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In the Talons of Eagles by Stan Stokes.
The McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle has been the USAFs primary air superiority fighter for more than two decades. McDonnell Douglas won the competition to develop this aircraft in 1969 over competing proposals from North American Rockwell and Fairchild Hiller. The Eagle was designed to counter the threat of new Soviet fighters like the Mig-25. The first development versions of the Eagle flew in 1972. Designed as a single pilot, twin-turbofan, all weather fighter, the Eagle had far superior acceleration and maneuverability compared to the aircraft it would replace. The F-15A was capable of speeds in excess of 1600-MPH and had an operational ceiling of nearly 70,000 feet. Although the attack role was a secondary design consideration, the Eagle can carry an impressive bomb load of more than eight tons (externally mounted.) The F-15 is a large, very sophisticated aircraft, whereas the General Dynamics F-16, a much simpler, smaller, and less complicated design, was planned to compliment the F.........
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