F-15m Eagle. Aerospace Cover

[Rafael]

ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER WORLD; ANOTHER PLACE.....


THE SOUTH PACIFIC, KAITAIA ALLIED AFB, NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Zac taxied his airplane to the "hammerhead", the tip of the renewed and expanded Kaitaia AFB's runway 03. Aircraft revetments passed by his side in the semi-darkness of dawn. The hum and whine of the engines and the lights of his number two, similarly loaded in case of an abort, and his other four escorts were the only visible activity in the usually busy Air Base. Safety Procedures demanded that he and his number two took off first and singly, to be joined then by his protective cover that would take off in a scramble.

Aligned on the runway, he received a three-click signal from the tower, and releasing his brakes, went to full military power. A few seconds later, he transitioned to after-burners, and a kick in his back rocketed him to the sky. It amazed him how much power he could coerce out off his engines, and the active maneuvering system, coupled to his 2-D nozzles kept him steadily pointed upwards, with the amazingly heavy payload he carried underslung on his belly weapons station.

Configured with FAST-packs, and a couple other external tanks, his Maserati could cruise forever. Super-cruise, he should say, since his GE engines were designed to take him through the mach for long distances at very economic fuel consumption. But not this time. He was supposed to take his mount out to sea at the fastest clip, and zoom skyward to a pre-determined location and altitude to execute his release.

So far, his payload's automatic BIT (Built-In Test), almost a thing of sci-fi's Artificial Intelligences, kept reporting its status on his right MFD, while his other screens showed his aircraft conditions.

Flying silently in EMCON, he relied on external sensors and C4ISR data flow to monitor his surroundings, although he was assured earlier that, besides his four escorts, the F/A-22 Raptors of the allied wing were sweeping the skies around him and his group.

No need to worry, though. An uneventful hour later, his instruments started signaling him that his charge was primed and ready. No need for number-two either. He could recover with his unused payload, to be stored for later use.

Acknowledging the signals from C4ISR, he bent his throttles forward into Zone 5 Afterburner, and felt the pressure of building speed. Nosing up at a steep angle, his Maserati flew straight, while he followed the course already painted in his HUD. At a glance, everything looked nominal, and his mission was going on flawlessly.

Then, when he reached the peak of his airplane's maximum sustainable altitude, the automated launch sequence computers released his heavy load. Unburdened of the weight, his F-15M buckled lightly and gained a little more speed, which he used to maneuver clear of the released projectile.

In the dim light of dawn, a small sun flared beneath his aircraft, and the Icarus rocket climbed towards LEO (Low Earth Orbit) on a column of fire. This morning, the modular payload section of Icarus carried a much needed Theater Photo-Recon Satellite, a small, specialized package that would provide the Allied command in-theater much needed independence from other strategic assets, and which would maintain a very regular surveillance track on the enemy forces in the region.

Content with his accomplishment, Zac maneuvered his aircraft and, in a moment of leisure, he put his Eagle through its paces until he caught up with his formation and RTB (Return-To-Base)


THE F-15M EAGLE (MASERATI EAGLE)

When the F/A-22 raptor entered service, It did so in very insufficient numbers, and kept so during much of its first decade of flying. To counter this, the Air Force embarked in the further development of its F-15 Eagle force (for which the Congress was more enthusiastic) and came up with a new-generation Eagle, The F-15M.

The –M was a reinvention of the wheel, so to speak, since much of the capabilities already built in the Raptors were introduced to the type. Super-cruise, LPI Radar technology, self-diagnostics instrumentation and logistical platforms, advanced targeting, digital communications, scalar processing capabilities, off-board sensor exploitation, and a tough build guaranteed a very advanced capability to a years-old design.

This simply went to the dismay of Raptor supporters all across America, but also, demonstrated the future evolutionary paths the F/A-22 should follow years later; to be then produced in greater numbers and to be no longer treated as mere "silver bullets".

The F-15M Eagle, dubbed "Maserati" by its crews, for its sporty performance, was also used as a space launch platform for a new generation of intra-theater space surveillance, targeting and navigation assets. Using the Boeing Icarus Missile, it could put, at a moment's notice, diverse types of payloads into orbit.


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This was an idea that popped into my head last Friday night. Making use of an old F-15 SMTD photo and another of a 2D nozzle-equipped one, I started dreaming and without noticing it, I was already cutting plastic.

The subject is one of several Brian and Jeff sent me. This one resulted a challenge, I smash-thermoformed a new canopy, kitbashed the cockpit and cast a new nose radome in my trusty automotive body repair resin. The foreplanes come from a crashed F-18. The Pilot figure was cast in gasket maker-silicone paste, poured in a plaster mold, which gives the figure a grat flexibility to introduce it into the 'pit. A great kit, it went off without a hitch, and was very fun to build.

Thanks Bri and Jeff!!!

I hope you like it, and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed building her.

Saludos

Rafa

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[Rafael]

More....

[Rafael]

More...









Icarus Missile


Riding into space....

[Spey_Phantom]

ACTIVE   , that looks so gorgeous  

i love it, excelent work on those external modifications  :salute:  

[Brian da Basher]

Yowsa Rafa, you've done it again! Another amazing masterpiece with a very eye-catching camo scheme! You've done this kit far better justice than I could've! I'm very impressed by your modifications and your smash-formed canopy! I'd really like to hear more about your sash-forming technique. That canopy is so clear and flawless. I really like your big horkin' bomb too!

Our favorite Kiwi whiffer will be delighted by your fine backstory!

Two thumbs up, amigo!

Brian da Basher

[Maverick]

Very sexy Eagle Rafa,

Muy bueno.. (I think, that is if my Spanish is ok??)

Saludos,

Mav

[GTX]

Love those exhaust nozzles!

Regards,

Greg

[ysi_maniac]

Muy bueno.. (I think, that is if my Spanish is ok??)

Saludos,

Perfect Spanish

[ysi_maniac]

Hi Rafa

Absolutely gorgeous: five stars
       
BTW: you took this idea out off my mind
     

[Rafael]

Thank you!!!

A few pics of the birth.....

Clamped up


Preparing the rear...


New Resin-Cast nosecone


Da 2D Nozzle works..(with Balsa-wood shapes)




Mini-Zac, cast in silicon gasket paste


Painting and masking...


Rafa

[BlackOps]

Very nice, I really like what you've done with the back end!    You've been quite busy lately!    

[gooberliberation]

Dare I say, this is probably the coolest F-15 variant I've seen here  

[Howard of Effingham]

very, very, very good rafa!  me likey lots!  ^_^    

[wingman77]

Wow....just read this thread..........so very similar to Boeing's recently proposed F-15SE!

[Lord Darth Beavis]

Sweet build Rafa! 

Somebody please explain to me why I don't come here very often?  D'oh!  All the great builds I'm missing!