F-15K Seoul Air Show Roundup
Never before had the F-15E Strike Eagle performed aerial demonstrations at an international air show. But at the 2001 Seoul Air Show, the Strike Eagle made its flying debut in style, with an inspiring display of speed, agility and power.
Three operational U.S. Air Force F-15Es from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, participated in the show. In a combined flying and static display, they showed why the F-15E is the foremost long-range strike fighter in the world. The F-15K for Korea is the newest version of the F-15E, with even more advanced systems and new capabilities.
Boeing test pilot Joe Felock was at the controls for the daily show demonstration flights. Felock put the F-15E through a sizzling routine that roared from the opening seconds - a short takeoff followed by a straight-up vertical climb that no other aircraft can do.
Felock and the F-15E followed up that dazzling start with maneuvers that illustrated the aircraft's power, speed and agility. The F-15E proved its agility in handling sustained 9-g turns, as well as the power to execute its high performance maneuvers without needing to fly horizontally for long periods of time to build up speed.
In addition to the flying display, one of the F-15Es at the air show drew large crowds at the static display area. The static display Strike Eagle -- an operational aircraft from the U.S. Air Force's 90th Fighter Squadron -- was loaded and ready for combat, with a full complement of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons for a typical multi-role mission.
The weapons load was composed of AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs and general-purpose bombs as well as the navigation pod and advanced targeting pod for precision-strike and low-level night missions.
The F-15K for Korea, an improved version of the F-15E, can carry 23,000 pounds of weapons on 19 weapon stations, including the SLAM-ER cruise missile and JDAM precision-guided smart weapon, which were also shown at the static display. No other aircraft Korea is considering can match the F-15E's payload capability.
Another highlight at the air show was the U.S. Air Force aircrews that accompanied the aircraft. The crews were there because the F-15Es were operational U.S. Air Force airplanes, not just air-show aircraft assembled at the show and used only for air-show demonstrations.
The pilots and weapon systems officers thoroughly enjoyed talking about their F-15E aircraft, what makes it the world's best multi-role strike fighter, how it feels to fly the F-15E, and explaining to the young people what it takes to become a pilot. Crew members also enjoyed signing autographs on F-15K posters and brochures for thousands of visitors on show days open to the public.
For the crowds looking skyward, it was an opportunity to be the first to see the F-15E Strike Eagle soar at an air show. For the crews that fly and support the F-15E, it was a privilege to be the first to demonstrate what the Strike Eagle can do.
"It was a tremendous honor to fly the F-15's air show debut", Felock said. "But the real stars of the show were the support crews from the Air Force and Boeing, whose efforts allowed us to perform for the people of Korea."