McDonnell Douglas Eagle FG.2

[Spinners 15,984]

McDonnell Douglas F-15K Eagle FG.2 - 800 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, 1988

 

Whilst the F-4 Phantom and the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine were an unhappy marriage the top-brass of the British Royal Navy realised that this was solely due to British political interference and, having worked closely with them at St. Louis, were generally impressed with the attitude and service of McDonnell Douglas. It therefore came as no surprise that the 1972 announcement of two 'Victory' class aircraft carriers of approximate 75,000 tonnes displacement for the Royal Navy saw McDonnell Douglas push their two-seat F-15N (N for Navy) to both France and Britain whilst still hoping for the Grumman F-14A Tomcat to fail in USN service.

 

With the BAC Lightnings of RAF Germany rapidly approaching obsolescence the RAF were urgently seeking a modern agile interceptor-fighter for the Central Front and their interest in the F-15A quickly led to an audacious McDonnell Douglas offer of 100 F-15's to the United Kingdom with 40 single-seat Eagles configured for air defence and 60 two-seat Eagles configured for use aboard the proposed British aircraft carriers due to enter service in 1979. This bid was accepted and the Eagle F.1 (essentially an F-15A) entered service with No.19 and No.92 squadrons in 1976 and 1977 whilst the Eagle FG.2 for the Royal Navy entered service in 1980 with No.800, No.801 and No.892 Squadrons. Despite lacking wing-fold the two-seat Eagle FG.2's were very popular in Fleet Air Arm service and achieved legendary status in the 1982 Falklands war by downing 22 Argentinian aircraft with no losses. The aircraft also saw service in the 1991 Gulf War but were prematurely retired in 2001 when corrosion problems grounded the entire UK Eagle fleet.

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2011 by Spinners