page_title: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
section_title: Prototypes
hierarchical_section_title: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle / Variants / Prototypes
caption_attribution_description: McDonnell Douglas F-15A (S/N 71-0280, the first F-15A prototype). Note the square wingtips and unnotched stabilator.
context_page_description: The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. It is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Israeli Air Force.
  The Eagle has been exported to Israel, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The F-15 was originally envisioned as a pure air-superiority aircraft. Its design included a secondary ground-attack capability that was largely unused. The aircraft design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, an improved and enhanced version which was later developed, entered service in 1989 and has been exported to several nations. As of 2017, the aircraft is being produced in different variants.
context_section_description: Twelve prototypes were built and used for trials by the F-15 Joint Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base using McDonnell Douglas and United States Air Force personnel. Most prototypes were later used by NASA for trials and experiments.
  F-15A-1, AF Serial No. 71-0280
  Was the first F-15 to fly on 11 July 1972 from Edwards Air Force Base, it was used as a trial aircraft for exploring the flight envelope, general handling and testing the carriage of external stores.
  F-15A-1, AF Ser. No. 71-0281
  The second prototype first flew on 26 September 1972 and was used to test the F100 engine.
  F-15A-2, AF Ser. No. 71-0282
  First flew on 4 November 1972 and was used to test the APG-62 radar and avionics.
  F-15A-2, AF Ser. No. 71-0283
  First flew on 13 January 1973 and was used as a structural test aircraft, it was the first aircraft to have the smaller wingtips to clear a severe buffet problem found on earlier aircraft.
  F-15A-2, AF Ser. No. 71-0284
  First flew on 7 March 1973 it was used for armament development and was the first aircraft fitted with an internal cannon.
  F-15A-3, AF Ser. No. 71-0285
  First flew on 23 May 1973 and was used to test the missile fire control system and other avionics.
  F-15A-3, AF Ser. No. 71-0286
  First flew on 14 June 1973 and was used for armament trials and testing external fuel stores.
  F-15A-4, AF Ser. No. 71-0287
  First flew on 25 August 1973 and was used for spin recovery, angle of attack and fuel system testing, it was fitted with an anti-spin recovery parachute. The aircraft was loaned to NASA from 1976 for engine development trials.
  F-15A-4, AF Ser. No. 71-0288
  First flew on 20 October 1973 and was used to test integrated aircraft and engine performance, it was later used by McDonnell Douglas as a test aircraft in the 1990s.
  F-15A-4, AF Ser. No. 71-0289
  First flew on 30 January 1974 and was used for trials on the radar, avionics and electronic warfare systems.
  F-15B-1, AF Ser. No. 71-0290
  The first two-seat prototype originally designated the TF-15A, it first flew on 7 July 1973.
  F-15B-2, AF Ser. No. 71-0291
  First flew on 18 October 1973 as a TF-15A and used as a test and demonstration aircraft. In 1976 it made an overseas sales tour painted in markings to celebrate the bicentenary of the United States.  Also used as the development aircraft for the F-15E as well as the first F-15 to use Conformal Fuel Tanks.
caption: F-15A 71-0280, the first prototype
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