About the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is regarded as one of the most formidable jet fighters in the world today. Ever since its maiden flight in July 1972, this record breaking flying machine has been a yardstick for jet fighter design. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofan engines, it is capable of speeds in the Mach 2.5 range. The F-15 Eagle can carry a heavy and devastating complement of weaponry such as its internal 20mm M-61A-1 rotary cannon, plus four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, and four AIM-7F Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles. The early production F-15 was designated the F-15A, while the two-seat version was called the B model. In 1979, an improved and upgraded F-15 was introduced. One notable change was a 15% increase in internal fuel capacity, while even more fuel was made possible by utilizing conformal tanks that snuggle beneath the wing ad against the jet inlet ramps. In order to accept this extra fuel weight, the landing gear had to be reinforced. These modified F-15's are called the C-type for the single-seater and F-15D for the two seat version. The F-15C owes its superb performance to many technological and electronic wonders, and shall certainly continue to play its role as an air superiority fighter for many years to come.