Boeing

- The newest Boeing F-15E Eagle fighter for the U.S. Air Force made its inaugural flight here yesterday. This F-15E is the first of 17 new Eagles being built for the U.S. Air Force, the first since 1994.

Deliveries of these 17 aircraft will continue through early 2000. Previously, 209 F-15Es were built for the U.S. Air Force. This latest group of aircraft will bring the total delivered to the Air Force to 226.

The F-15E is a multi-role fighter with both superior air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities in all-weather conditions, due in part to the LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods.

More than 1,500 F-15s of all variants have been built since 1974 for the United States, Japan, Israel and Saudi Arabia. The aircraft have flown more than 3.4 million hours and have a lifetime air-combat record of 100.5 victories against zero defeats.

99-62