As the U.S. Air Force moves forward with the retirement of its aging F-15D Eagle fighters, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it has incorporated two new aircraft into its research fleet operated from the Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, with the aim of supporting its supersonic testing programs. Specifically, the aircraft will join the work being carried out on the X-59 research aircraft under the Quesst mission, with one jet assigned to flight missions and the other intended to provide sufficient spare parts to support maintenance of the primary aircraft.
Quoting official statements on the matter, Troy Asher, who currently serves as Director of Flight Operations at the Armstrong Center, stated: “These two aircraft will enable successful data collection and tracking capability for the X-59 throughout the life of the Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator project. They will also allow us to resume operations with a variety of external partners, such as the Department of Defense and commercial aviation companies.”
NASA also noted in its official release that the F-15D fighters in question were received in California on December 22, after completing the ferry flight from their base at Kingsley Field, where they had operated under the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard. Upon arrival, the agency highlighted that these platforms are capable of operating in high-altitude and high-speed environments, and also offer sufficient space for the external installation of experimental hardware under their wings, which will facilitate ongoing research activities.
In addition, it was emphasized that NASA pilots are already familiar with aircraft of the F-15 family, having operated them since the 1970s in high-speed flight research, including modifications to the original design to adapt it to specific requirements. Among some of the known changes, it stands out that the aircraft used for this work can safely operate at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet, exceeding the 55,000 feet expected for the experimental X-59 aircraft and a wide range of other aircraft in their standard configurations.
Finally, it is worth recalling that as the F-15C/D fighters are being retired, the U.S. Air Force has already been advancing the introduction of the new F-15EX models, as well as the procurement of fifth-generation F-35 fighters. In addition, temporary deployments of F-16 and F-22 fighters have been carried out to replace aircraft leaving service, thus easing the transition. According to current schedules, this process is expected to continue until the early 2030s, by which time only around 21 fighters should remain before the Eagle fleet makes its final farewell.
*Image credits: NASA
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