Last F-15 A/B retired to Davis Monthan
Posted: 10 Oct 2009, 17:50
Final F-15A/B model retired by the Air Force
On a clear late September day, Lt. Col. Steve Beauchamp strode from the flight operations' building toward one of many F-15's parked on the Portland Air National Guard Base ramp.
Master Sgt. Mark Billmyer greeted Beauchamp with a hand shake and conversation as he arrived for his mid-morning flight, and both made their way toward a waiting "Redhawk" jet where Tech. Sgt. Andrew Shown has already begun to prep the aircraft.
As typical as any daily mission flown by one of the officers from the 142nd Fighter Wing could be, on this day one element of the routine is unusual: The journey that Beauchamp made was a one way trip, as aircraft 77-098 was retird when they reached Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., later in that afternoon.
What was also unique about this flight is that this aircraft is the last of the F-15A/B models in the active U.S. Air Force inventory.
On a clear late September day, Lt. Col. Steve Beauchamp strode from the flight operations' building toward one of many F-15's parked on the Portland Air National Guard Base ramp.
Master Sgt. Mark Billmyer greeted Beauchamp with a hand shake and conversation as he arrived for his mid-morning flight, and both made their way toward a waiting "Redhawk" jet where Tech. Sgt. Andrew Shown has already begun to prep the aircraft.
As typical as any daily mission flown by one of the officers from the 142nd Fighter Wing could be, on this day one element of the routine is unusual: The journey that Beauchamp made was a one way trip, as aircraft 77-098 was retird when they reached Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., later in that afternoon.
What was also unique about this flight is that this aircraft is the last of the F-15A/B models in the active U.S. Air Force inventory.