First new USAF F-15EX showing true colours

What is commonly known as “EX-1”, the Boeing F-15EX with serial 20-0001, is now fully painted. The most advanced Eagle ever is furnished with the tailcode “ET” (for Eglin Test) plus markings for its owner, the “40 FTS” (40th Flight Test Squadron). The near basic grey camouflage of EX-1 (See also Scramble News 3 February 2021, "First Flight of the F-15EX") seems to have been adopted from the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15SA. Eglin AFB (FL) is scheduled to receive the first two new most advanced Eagles in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2021.

Our contributor and great photographer Alex Farwell has been again very kind to us and shared these fine pictures made on 23 February 2021. 20-0001/ET perfomed the first US Air Force acceptance flight from St. Louis Lambert Field (MO) at that day.

It is still a sight to behold, a brand-new US Air Force Eagle some 49 years after the first McDonnell Douglas F-15A flew for the first time.

Photo by Alex Farwell