Strike Eagle Pilot: F-15E is Powerful, Proven Performer
Interview With Joe Felock
Joe Felock is the lead test pilot for the Boeing F-15 program and Boeing Phantom Works. He joined the company in 1997 after 14 years of active service with the U.S. Air Force. During active duty, Felock served both as a fighter pilot and an instructor pilot. He has flown more than 3,000 hours in over 50 different aircraft, including more than 1,700 hours in all models of the F-15. He was at the controls during the Seoul Air Show as the F-15E performed its first international air show flight demonstration.
Q. How did it feel to fly the F-15E's first air show demonstration?
A. It was a tremendous honor to fly the F-15E's air show debut. And it was also a great privilege to fly for the people of Korea who came out to the show. The F-15E is a tremendous airplane. I love flying it. It's powerful, stable and easy to control. We flew a flight routine that showed the people of Korea the kind of performance their air force may soon have in its inventory.
Q. Please describe the routine that you flew during the air show.
A. We started with a maximum afterburner takeoff, which put the plane into the skies in less than 1,000 feet. I then took it into a vertical climb to begin a square loop. There were both high-g turns and low-airspeed maneuvering in the air show that demonstrated the Strike Eagle's exceptional power and handling qualities. The show finished with an inverted pass along the show line before landing. It was a lot of fun.
Q. Is the F-15 the correct airplane for South Korea?
A. I believe it is. From what I understand about the Republic of Korea Air Force's requirements and from what I know of the F-15 from personal experience, I would not hesitate to say the F-15K provides the capability Korea wants. And it does so with low risk compared to the other airplanes because the F-15K is based on the F-15E, which has been proven time and time again in operational use.
Q. Some people think the F-15 is too hard to fly, or not maneuverable enough. What are your thoughts on that?
A. Somebody who says that probably did not have the time to adjust to the F-15's power and flight envelope. I have flown other airplanes, including the F-16, which are smaller and have artificial limits placed on the aircraft by the flight-control computer. The F-15's flight envelope is not limited in any way by the computer. It sometimes takes pilots a little while to get used to the expanded capabilities of the F-15. But once they do, they will love the F-15 as much as I do.
Q. Is the F-15 your favorite airplane?
A. A test pilot enjoys flying almost any airplane, but in combat there is only one fighter that I would want to fly. That is the F-15. Its combination of range, performance, payload, advanced systems and survivability make it the most capable combat fighter available today and in the future.