Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Does anyone know where any footage may exist from the F-15 Streak Eagle flights? This, to me, was one of the most amazing feats in American aviation history, although today, it is hardly talked about.

For those of you who don't know what I'm referring to, I will fill you in. Some of the other guys on the board can fill in more details, as they may know more than myself on the topic. But here goes: From Jan through early Feb 1975, a stripped-down F-15A (72-0119) shattered the Time-to-Climb world records, which were split between an F-4B and a MiG-25, for various altitudes. The last record the Streak Eagle broke, was 98,425 ft in 207.80 seconds, which was 36.06 seconds faster than the MiG-25 which previously held the record. Even more impressively, the Streak Eagle also beat the Saturn V moon rocket to 15,000 ft by about 10 seconds. For the flights, McDonnell Douglas and the USAF teamed up to produce an F-15, with all redundant or unnecessary equipment removed from the aircraft. This included the radar, redundant hydraulic systems, all combat systems, and even the paint job, amongst other stuff.

It would be interesting to see the USAF try the same mission again, with the more powerful engines the Eagle now has. Or, take one of the T&E Raptors and make a "Streak Raptor."

Anyone know more about the jet, or have any footage? Better yet, where any footage is available? Would seem that the Streak Eagle was so fast that probably no aircraft, save a loitering U-2 or Blackbird could have shot footage.

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I'd like to see them try it again but with some -229s back there... Smile

The kid's at Eglin where going to break the Russian record with the -19 engined F-104. The Air Force would not allow it as they didn't want a 25 year old fighter to take the record... But you're right habu2, the 50 or 52's sure might be able to break some of the time to climbs.

I was thinking of an early, lightened F-15A like before, only with -229s. But can you imagine if they took, say, an ADF out of the boneyard, stuffed a F110-GE-132 in it? Wow...

Or, better yet, if the F-16N's wings hadn't been cracked all to hell, stripped out the radar, unnecessary equipment and ditched the paintjob, and put the latest GE engine into it. Imagine that ride! Shocked

Would still like to see them make a Streak Raptor, or Streak...whatever its name will be (F-35.) Hell, we've come up with enough names for that jet on this board, they should consult US for the name! I have a bad feeling though, that so much crap has been added to the 35, that it might not have enough guts to get out of its own way. If a pilot wants the 35 to haul @$$, he's going to have to make 3 trips! Mr. Green

it's a shame that something like this isn't a priority anymore. I guess it's not "economically responsible" or whatever.....

Well, it's also a sign of the times. Project Streak Eagle was Cold War motivated. The US didn't want the Soviets to hold the world record, so while testing how much better your new jet (F-15) is climbing-wise than the jet it's replacing (F-4) why not also go for the big record, and blow away what the MiG did?

Reminds me of the US's "renewed" (read political) interest in man-in-space programs - right after China put a man in orbit last October.

Doesnt the Mig-31 have the record now? as for using a 16 to try to get the record, yeah it would do good IF it had a VG intake!!! an F-15A with -229's would have a good chance! I dont know if the rapter is "rigged" for high enough high altitude flight, like the F-15s are? its has the powewr in spades though.

http://records.fai.org/general_aviation ... 1=21&id2=4 (scroll about halfway down)

E-266M was a modified MiG-25 (or -31?) and P-42 was a modified Su-27 prototype

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Time to climb to a height of 30000 m : 3 min 10 sec
Date of flight: 17/05/1975
Pilot: Piotr OSTAPENKO (USSR)
Course/place: Podmoskovnoe Aerodrome (USSR)
Aircraft: E-266M (2 RD-F, 14'000 kg each)

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Time to climb to a height of 15000 m : 1 min 10 sec
Date of flight: 23/03/1988
Pilot: Nikolai SADOVNIKOV (USSR)
Course/place: Podmoskovnoe Aerodrome (USSR)
Aircraft: P-42 (2 P-32, 13'600 kg each)

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Time to climb to a height of 12000 m : 55.54s
Date of flight: 10/03/1987
Pilot: Nikolai SADOVNIKOV (USSR)
Course/place: Podmoskovnoe Aerodrome (USSR)
Aircraft: P-42 (2 R-32, 13 600 kg each)

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Time to climb to a height of 9000 m : 44.18s
Date of flight: 10/03/1987
Pilot: Nikolai SADOVNIKOV (USSR)
Course/place: Podmoskovnoe Aerodrome (USSR)
Aircraft: P-42 (2 R-32, 13 600 kg each)

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E-266M >> http://www.testpilot.ru/russia/mikoyan/ ... g25m_e.htm

P-42 >> http://www.angelfire.com/ab4/airplanes/ ... r/P42.html

Not saying that any of that information is inaccuarate (NO, the Russians NEVER tell self-serving lies! Then again, we don't either Wink

) but I'm just curious as to whether they have any way of PROVING it. I mean, I've read several websites that describe Russian jets breaking the records, but there's just something about it that seems fishy to me. Once again, I don't dispute what any of you guys have said. I know all of you well enough from this board to know you guys are all up on aviation facts, but still, I'd love to see some footage of these alleged records. Heck, I can't even find any Streak Eagle footage, so I'm kinda reaching here aren't I? Razz

But yes, a stripped-down A model Eagle, with 2 -229s stuffed in it could blow just about anything away, climbing wise. Oh yeah, and to the Russians...We REALLY know what plane has the altitude and speed records, and even though it's 40+ years old now, it's STILL classified *COUGH*BLACKBIRD*COUGH* Mr. Green

TC, all that info is from the FAI site http://www.fai.org/ . FAI (Fe'de'ration Ae'ronautique Internationale (my French it does suck no?) is the official sanctioning body for all Aviation related records. FAI also certified the Streak Eagle record attempts. You can view some of their requirements here: http://www.fai.org/records/chklist.html and you can view all the records here: http://www.fai.org/records/

HAHA. No, your French doesn't suck any worse than mine. I speak English, and I know enough Spanish to go down to TJ and go shopping, order food, and get myself in lots of trouble!! But, yes, if the official sanctioning body says that's what it is, then I'd have to concur. Just surprised the Americans didn't want to try to reclaim the record. But even still, the Eagle could bitchsmack any of those planes in a dogfight, so records schmecords. You mess with an Eagle, you're going to DIE!

The Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle: "The World's Leading Distributor of MiG parts!"

Trying to help Very Happy

, the correct spelling is: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
BTW, was the Streak Eagle performance recorded by the FAI?
The FAI is quite a serious (very serious!) organization, so I also guess we can trust them about the Russian records.