Airplane Model*Hobby Master HA4533 1:72 F-15C Eagle Grim Reapers – Miniature Marvels: Airplane Models & Painted Dice

F-15C “Grim Reapers 1977 – 2022” 86-0172, 493rd Fighting Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England , March 2022

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.

USAF 493rd FS Grim Reapers based at RAF Lakenheath, England wanted to mark the 45 years the Eagle has been in Europe operating from various bases. F-15C 86-0172 was given a special paint scheme to mark the occasion with a shield on the left vertical stabilizer marked Eagle 1977  2022 and listing the many bases that have been home to the F-15 Eagle. Painted on the right stabilizer was the 493rd FS Grim Reapers logo. The speed brake wore serial numbers of other F-15s. Early February 2022 saw the departure of the last F-15 Eagle.