Air Force jet. Regardless, I just wanted to set the record straight… and boost engagement.

[@alexander1485]

Why not see it? You live under a rock? Hate going to theaters?

[@AThousandYoung]

New movie was F18s with a special appearance of an F14

[@dj9900]

@@alexander1485 Same reason I refuse to pay federal income taxes.. I feel morally obligated to not support our war mongering foreign policy, to the extent that is possible.

[@donkeysunited]

I honestly think the guys making this video looked at the twin vertical fins on the F14 and F15 and think they're the same plane. A few times, they said the F15 was used by the Navy and was in Top Gun.

[@cloudk2088]

I dont care how old or outdated it gets, or how many balloons a raptor shoots down. To me the F-15 will always be King of the sky.

[@matthewstaudacher7081]

The F-15 in the thumbnail's missing one of the vertical stabilizers

[@dakotafrazier2985]

This man is on so many channels it's astounding

[@owenevans83]

Correction at 04:50 area, F-15C/D are still in service with the USAF but not for much longer

[@geovonnie69]

He does mention later in the video that the USAF plans to retrofit the C and D. Already finished the video so I can't timestamp it but it's mentioned.

[@ronaldschoolcraft8654]

The F-15C is still in use in the USAF.

[@averagegingernut434]

Been waiting for this one!!

[@ga9633]

I worked on F-4E's and the problem they had in Vietnam was not the radar per se (ground clutter affected all radars of that era) but the poor performance of the AIM-7s. Many would break lock after launch and go ballistic, or fail to track all the way to the target despite solid lock on and the pilot flying within Rmax-Rmin parameters. The F-4 radar could also overcome jamming by burning through it. This was called electronic counter-counter measures or ECCM. The catalyst for the F-15 was the deployment of the then-mysterious MiG-25 Foxbat, a Mach 3+ interceptor that was developed to counter the proposed B-70 Valkyrie Mach 3+ bomber. The B-70 was cancelled after two prototypes but the Soviets proceeded with the MiG-25, which had a 1 million watt radar that couldn't be jammed.

[@ronaldschoolcraft8654]

F-one-eleven (F111) not F-eleven (F-11).

[@thefrecklepuny]

Indeed. The F-11 did of course exist. But was a very different beast altogether.

[@JG54206]

Awesome video. I don’t think the navy uses the F15 though. Not the US navy anyway. I believe they eventually abandoned the one fighter for both services approach and made the F14 for the navy. They then picked that program back up with the F35. I think the navy wanted in on the F22 but the Air Force was unwilling to compromise the design to make it carrier capable.

[@kinglion8881]

I hope you do not mean the F-14 is better than the F-15 when you say "Navy used the much better F-14" because if it is much better why is it retired and the F-15 is still in service and being upgraded so it will most likely stay in service for many more years

[@JG54206]

FWIW; I also think the F14 was the better air superiority fighter for it’s time. It was very expensive to operate and complex with the variable sweep wings but it also had immense raw combat capability. It was extremely fast and maneuverable. I would say the F15 is the better plane overall which is why it’s still in service but the F14 for my money is the best of the teen series fighters in terms of sheer air superiority fighting.

[@geovonnie69]

@Gerald H The Super Hornet is used by the USMC.

[@geovonnie69]

@@JG54206 They retired the F14 because the maintenance costs were too high and too numerous, and it was made obsolete by the F/A which was all around better. If it was as capable as you say, the military would have kept it in service or found ways to retrofit them. There's a reason the A10, B52, and F15 are kept in service and will continue to be for decades to come.....

[@JG54206]

@@geovonnie69 Not a single one of those three other planes has high maintenance costs nor do any of them have complex expensive systems like the F14 did. There isn’t a world in which an F/A can hang with an F14 in terms of dedicated air superiority….. the F/A is just good enough at air superiority for what the navy needs.

[@gretareinarsson7461]

It’s a beautiful and awesome aircraft and I the design of the airframe is one reason for its success

[@MichaelRacer]

The fact that the F-15 has more than 100 air-to-air kills is the biggest reason why I call it the John Wick of all fighter jets.

[@andrewrogers3067]

Bruh the tail of the thumbnail is wrong

[@dreamchasergarage690]

This would be an excellent platform to send to Ukraine. Not being in service but still on standby there are probably quite a few in airworthy condition that could be sent quickly. Question would be training, maintenance, parts and munitions.

[@LeeHarris]

The last thing they need are planes, air defence systems are too advanced, and this plane is a relic in a war like that, nothing but 5th gen is a serious consideration in such a war

[@militavia-air-defense-aircraft]

Nope, one of the main conclusion of the Ukraine war that non-stealth planes are hopeless against area denial SAMs.

[@keithjackson4985]

Good video. Enjoyed that.

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

? There are 266 F-15C/D still in service @ present. Many thanx Simon👍👍

[@drewrub7415]

Still think the Tomcat beats the Eagle. But that’s my personal preference. Also your thumbnail image of the eagle is missing a vertical stabilizer

[@Chris-Christopher-]

Did you fly, work on, or engineer either of those planes?

[@iLikeRandomfacts]

Annnndddd F15 wasn’t in top gun… holy guacamole it’s slippin on the fact checking quality control whistle boy.

[@RABB1DSQ1RR3L]

YEEEEESSSSS THANK YOU SIMON! Been waiting for this one.

[@koloblicin9721]

Crazy watching this video and seeing jets I used to work on.

[@stevenstehling]

Such an awful thumbnail. Seriously bad. So bad that it brings into question the competence of the artist and whoever approved it. I would fire them.

[@founebarry4258]

First

[@martinstallard2742]

Nobody cares

[@charliedee9276]

I was stationed at Luke AFB 83-85. While I was an F-16 flight line rat the 15's from the Triple Nickle would have to taxi by our end of the FL on the way to end of runway either to take off or after landing. I still get goosebumps to this day thinking about seeing and hearing an Eagle do an FCF (functional check flight) full afterburner take off and disappear straight up. The Falcons could do it as well, however they didn't have the twin engine roar that you could feel in your bones the Eagles did.

[@davedeady5828]

The F4G was used during the first gulf War supporting among others the F15E. It was primarily used to defeat enemy radar. During Vietnam its true, the f4 had many low level air to air engagements but many took place at high altitude. Ask Robin Olds about the F4s domination over migs

[@klutzkerman1664]

Er... at least according to Wikipedia, the US left Vietnam in 1973, and the F-15 entered full service in 1976. "The first Eagle, an F-15B, was delivered on 13 November 1974. In January 1976, the first Eagle destined for a combat squadron, the 555th TFS, was delivered." I'm open to correction! But based on this, I don't think F-15s flew over Vietnam in American service during the US/Vietnam war.

[@jjohnsonTX]

You are correct, no F-15 flew in the Vietnam war, it was being rung-out at Edwards AFB, flight testing.

[@Raul_Menendez]

The Thumbnail is a actually a predecessor of the F-15. F-14.8

[@hatuletoh]

Years ago, the San Diego Air and Space Museum had, as a hands on exhibit, an F-15 "simulator" that was really just the stick. But you could sit down in it and fly a little model of the plane in front of a digital screen, and for the time, the tech was pretty cool and it was super fun. The point was to demonstrate how responsive and easy to fly the plane was, and indeed it was--you just kind of squeezed the stick in the direction you wanted the plane to go, and it would gently bank with its nose up and no loss of altitude; a gentle tug on the same direction and the plane would roll. Very cool exhibit that I remember even decades later.

[@jack00scarecrow]

nice, love the clip of the mach loop

[@GBooth]

That's some nice single-tailed F-15's in the header, there. 😆

[@deanchivers6396]

Had many an Eagle from Lakenheath fly over me as a child, the very embodiment of a fighter to me.

[@michaeldavis9774]

I was one of the first avionics techs on the Eagle. Before the Air Force decided to buy it. I was in the AF in the mid 70s, at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. There was us, a couple aircrafi in Langly and some at Edwards AFB. All working together to test and evaluate the Eagle. In 1977 the AF opened the first operational base for the F-15s at Holloman AFB in Alamamagordo, NM. I was one of the five avionics that was sent there to train the techniciams to change from the F-4s to the Eagle. Later, as a civilian, I worked on the F-15 ASAT program, as an avionice tech. They shot down a satellite in orbit. To this day, with multiple countries trying, no one has ever shot down a satellite except the USA. That was in 1985. The Eagle and I have some history together.

[@AlexPerkins252]

Been waiting for this one

[@MG-mt3ss]

The two F15 Eagles on your cover intro are each missing a vertical stabilizer.

[@Conan3145]

So much info. So entertaining. So often hard fact issues.

[@dawightg9787]

The Fact that even the F15C and all Eagles was designed as multi role fighters like the phantoms will come as a surprise to many. McNamerra TFX-F111 program was a failure. The F111B was scrapped and the F111 was reduced to ground roles only. However the F15C was only equipped with air to air weapons and the F111 filled the ground roles, as soon as the F111 was retired the F15E strike Eagle came into service. And now you have the multi Role F15EX to replace all Eagles.

[@bpisan]

This really needed a video montage set to "I need a hero!"...

[@thesuncollective1475]

Finally...nice timely job