F-15C Eagle USAF 493th FS RAF Lakenheath 2014 HA4560 scale 1:72

F-15C Eagle USAF 493th FS RAF Lakenheath, 2014 Hobby Master HA4560 scale 1:72 Highly detailed Hobby Master warbird Item#: HA4560 Scale: 1:72 In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre. The 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” 48th FW relocated to RAF Lakenheath, England in January 1960 equipped with the F-100 Super Sabre. Their mission was to provide Air-To-Air offense and defense missions in support of USAF and NATO operations. In 1972 the 493rd re-equipped with the F-4 Phantom II until 1977 when they traded the F-4 for the F-111. In 1994 the new F-15C Eagle arrived with 24 aircraft assigned to the 493rd FS. F-15C 84-0027 wears two stars denoting the IrAF Mirage and MiG-23 it shot down in 1991 Operation Desert Storm. Specifications for the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F-15 Eagle Role C – Single-seat, all-weather, air-superiority fighter - 483 built D – Dual-seat variant of the C – 92 built E – Dual-seat, all-weather, multi-role strike fighter - 237 built