Request for clarifications regarding the differences between the F-15D & F-15E Eagles

[SkyStrike]

Dear All,

 

As I understand that there are both F-15 ground crew and pilots who are members in this forum, I request the following clarification:

 

What are the external visual differences between a factory fresh F-15E Strike Eagle stripped of its CFT's, Targeting pods (& not yet painted) and an F-15D that isn't painted yet... How would you tell them apart.?

 

Please coulld someone help me out on this ? Thanks...

Edited February 22, 2012 by SkyStrike

[warthog64]

I'm not sure that you could. I know that the F-15E was actually based on the F-15B, so you'll definitely need an expert's answer as there are some small external differences. Also I do believe that the cockpit is slightly different in each variant but I'm not sure how exactly.

 

Sorry I couldn't provide more info, but I hope this helps

Edited February 22, 2012 by warthog64

[SkyStrike]

I'm not sure that you could. I know that the F-15E was actually based on the F-15B, so you'll definitely need an expert's answer as there are some small external differences. Also I do believe that the cockpit is slightly different in each variant but I'm not sure how exactly.

 

Sorry I couldn't provide more info, but I hope this helps

 

Hi Warthog64... I know that the D & the E have different cockpits but, i was wondering about the external differences...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Eagle groundcrew & pilots; Please, could you povide some more detailed info? Thanks

Edited February 22, 2012 by SkyStrike

[warthog64]

Hi Warthog64... I know that the D & the E have different cockpits but, i was wondering about the external differences...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Eagle groundcrew & pilots; Please, could you povide some more detailed info? Thanks

 

 

Oops my bad. : )

Edited February 22, 2012 by warthog64

[logan4]

I'm not counted as expert by any means, but the ending of the fairing behide the vertical tails and stabs looks deiiferent. The D-s have only one or no sensor fitted in them, the E-s have a square sensor fitted both on left and right side, see links:

 

F15D:

http://www.deagel.com/library/KC-135-Stratotanker-and-F-15Ds_m02006112800355.aspx

 

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7007658&nseq=16

 

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6912258&nseq=19

 

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6892555&nseq=21

 

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6929344&nseq=17

 

F15E:

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6302002&nseq=4

 

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6056274&nseq=6

 

I hope they show up...

[+daddyairplanes]

also a quick reference is the paintjob, most Mud Hens are gunship gray allover while D air superiority Eagles are lighter Mod Eagle paintjob.

[+DWCAce]

http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/

[+ST0RM]

D & Es are two different airframes. The Echo has a stronger fuselage overall, optimised for heavy weapons. The D-model was a modified C with the Bay 5 avionics bay (behind the pilot)redesigned to hold a cockpit. It is very combat limited as it has no internal ECM systems. It was basically a combat trainer.

 

F-15B 71-0291 was the second B-model off the line, and was the E-model demonstrator. It wore the Euro I scheme. Aside from looking like a Strike Eagle, it had FASTPacks with MERs, not what the E has today. It wasnt even wired for LANTIRN and I've never seen pictures of it carrying the pods.

 

-S

[+JediMaster]

That stronger fuselage is also quite a bit heavier IIRC. Not a problem for a mud mover, but not so great for ACM.

 

 

[SkyStrike]

Thanks for the info JM... but tell me something please... Does the strengthened fuselage of the E visually differ from the regular one of the C? and if an F-15E were to be fitted with an AA loadout and with its CFT's empty how well would it perform as a fighter? most if not all aircraft encyclopeds mention that an F-15E relieved of its A/G payload will perform just as well as a fighter version of the Eagle.... please verify....

Edited February 29, 2012 by SkyStrike

[+JediMaster]

I guess that depends how closely you define "just as well". The radar is as good or better (depending which C it is). I don't think you could readily tell by looking, it's more "under the skin" changes that beefed up the E for the stresses of high-speed low-level ops. The engines are also tuned for it, so a C will outrun an E at high level, but an E will outdistance a C at low-level (although likely not outrun it over a short distance).

 

The E sacrificed the C's ceiling, top speed, climb performance, and some other areas in return for the ability to carry a crap load of bombs a good distance at very low altitude. I'm pretty sure if you stripped an E and tried to make it fight like a C you'd find its range and ceiling were reduced, its top speed would be lower (although still Mach 2+, just not 2.5), it wouldn't climb quite as well (t/w ratio is just under 1 instead of just over), etc.

Here's the weight figures for the 2. The MTOW is indicative of just how much the fuselage was strengthened over the C, and the empty weight shows the penalty that stronger structure cost in weight.

 

F-15C

Empty weight: 28,000 lb (12,700 kg)<LI>Max. takeoff weight: 68,000 lb (30,845 kg

 

F-15E

Empty weight: 31,700 lb (14,300 kg)<LI>Max. takeoff weight: 81,000 lb (36,700 kg)