Qatari F-15 Eagle Fighter Takes Wing | Aviation International News

Qatari F-15 Eagle Fighter Takes Wing

The F-15QA is the most advanced version of the long-serving Eagle to date, and paves the way for new aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.

The first F-15QA climbs steeply away from St. Louis-Lambert Field at the start of its maiden flight. (Photo: Boeing)

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

April 15, 2020

Boeing flew the F-15QA for the first time on April 14. The aircraft is the first of 36 ordered by the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) in a $6.2 billion Foreign Military Sales contract placed with Boeing in 2017. Additionally, the company received a contract in 2019 for the training of F-15QA aircrew and maintenance technicians. The first aircraft is due for delivery in 2021.

Matt Giese, Boeing’s chief test pilot, was at the controls for the first sortie, which lasted for 90 miniutes. The F-15QA took off from the Boeing plant at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport and performed a “Viking” take-off, in which the aircraft was kept low after lift-off before pulling into a steep climb. Giese subsequently put the aircraft through a series of pre-planned maneuvers, reaching loads of 9g during some. Checks of the aircraft’s radar and avionics were also undertaken. The monitoring team confirmed that the aircraft performed as planned.

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