The Tactical Air Network’s Alan Kenny was at RAF Lakenheath, England on Thursday to watch the departure of eight F-15D Eagles to Israel. The Eagles arrived on Wednesday afternoon and were refuelled on the ground shortly after arrival.
The aircraft were sold to Israel in the largest military aid package in history. The package includes 10 F-15 Eagles, several C-130s, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Joint Direct Attack Missile (JDAM). The jets were surplus to US military requirements and weren’t part of the foreign military sales. They have been sold to the Israeli Air Force to complement their current F-15s. The total aid package is for $38 billion and includes $33 billion in foreign military financing funds and $5 billion for missile defence. US National Security Advisor Susan Rice referenced this to the State Department in Washington DC on the 14th September.
The Eagles were from the 114th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard and based at Klamath Falls, Oregon. The squadron trains pilots for the F-15.
The eight F-15D Eagles were:
78-0561
78-0563
78-0572
78-0573
79-0008
80-0055
80-0057
81-0065
Original article posted here by same author.
The Tactical Air Network 