The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic-warfare aircraft. United States Air Force (USAF) F-15E Strike Eagles can be generally distinguished from other U.S. Eagle variants by darker aircraft camouflage, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) mounted along the engine intake ramps (although CFTs can also be mounted on earlier F-15 variants) and a tandem-seat cockpit.
The F-15E Strike Eagle has been deployed for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya, among others. During these operations, the strike fighter has carried out deep strikes against high-value targets and combat air patrols, and provided close air support for coalition troops. It has also been exported to several countries.
A screen capture from the video below showing the view from the cockpit as the F-15E flies turns at high altitude.
The video lets you experience what it’s like to fly the Strike Eagle from the pilot’s perspective.
Last week, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the F-15 Eagle, an aircraft that is undefeated in aerial combat to date. While air-to-air combat is the F-15Cs’ only “battlefield”, the younger F-15E Strike Eagle is a true multirole platform designed to fight its way in against enemy fighter jets, drop the bombs on target and fight its way out if necessary.
That’s what new aircrews of the Strike Eagle train for during their B (Basic) Course while at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The 333rd and 334th Fighter Squadrons are the formal training units tasked with qualifying all F-15E pilots and Weapon Systems Officers with the nine-month basic course, giving them the knowledge to fly in day/night, all weather, air-to-air and air-to-ground missions for worldwide operations.
The video we’re bringing you today was prepared to celebrate the graduation of Class 21-CBE of the B-Course held by the 333rd FS. After a prelude showing ground operations, the video gets to the heart of the action with a show of the F-15E raw power, a full afterburner takeoff with unrestricted climb. Thanks to cameras mounted near the pilot’s head, we get a front row seat in the Strike Eagle’s cockpit.
Formation flight, Basic Fighter Maneuvers, air-to-air refueling, strafing runs, low altitude flight, whatever is your favorite, this video has you covered. We are used to cockpit videos with GoPro cameras mounted on the sides behind the pilot shoulders, here instead we can see almost as if we swapped place with the pilot and we’re in control of the jet. Enjoy the video, we’re pretty sure you will find it crazy cool.
Source: theaviationist.com
