Air Warriors (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - F-15 - full transcript

Narrator:
IT'S THE AIRCRAFT THAT CHANGED

THE FACE
OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.

Woman: YOU COULD TELL,

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY
A DOMINANT FIGHTER.

Narrator: IT TURNED THE TIDE
OF AERIAL WARFARE

BACK IN AMERICA'S FAVOR.

AND RAISED THE STANDARD
TO STAGGERING HEIGHTS.

Man: ITS KILL RATIO IS 104:0.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED
IN AERIAL WARFARE.

Narrator: THIS IS THE INSIDE
STORY OF AN AVIATION GIANT.

HOW DID THE AIR FORCE F-15
OVERCOME ITS SKEPTICS



AND SURVIVE TRAGEDY?

HOW DID IT COME TO DOMINATE
THE SKIES OF EARTH?

Man: YOU BEAUTIFUL
SON OF A BITCH.

Narrator: AND BLAZE ITS WAY
INTO THE HEAVENS BEYOND?

Woman: THERE WERE THOSE WHO
THOUGHT IT COULD NEVER BE DONE.

Narrator: JANUARY 1999.

YUGOSLAVIA'S PRESIDENT
SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S

ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN
TEARS HIS COUNTRY APART.

SERBIAN MILITIAS MASSACRE
BOSNIANS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

TERRIFIED REFUGEES PILE UP
ALONG THE BORDERS.

IT'S WINTER.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.

Wesley Clark:
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

HAVE BEEN FORCED
FROM VILLAGES,

FROM THEIR HOMES,
AT GUNPOINT.



Narrator: NATO HATCHES
A BOLD NEW PLAN--

OPERATION ALLIED FORCES AIMS TO
DEFEAT THE SERBS FROM THE AIR.

Michael Shower:
NATO WAS VERY AFRAID

TO GET INTO A QUAGMIRE
OF A EUROPEAN GROUND WAR.

Narrator: LIEUTENANT COLONEL
MICHAEL SHOWER

WAS THE WEAPONS OFFICER
OF AN F-15 SQUADRON

USED IN OPERATION ALLIED FORCE.

Shower: IT WAS REALLY
THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO THIS
STRICTLY BY AIRPOWER,

TO ATTACK A COUNTRY AND NOT HAVE
ANY GROUND FORCES INVOLVED.

Narrator:
AN AIR WAR IS IMMINENT,

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

SERBIA'S AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM
IS FORMIDABLE,

THANKS TO THE COUNTRY'S
CLOSE TIES TO RUSSIA.

Shower: THE RUSSIANS
SOLD MILITARY HARDWARE

TO THE SERBIANS.

A LOT OF THEIR TRAINING
WAS FROM RUSSIAN FORCES,

SO THEY'RE VERY TIED HEAVILY

WITH THE RUSSIAN MILITARY
IN GENERAL.

Narrator: NATO'S AIR WAR
COULD STIR UP COLD WAR TENSIONS,

BUT THERE'S LITTLE CHOICE.

Clark:
THE RISK OF NOT TAKING ACTION

IS FAR GREATER THAN THE RISKS
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

Narrator: MARCH 1999.

NIGHT ONE OF THE WAR.

16 COALITION PLANES HEAD
TOWARD SERBIAN AIRSPACE,

READY TO RUMBLE.

TO LEAD THIS CHARGE,

THE AIR FORCE LEANS ON ITS
GO-TO FIGHTER JET, THE F-15.

SLEEK,

SWIFT,

AND VERY DEADLY.

IT'S THE AIR FORCE'S
WEAPON OF CHOICE

WHEN THERE'S ANY REAL CHANCE
OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.

Jason Weave Nalepa:
THE F-15 WAS DESIGNED

FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE
OF ESTABLISHING AIR DOMINANCE.

Narrator: TWO PRATT & WHITNEY
TURBOFAN ENGINES

GIVE THE F-15
A TOP SPEED OF MACH 2.5.

THAT'S TWO AND A HALF TIMES
THE SPEED OF SOUND.

Nalepa: THIS IS WHERE
ALL THE THRUST COMES FROM.

YOU CAN SEE
IT'S SLIGHTLY CHARRED.

THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
OF HEAT AND A LOT OF ENERGY

COMING OUT OF THESE.

Narrator: THE F-15 CAN FLY
THREE TIMES AS FAST

AS A 747 PASSENGER JET.

ITS MASSIVE ENGINES GENERATE
OVER 50,000 POUNDS OF THRUST.

Nalepa: THRUST IS THE AMOUNT
OF PUSH BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT,

PROVIDING US THE SPEED SO THAT
WE CAN OUT-CLIMB AN OPPONENT.

Narrator:
BACK IN EASTERN EUROPE,

TWO F-15s ESCORT
TEN F-117 STEALTH FIGHTERS

AND TWO B-2 BOMBERS
INTO SERBIAN AIRSPACE--

$10 BILLION
OF HIGH-END AIRCRAFT,

ALL UNDER THE GUARD OF THE F-15.

THE BOMBERS ARE SPECIALISTS
IN HITTING GROUND TARGETS,

BUT CAN DO LITTLE AIR-TO-AIR.

IF SERB FIGHTERS DETECT THEM,

THE F-15s MAY BE
THEIR ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVAL.

Shower: IT ONLY TAKES ONE
TO GET THROUGH,

AND WE DIDN'T SEE HIM

UNTIL HE GETS BEHIND ONE
OF OUR GUYS AND SHOOTS HIM DOWN,

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

IT COULD PUT A STOP
ON THE WHOLE AIR WAR.

Narrator: SURE ENOUGH,
MINUTES INTO HIS FLIGHT,

LIEUTENANT COLONEL
MICHAEL SHOWER

SPOTS AN UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT.

Shower:
WE KNEW THE ONLY AIRCRAFT

THE SERBIANS HAD ON ALERT
WERE MIG-29s.

THEY HAD ABOUT 14 OF THEM.

WE GOT THERE AND DID
ABOUT ONE SPIN IN THE CAP

AND TURNED BACK AROUND,
AND I SAW A RADAR BLIP POP UP.

I GO, "SOMEBODY'S FLYING."

A FEW MILES DOWN THE WAY,
HE TURNS AROUND.

NOW I SEE THAT RADAR BLIP,

INSTEAD OF STAYING
ABOUT THE SAME PLACE,

STARTS GETTING CLOSER TO ME.

AND, I GO, "OOP!"
25 MILES AWAY NOW.

Narrator:
SHOWER IS IN THE HOT SEAT,

COMPLICATED BY A UNIQUE SET
OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

Rebecca Grant: THE AIR WAR
OVER KOSOVO WAS VERY DIFFERENT

FROM THE WAR IN THE DESERT
A FEW YEARS EARLIER.

Narrator:
AUTHOR DR. REBECCA GRANT

IS ONE OF THE FOREMOST
CIVILIAN EXPERTS

ON AIR FORCE HISTORY
AND AIRCRAFT.

Grant: THE COALITION AIRCRAFT
FLYING FOR NATO

WERE OPERATING
IN A MUCH SMALLER AIRSPACE.

OVER KOSOVO, THE MIGs
FROM THE SERBIAN AIR FORCE

WERE ABLE TO MIX IN
MUCH MORE CLOSELY

THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED
WITH FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: SHOWER HAS
JUST SECONDS TO DETERMINE

WHETHER HE'S FACING AN ENEMY
OR A FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT.

HE TURNS TO THE RADAR,
HOUSED IN THE F-15'S LONG NOSE.

THE RADAR SENDS
A CODED ELECTRONIC SIGNAL

REQUESTING INFORMATION
FROM THE UNKNOWN AIRCRAFT.

Shower: THAT RADAR
CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF DETAIL

ABOUT AN AIRCRAFT,

AND NOT JUST ALTITUDE, SPEED,
HEADING, ET CETERA,

BUT MAYBE
WHAT KIND OF AIRCRAFT IS IT.

IS IT A MIG-29, A SU-27?
IS IT A 747?

Narrator: PILOTS CALL THE SIGNAL
"REPLY OR DIE."

IF THE CHALLENGING AIRCRAFT
IS FRIENDLY,

IT RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY.

THE PLANE RACING TOWARD
MICHAEL SHOWER, HOWEVER,

STAYS SILENT.

Shower: IMMEDIATELY, I GO,
WITHIN JUST ABOUT TWO SECONDS,

I GO, THAT'S A MIG-29, I KNOW.

MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS DEFINITELY
STARTING TO GO UP.

Narrator:
SHOWER QUICKLY REALIZES

THAT THE MIG
IS NOT CLOSING IN ON HIM,

BUT ON ONE OF
THE PRECIOUS F-117s BEHIND HIM

THAT HE'S CHARGED
WITH PROTECTING.

SHOWER HAS TO AIM HIS MISSILE
WITH PINPOINT PRECISION.

HE PUTS HIS HAND ON THE TRIGGER
AND FIRES.

Shower: IT GOES
INTO A BIG FIREBALL.

SO I SEE THE FIREBALL,

AND I WATCH THE AIRCRAFT
KIND OF SPIRAL INTO THE GROUND.

OBVIOUSLY, I SAY, "SPLASH ONE!
SPLASH ONE!" ON THE RADIO,

AND WATCH IT IMPACT THE GROUND.

Narrator: "SPLASH ONE" MEANS NOT
ONLY A HIT, BUT A KILL,

AND THIS "SPLASH ONE" COMES
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

Grant: IT CAME WITHIN
JUST A FEW THOUSAND FEET

OF HAVING THE SERBIAN MIG
CLOSE IN ON THE F-117s.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THIS
PILOT, CAPTAIN MICHAEL SHOWER,

HAD SAVED SOME OF THE F-117s.

Narrator: WITH THE SERBIAN MIGs
NO LONGER A THREAT,

THE B-2s AND F-117s
GET TO WORK--

WIPING OUT DOZENS
OF MILITARY TARGETS.

Grant: THE F-15s WERE
ONCE AGAIN IN THE LEAD,

CLEARING THE SKIES
OF SERBIAN MIGs,

AND ENABLING NATO
TO CARRY ON THAT AIR WAR

AND STOP THE HUMANITARIAN
TRAGEDY GOING ON IN KOSOVO.

Narrator: AFTER TWO MONTHS
OF BOMBING, MILOSEVIC GIVES UP.

LED BY THE F-15s,
OPERATION ALLIED FORCE PROVES

THAT A WAR CAN BE WON
BY AIRPOWER ALONE.

Bill Clinton: MR. MILOSEVIC
ACCEPTED THESE CONDITIONS

FOR ONE REASON...

YOU MADE HIM DO IT.

Narrator:
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

THE F-15 HAS GONE
HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE MIG.

THE F-15'S DOMINANCE
HAS EXTRA SIGNIFICANCE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MIG THAT
THE F-15 FIRST CAME INTO BEING.

Narrator: MAY 1967.

THE UNITED STATES
IS TWO YEARS INTO AN UGLY WAR

WITH NORTH VIETNAM.

U.S. FORCES AREN'T JUST
GETTING KILLED ON THE GROUND.

THEY'RE TAKING A POUNDING
IN THE AIR COMBAT, TOO.

Grant: THE VIETNAM WAR,
EARLY ON,

WAS A HUGE SHOCK TO THE AMERICAN
CONCEPT OF AIR SUPERIORITY.

Dick Anderegg:
THERE WAS NO DOUBT

THAT AIRPOWER WAS NOT
AS DOMINANT AS IT HAD BEEN

IN WORLD WAR II.

Narrator: DICK ANDEREGG
WAS THE DIRECTOR

OF THE AIR FORCE
HISTORY & MUSEUMS PROGRAM.

HE COMMANDED AN F-15 SQUADRON
FOR TWO YEARS.

Anderegg: THE AIR FORCE
COMING INTO THE VIETNAM WAR

HAD BEEN DESIGNED
TO BE A NUCLEAR FORCE,

TO SHOOT RADAR MISSILES
AT LARGE BOMBER-SIZED TARGETS

IN A NUCLEAR-WAR SCENARIO.

BUT THE WAR OVER NORTH VIETNAM
WASN'T LIKE THAT.

THE AIRCRAFT THERE WERE SMALL,
FIGHTER-SIZED TARGETS,

HIGHLY MANEUVERABLE
AT MUCH LOWER ALTITUDES.

Grant: THE DISADVANTAGE
FOR THE U.S. PILOTS

WAS THAT THEY WERE FLYING

HEAVIER AIRCRAFT
NOT DESIGNED FOR AIR COMBAT.

Narrator: NORTH VIETNAM'S
PREMIER DOGFIGHTER

IS THE SMALL, TOUGH MIG.

IT'S BUILT AND SOLD
BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN.

Grant: NORTH VIETNAM GOT
ITS MIGs FROM THE SOVIET UNION.

THE MIGs WERE SMALL, VERY AGILE,

AND THEIR PILOTS,
ALTHOUGH FEW IN NUMBER,

WERE QUITE WELL-TRAINED.

Narrator: THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
SHOOT DOWN

ALMOST TWO U.S. AIRCRAFT A DAY.

[MACHINE GUN FIRE]

THE COST IS MORE
THAN JUST THE PLANES.

Anderegg: THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF
THE PRISONER OF WAR POPULATION

IN NORTH VIETNAM AND HANOI
WAS ALMOST TOTALLY AIRMEN.

IN THE HANOI HILTON

AND OTHER PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS
IN NORTH VIETNAM,

THE POPULATION THERE
WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY

AIR FORCE, NAVY,
AND MARINE CORPS AIRMEN.

Narrator: INADEQUATE PLANES,

THOUSANDS OF PILOTS
CAPTURED OR KILLED--

IT'S A BIG WAKE-UP CALL
FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE.

Grant: THE AIR COMBAT
EXPERIENCE IN VIETNAM

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY INDICATED
THAT THE U.S.

HAD THE WRONG TYPE OF AIRPLANES

TO GO UP AGAINST
THE SOVIET MIGs.

Narrator: JUST WHEN IT SEEMS
THINGS CAN'T GET WORSE,

RUSSIA UNVEILS
ITS LATEST THREAT.

Grant: THE SOVIET UNION
ALWAYS LIKED TO SHOW OFF

ITS TOP MILITARY EQUIPMENT
IN BIG PUBLIC DISPLAYS.

IT WAS DONE WITH THE VIEW
TOWARDS INTIMIDATING THE WEST.

Narrator: ONE PLANE GRABS
U.S. ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S CALLED THE MIG-25.

IT'S A MORE ADVANCED VERSION
OF THE PLANE

THAT IS BEATING THEM
IN VIETNAM.

Grant: TO WESTERN ANALYSTS,
IT LOOKED LIKE THE MIG-25

MIGHT BE THE MOST DOMINANT
FIGHTER EVER BUILT.

ANALYSTS ESTIMATED
THAT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO FLY

IN EXCESS OF MACH 2,
MAYBE EVEN MACH 3.

THAT MEANS THREE TIMES
THE SPEED OF SOUND.

Anderegg:
IT WAS RECEIVED AS A THREAT.

HERE'S ANOTHER LEAP

INTO THE NEXT GENERATION
OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

THAT WE DON'T SEE
THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING

THAT CAN MATCH RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: SUDDENLY,
IT LOOKS LIKE THE UNITED STATES

ISN'T JUST GOING TO
LOSE VIETNAM.

IT'S GOING TO LOSE
THE COLD WAR, TOO.

Grant: THE U.S. AIR FORCE KNEW

THEY HAD TO BUILD
A TRUE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

AND GET IT INTO PRODUCTION
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: DECEMBER 1968.

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
GATHERS AT THE PENTAGON.

THEIR NEW
$15.4 MILLION WEAPONS PROGRAM

DEMANDS THE IMPOSSIBLE:
A COMBAT FIGHTER

THAT CAN SHOOT ANY
SOVIET PLANE OUT OF THE SKY.

Grant: AT FIRST
THE AIR FORCE WASN'T SURE

WHAT APPROACH TO TAKE.

WHAT WAS GOING TO
BE MORE IMPORTANT?

THE ABILITY TO TURN AND BURN

AND GET THE ADVANTAGE
OVER YOUR OPPONENT,

OR PURE SPEED?

Narrator: THE AIR FORCE REVIEWS
DOZENS OF POTENTIAL DESIGNS.

Grant: THE AIR FORCE PUT OUT
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

FOR A NEW FIGHTER THAT FALL.

THEY WENT OUT TO ALL
OF AMERICAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

AT THAT POINT,
SPECIFICALLY McDONNELL DOUGLAS,

GENERAL DYNAMICS,
FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC,

NORTH AMERICAN, ET CETERA.

Narrator: FINALLY,
AVIATION GIANT McDONNELL DOUGLAS

COMES UP WITH THE GOODS.

Grant: McDONNELL DOUGLAS
GOT TO WORK VERY FAST.

THE FIRST F-15 ROLLED OUT
OF THE PRODUCTION FACILITY

IN ST. LOUIS
JUST 30 MONTHS LATER.

Narrator: JULY 1972.

THE McDONNELL DOUGLAS PLANT
IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

THE AIR FORCE ROLLS OUT
A BRAND-NEW FIGHTER,

THE FIRST IT'S COMMISSIONED
IN ALMOST 20 YEARS.

THEY CALL IT THE F-15 EAGLE.

Woman:
I CHRISTEN THEE "EAGLE,"

AND MAY YOU REIGN SUPREME
IN YOUR DOMAIN.

Man: HEAR, HEAR.

Grant: IT SIMPLY LOOKS
LIKE NO OTHER AIRCRAFT

THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

IT'S STREAMLINED FOR SPEED.

IT HAS THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND
THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCES.

ITS AERODYNAMIC QUALITIES
ARE TRULY ORIGINAL.

IT LOOKS LIKE NO OTHER FIGHTER
THAT CAME BEFORE IT.

Narrator: ONE OF THE KEY PARTS
OF THE DESIGN--THE COCKPIT.

Grant: IT WAS ESSENTIAL
TO GIVE THE PILOT

A 360-DEGREE VIEW

SO THAT HE COULD SEE
ANY ANGLE OF ATTACK

BYT COCKPIT,

AND YOU KNOW
THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION

TO DOMINATE
THE WHOLE SKY AROUND YOU.

Narrator: WHAT THE PILOT
CAN'T SEE WITH HIS OWN EYES,

HE CAN USE
THE F-15'S RADAR TO TRACK.

Grant: THE F-15 HAD SOMETHING
ELSE THAT MADE IT DOMINANT,

AND THAT WAS ITS ANAPG-63 RADAR.

Narrator: THIS REVOLUTIONARY
NEW RADAR IS SO POWERFUL

THAT IT CAN
SPOT ENEMY FIGHTERS

WAY BEYOND
THE PILOT'S VISUAL RANGE.

Grant: WITH THE
BEYOND-VISUAL-RANGE RADAR,

IT WAS POSSIBLE TO TAKE
WHAT PILOTS NOW CALL A BVR SHOT.

WHAT THAT MEANT, ESSENTIALLY,

WAS THAT THE PILOT COULD DETECT
AN INCOMING ENEMY FIGHTER,

LINE UP A SHOT,

ALL BEFORE THAT FIGHTER
KNEW THAT IT WAS UNDER ATTACK.

Narrator:
THE PENTAGON IS IMPRESSED,

BUT PILOTS SEE A PROBLEM.

THE F-15 APPEARS
TO HAVE ONE FATAL FLAW.

Anderegg: I THINK THE BIGGEST
SURPRISE WAS HOW BIG IT WAS.

WE HAD JUST BEEN FIGHTING
SMALL MIGs IN NORTH VIETNAM,

AND SO WE KNEW THAT SMALL
WAS AN ADVANTAGE,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE
DOGFIGHTING,

SO WHEN THE F-15
AND ITS LARGE SIZE CAME OUT,

WE WENT, "HMMM. WOW,
THIS IS A BIG AIRPLANE."

Narrator:
AS THESE LARGE FIGHTERS

ROLL OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE,

THE AIR FORCE MUST ALSO ROLL OUT
AN ELITE CLASS OF PILOTS

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE.

Grant: THERE WAS NO QUESTION
THAT THE AIR FORCE CHOSE TO PUT

ITS BEST PILOTS INTO THE F-15.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR BEST PILOTS

TO GET THE BEST CAPABILITY

OUT OF A TOP
AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER.

Narrator: THE PILOT'S MOTTO--
BRING IT ON.

AND THREE YEARS
AFTER THE PLANE DEBUTS,

THE FIRST GROUP OF F-15 PILOTS

DECIDES TO SHOW THE WORLD
WHAT THEIR NEW TOY IS MADE OF.

Narrator: JANUARY 1975.

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE,
NORTH DAKOTA.

AN F-15 PILOT PUTS
ON A HIGH-ALTITUDE PRESSURE SUIT

AND PREPARES TO TEST
AN F-15 STREAK EAGLE.

HIS GOAL--TO PUSH THE LIMITS
OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE

AND SEE HOW FAST AND HOW HIGH
THE NEW FIGHTER CAN GO.

[RADIO CHATTER]

THE F-15 TAKES OFF.

17 SECONDS LATER, IT'S FLYING
FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.

IT TILTS UPWARD, EXECUTING
AN ALMOST VERTICAL CLIMB.

IN JUST 3 MINUTES, THE F-15
ROCKETS UP TO 98,000 FEET,

FASTER THAN ANY PLANE
THAT'S EVER BEEN BUILT.

Grant: ANYONE WHO FLEW
OR SAW THE F-15 IN FLIGHT

WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT
THAT THIS WAS

THE TRUE AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

THAT THE AIR FORCE
WANTED SO BADLY.

Narrator: IT'S A TRIUMPH
FOR THE AIR FORCE,

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
THE RECORD WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD

BY ITS OLD ENEMY--
THE SOVIET MIG.

BUT WITH THE VIETNAM WAR OVER,

THE F-15 STILL HAS TO PROVE
ITSELF IN BATTLE.

IT GETS ITS CHANCE
IN A MOST UNEXPECTED PLACE.

1979.

THE COLD WAR SPREADS
TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE SOVIETS ARM COUNTRIES
LIKE SYRIA AND EGYPT

WITH THEIR MOST ADVANCED
WEAPONS.

ITS TOP SELLER?
THE MIG.

ISRAEL LOOKS TO THE U.S.
FOR SUPPORT.

IT MUST PROTECT ITSELF
AGAINST THE GROWING THREAT.

Anderegg: WE'VE ALWAYS
HAD QUITE A RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE,

WHERE WE'VE TRADED KNOWLEDGE
OF AIRPLANES AND TACTICS.

WHEN THEY SAW THE F-15,

THEY WANTED THE F-15
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

Narrator: BY JUNE 27, 1979,

THE ISRAELIS OPERATE 25
OF THE NEW AMERICAN JETS.

THE NEW WEAPON COMES
JUST IN TIME.

A FEW MINUTES BEFORE NOON,

FOUR SYRIAN MIG-21s
ZOOM TOWARDS ISRAELI AIRSPACE--

A SURPRISE ATTACK.

THE ISRAELIS DETECT THE THREAT

AND ALERT FOUR F-15s
THEY HAVE ON ROUTINE PATROL.

Man: I REMEMBER THE HORIZON
WERE VERY, VERY CLEAR,

AND BELOW US THERE WERE
A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUDS,

AND WE GOT THE GREEN LIGHT TO GO
AND INTERCEPT THE MIGs.

Narrator:
BRIGADIER GENERAL MOSHE MELNIK

WAS ONE OF THE ISRAELI
AIR FORCE'S TOP FIGHTER PILOTS

FOR OVER 38 YEARS.

ON THAT DAY IN 1979, HE'S
IN THE HOT SEAT OF AN AIRCRAFT

NEVER BEFORE TRIED IN COMBAT.

Moshe Melnik: WE GOT VERY
IMMEDIATE LOCKS, RADAR LOCKS

ON THE MIGs.

IT WAS IN THE DISTANCE
OF ABOUT 30 OR 25 MILES,

AND WE GOT PERMISSION TO FIRE.

Narrator: TO DETERMINE WHEN
AND WHERE TO FIRE,

MELNIK RELIES ON
THE F-15'S HEADS-UP DISPLAY.

THE HEADS-UP DISPLAY, OR HUD,
IS A PIECE OF TRANSPARENT GLASS

LOCATED ON TOP OF THE PILOT'S
INSTRUMENT PANEL.

AIRSPEED, ALTITUDE, TARGETS--

THEY'RE ALL DISPLAYED RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THE PILOT'S EYES.

Anderegg: ALL THE CONTROLS
THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO THAT

WERE ON THE STICK
AND THE THROTTLES,

SO YOU NEVER HAD TO
TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF

TO MOVE ANYTHING
WHILE YOU'RE DOGFIGHTING.

EVERYTHING IS
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

Narrator:
MELNIK'S HEADS-UP DISPLAY

SHOWS THAT THE MIG
IS APPROACHING FAST.

THIS IS MOSHE MELNIK'S
ACTUAL VIDEO.

MELNIK LAUNCHES
ONE OF HIS MISSILES.

IT MISSES.

NOW THE MIGs ARE ON HIGH ALERT.

Melnik: THE MIGs WERE TURNING,

TOOK A VERY SHARP TURN
TO THE NORTH

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN
THE MISSILES,

AND THAT'S HOW YOU PROTECT
AGAINST THE MISSILES.

SO THE RADAR LOCK WAS BROKEN,

AND IT WAS OBVIOUS
THAT THESE MISSILES

ARE NOT GOING
TO HIT THE MIGs.

Narrator:
THE MIGs COUNTERATTACK--

ROARING TOWARD MELNIK
AT 650 MILES PER HOUR.

MELNIK HAS TO COME UP
WITH ANOTHER STRATEGY QUICKLY

OR RISK GETTING SHOT.

ONE OF THE F-15'S STRENGTHS--

IT HAS MORE THAN ONE WAY
TO TAKE DOWN AN ENEMY FIGHTER.

Nalepa: WE HAVE SEVERAL
WEAPONS AVAILABLE,

ONE OF WHICH BEING
THE LONG-RANGE MIGHTY AMRAAM.

Narrator: THE AMRAAM IS
A BEYOND-VISUAL-RANGE MISSILE,

MEANING THAT ONCE THE PILOT
LOCKS INTO A TARGET,

THE AMRAAM'S RADAR GUIDES IT
TOWARDS THE KILL.

THEY CALL THIS FEATURE
"FIRE AND FORGET."

PILOTS CAN LAUNCH THE MISSILES

FROM ALMOST ANY SIDE
OF THE PLANE.

Nalepa: THESE ARE
THE FUSELAGE STATIONS,

SO WE HAVE TWO ON EITHER SIDE.

THESE ARE CALLED
THE EAGLE CLAW

THAT WHEN YOU ARE
IN A FIRING SOLUTION,

YOU HIT THE PICKLE BUTTON,

IT WILL EJECT THE AMRAAM
OUT INTO THE SLIPSTREAM,

FORWARD FIRE THE MOTOR, AND IT'S
ON ITS WAY TO DEAL DEATH.

Narrator: FOR CLOSER TARGETS,

THE F-15 CARRIES
HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES

LIKE THE AIM-9L
SIDEWINDER.

FOR ANYONE WHO GETS PAST THE
MISSILES TO FACE IT UP CLOSE,

THE F-15 HAS YET ANOTHER WEAPON.

Nalepa: THIS IS THE MIGHTY
M61 A1 GATLING GUN.

IT PROVIDES
6,000 ROUNDS PER MINUTE

IN A HIGH RATE OF FIRE, WHICH
IS 100 ROUNDS PER SECOND,

AND THAT IS A LOT OF FIREPOWER
AT YOUR FINGERTIP.

Narrator: OVER ISRAEL,

IT'S CLEAR
THAT F-15 PILOT MOSHE MELNIK

IS IN A DOGFIGHT TO THE DEATH,

AND HIS FIRST MISSILES
HAVE MISSED.

Melnik:
NOW, YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES.

GET A NEW RADAR LOCK OR TO GET,

GO BACK TO THE OLD PILOT HABITS,
GOOD HABITS,

AND TO USE YOUR BEST RADAR
IN THE WORLD, YOUR EYES.

Narrator: MELNIK SETS HIS SIGHTS
ON THE MIGs--

NOW JUST SECONDS AWAY.

THIS TIME, HE TURNS TO A MISSILE

DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY
FOR THE ISRAELI F-15s.

IT'S CALLED THE PYTHON 3.

Melnik: THIS MISSILE HAS A NAME
IN HEBREW CALLED [HEBREW WORD].

[HEBREW WORD] IS
AN ABBREVIATION OF "GOD FORBID."

GOD FORBID
THAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER

THIS MISSILE IN THE AIR.

IT WAS IN RANGE,
AND I PRESS THE TRIGGER,

AND I TOOK THE FIRST SHOT,

AND THIS MISSILE HIT
THE FIRST MIG.

Narrator: LESS THAN 30 SECONDS

AFTER MELNIK
FIRST GOT THE ALERT,

THE ISRAELI F-15s
DEFEAT THE SYRIAN MIGs.

Grant: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME
THE F-15 FACED A MIG IN COMBAT,

AND THE WORLD COULD SEE

THAT ANY TIME THE F-15
CAME UP AGAINST A MIG,

THE F-15 WOULD WIN.

Narrator: MOSHE MELNIK
BECOMES THE FIRST PILOT

TO SHOW THE WORLD

THE LETHAL QUALITIES
OF THIS NEW FIGHTER.

Melnik: I'M SO PROUD
AND SO HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST

THAT ACTUALLY PROVED ITS
ABILITIES IN, IN THE COMBAT.

Narrator:
THE MIG, KING FOR SO LONG,

DOMINANT IN VIETNAM,
IS FINALLY TOPPLED.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE F-15
IS THE PERFECT WEAPON,

SO PERFECT
THAT THE U.S. MILITARY

DECIDES TO GIVE THE F-15 ITS
MOST CHALLENGING MISSION YET--

TO CONQUER OUTER SPACE.

Narrator: 1985. THE PENTAGON.

THE U.S. MILITARY HAS BEEN
LOCKED INTO A COLD WAR

WITH THE SOVIET UNION
FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.

Man: WHEN THE COLD WAR
WAS GOING ON,

WE AND THE SOVIETS HAD
A LITTLE, UM, CONTEST GOING ON

OF WHO COULD BEAT THEIR CHEST
THE BIGGEST.

Narrator: MAJOR GENERAL
WILBERT D. PEARSON

COMMANDED THE AIR FORCE
FLIGHT TEST CENTER

AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,
CALIFORNIA.

Wilbert Pearson: THE SOVIETS
HAD BUILT THEIR EMPIRE,

THEY'D EXPANDED
AROUND THE BORDERS OF RUSSIA,

AND THEY WERE INTERESTED
IN PROTECTING THAT,

SO THEY HAD FORCES MASSED.

THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED
IN CONTINUING TO EXPAND,

OR AT LEAST PROTECTING
WHAT THEY HAD.

Narrator:
RUSSIA VS. THE U.S.

SPY VS. SPY.

EACH DETERMINED
TO GAIN CONTROL

OF THE ULTIMATE HIGH GROUND--
SPACE.

Pearson: THE SOVIETS WOULD
PUT UP SATELLITES FREQUENTLY,

TAKE PICTURES,
AND VERY, VERY ACCURATELY

KEEP UP WITH THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY FORCES.

THEY COULD VERY QUICKLY LAUNCH
SATELLITES IN A MATTER OF HOURS

AND LAUNCH A LOT OF THEM.

Narrator:
THE PENTAGON SEES THE SATELLITES

AS A DANGEROUS THREAT
TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

Ronald Reagan:
THEY ALREADY HAVE DEPLOYED

AN ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE.

THEY CAN KNOCK DOWN AND HAVE
KNOCKED DOWN SATELLITES

THAT HAVE BEEN SENT UP
IN THEIR TESTING.

Anderegg:
WE WANTED TO HAVE A CAPACITY

TO BE ABLE
TO SHOOT DOWN SATELLITES

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY
TO DO IT SATELLITE-TO-SATELLITE,

SO WE TRIED IT OFF THE F-15.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT THING TO DO.

YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT HAS TO BE PERFECT.

I MEAN, THAT THING'S GOING
17,000 MILES AN HOUR,

THAT SATELLITE
THAT'S IN ORBIT,

IT'S GOING
17,000 MILES AN HOUR.

YOU CAN'T BE OFF X NUMBER
OF FEET LEFT AND RIGHT,

OR IT'LL BE BY YOU

BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO DO ANYTHING.

Narrator: THE SATELLITE CHOSEN
FOR DESTRUCTION--

AN OUT-OF-DATE AMERICAN RESEARCH
SATELLITE CALLED P78-1.

THE MAN CHOSEN TO DESTROY IT--
MAJOR GENERAL PEARSON.

Pearson: WHEN THEY ASKED ME
WOULD I CONSIDER DOING IT,

IT TOOK ME ABOUT
TWO MILLISECONDS TO ANSWER.

I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT
BECAUSE SPACE WAS ALWAYS

WHERE I THOUGHT THE NEXT WAR
WAS GOING TO BE FOUGHT.

Narrator: SEPTEMBER 13, 1985.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE,
CALIFORNIA.

AT 12:40 IN THE AFTERNOON,
PEARSON STRAPS INTO HIS F-15.

THERE'S A 2,700-POUND,
18-FOOT-LONG MISSILE

MOUNTED
TO THE JET'S CENTERLINE.

Pearson: OK, THIS IS PEARSON
IN 084. WE'RE 64 SECONDS...

WE HAD WORKED SO HARD
TO UNDERSTAND

AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.

IT WAS JUST,
IT REALLY WASN'T SOMETHING

YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
ON THE DAY OF.

YOU JUST DID IT.

Narrator:
AT 12:58, PEARSON TAKES OFF.

THIS IS ACTUAL VIDEO
FROM HIS FLIGHT.

[RADIO CHATTER]

THE SATELLITE IS 345,000 FEET
ABOVE THE EARTH.

IT'S MOVING
AT 23,000 FEET PER SECOND.

ONCE HIS F-15
REACHES 30,000 FEET,

PEARSON HAS
JUST A TEN-SECOND WINDOW

TO FIRE THE MISSILE.

IF HIS TIMING IS OFF,
HE'LL MISS IT COMPLETELY.

Pearson: MARK 1.2 AT .86 MACH.

Narrator:
ROCKETING INTO THE AIR,

PEARSON PULLS THE F-15
INTO A STEEP CLIMB.

[RADIO CHATTER]

AT 35,000 FEET, HE FIRES.

AN INFRARED HOMING DEVICE
ON THE ROCKET

GUIDES IT
AS IT HEADS INTO THE SKY.

THE F-15 HAS DONE WHAT NO OTHER
PLANE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO--

CONQUER THE HEAVENS.

Pearson: AND THEN AS THE ROCKET
WENT UP,

IT CREATED A CONTRAIL,
A LARGE PLUME OF SMOKE,

AND I WATCHED THAT
AS FAR AS I COULD.

IT WAS A MOMENT.
IT WAS A REAL MOMENT.

[ON RADIO]
YOU BEAUTIFUL SON OF A BITCH.

IT WAS ALMOST ANTICLIMACTIC

BECAUSE SO MUCH WORK AND SO MUCH
PRACTICE AND SO MUCH TRAINING

WENT INTO IT TO MAKE IT LOOK
EASY, AND IT ACTUALLY DID,

BUT IT, ON SHOW DAY,
IT LOOKED EASY,

SO IT WAS A COOL MOMENT,
REALLY COOL.

Narrator: SHOOTING DOWN
THE SATELLITE

SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE
TO THE SOVIETS.

Pearson:
WE CONVINCED THE SOVIETS

THEY SHOULDN'T USE IT
FOR MILITARY PURPOSES

BECAUSE WE'LL SMACK THEM,
AND WE COULD,

AND WE AT LEAST
DEMONSTRATED THAT.

Narrator: WITH THIS SUCCESS,
THE F-15 SEEMS UP FOR ANYTHING,

BUT ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IS STILL AHEAD.

NEARLY 20 YEARS
AFTER IT FIRST ROLLED OUT,

THE F-15 HAS TO PROVE ITSELF

TO THE PEOPLE
WHO BROUGHT IT TO LIFE.

NO AMERICAN HAS EVER USED
AN F-15 IN COMBAT...

YET.

AUGUST 1990.

100,000 IRAQI TROOPS INVADE
NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.

IRAQI PRIME MINISTER
SADDAM HUSSEIN IS OUT FOR OIL...

AND FOR BLOOD.

39 NATIONS VOW TO LIBERATE
KUWAIT FROM HUSSEIN'S CLUTCHES.

GULF WAR ONE IS IMMINENT.

THE UNITED STATES LEADS THE WAY.

George Bush:
WE MUST RESIST AGGRESSION,

OR IT WILL DESTROY
OUR FREEDOMS.

Narrator: THE COALITION'S PLAN

STARTS WITH A FULL-SCALE
AIR ATTACK.

THEY CALL IT
OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Grant: THE FIRST JOB
FOR OPERATION DESERT STORM

WAS TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIR,

AND THE LEADING ROLE IN THAT
FELL TO THE F-15.

Narrator: JANUARY 17, 1991,

THE START OF THE FIRST GULF WAR.

EIGHT F-15 EAGLE INTERCEPTORS
LIFT OFF,

A STRIKE FORCE OF COALITION
BOMBERS FOLLOWS BEHIND.

Man: MY MISSION GOAL

WAS BASICALLY
TO TAKE THE EAGLES OUT IN FRONT,

ABOUT 100 MILES OUT IN FRONT
OF THE STRIKE PACKAGE,

AND CLEAR THE AIR
OF ANY ADVERSARY AIRCRAFT.

Narrator:
MARINE CAPTAIN CHUCK MAGILL
WAS AN EXCHANGE PILOT

WITH THE AIR FORCE

AND A MISSION COMMANDER
DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Chuck Magill:
WE WERE PROTECTING 40 F-16s.

THE F-16s WERE CARRYING
TWO 2,000-POUND BOMBS.

Narrator: THE BOMBS ARE MEANT

FOR AL TAQUADDUM AIRFIELD
AND WEAPONS CENTER,

45 MILES WEST OF BAGHDAD.

Grant: AL TAQUADDUM
WAS A PLACE WHERE PLANNERS

FEARED SADDAM HUSSEIN MIGHT HAVE
CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

THE COALITION HAD TO NEUTRALIZE
THE EFFECT OF THE CHEMICALS

OR OF THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
THAT MIGHT BE STORED THERE.

Narrator: SOMETHING ELSE
IS AT AL TAQUADDUM, TOO--

THE IRAQI AIR FORCE.

A LONG WAR WITH IRAN HAS TURNED
THEM INTO SEASONED FIGHTERS.

Anderegg: THE IRAQI AIR FORCE
WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AIR FORCE,

THE FOURTH OR FIFTH LARGEST
AIR FORCE IN THE WORLD,

AND THEY WERE VERY
WELL-EQUIPPED WITH AIRCRAFT.

Magill:
THEY HAD THE NEWEST MIG-29,

SO WE EXPECTED TO SEE
A REAL AIR BATTLE COMING.

Narrator: ABOUT 20 MILES WEST
OF THEIR TARGET,

THE F-15s GET
AN URGENT MESSAGE

FROM THE AIRBORNE
WARNING AND CONTROL CENTER.

Magill: THEY HAD INTEL THAT
THERE WERE TWO MIG-29s AIRBORNE

SOUTH OF THE TARGET.

I IMMEDIATELY YELL,
"PUSH IT UP! PUSH IT UP!"

SO NOW WE CAN GO
FULL AFTERBURNER IN THE EAGLE,

WHICH IS, YOU REALLY
START HAULING NOW,

AND WE'RE CHASING THEM DOWN.

Narrator: MAGILL AND HIS WINGMAN

QUICKLY REALIZE
THEY'VE FALLEN INTO A TRAP.

Magill: WE STARTED GETTING
LAUNCH INDICATIONS

FROM SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES.

AT FIRST WE BLEW IT OFF,

THINKING THAT IT WAS,
"OH, IT CAN'T BE.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE."
WELL, THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE,

AND SO WE CAME UNDER HEAVY
ANTIAIRCRAFT ATTACK.

Narrator:
WITH MAGILL AND HIS SQUADRON

DISTRACTED BY THE MISSILES,

THE MIGs CLOSE IN
FOR A FIGHT.

Magill: THEY WENT FROM 380
TO ABOUT 650,

SO NOW SOMETHING'S UP.

WHEN I SEE THE CLOSURE BETWEEN
THE 2 AIRPLANES IS 1,295 KNOTS,

SO WE WERE SMOKING
AT EACH OTHER.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

Narrator: WITH THE IRAQI MIGs
JUST SECONDS AWAY,

MAGILL LOCKS ONTO HIS TARGET
AND FIRES.

Magill:
THE FIRST MISSILE WAS DOWN LOW,

AND IT CAME UP
AND POPPED THE MIG

RIGHT IN THE RIGHT WING ROOT.

WHEN I GO TO FIRE THE SECOND
MISSILE, EVERYTHING GOT QUIET.

I COULD TELL I WAS MOVING, BUT I
COULDN'T FEEL THAT I WAS MOVING.

I WATCHED THE MISSILE COME OFF,

AND I JUST WATCH IT
KIND OF FLOAT AWAY.

LASTED MAYBE
FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU
WITH A CYMBAL.

ALL THE NOISE COMES BACK,
AND IT'S AS HECTIC AS CAN BE,

AND YOU'RE MOVING AWAY AGAIN.

THEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE MIGs,

AND THEY'RE ABOUT 9,000 FEET
BELOW YOU IN A SLANT RANGE,

AND THEY BLOW UP.

Narrator: LESS THAN 10 MINUTES
AFTER SPOTTING THE MIG,

MAGILL HAS OBLITERATED
HIS ATTACKER,

AND AMERICA HAS FINALLY
USED THE F-15 IN COMBAT.

Grant: THE F-15s BASICALLY
REMOVE THE THREAT

OF ALL THE IRAQI MIGs.

Narrator: MINUTES LATER,

THE REST OF THE COALITION
STRIKE FORCE ROARS IN BEHIND.

THEY MAKE QUICK WORK

OF AL TAQUADDUM
AND OTHER MILITARY TARGETS.

Anderegg: THEY HAD NO HOPE.

WE SHOT DOWN
34 OF THEIR AIRPLANES

IN THE FIRST TWO
OR THREE NIGHTS.

AFTER THAT,
THE AIR FIGHT WAS OVER.

Narrator: OPERATION DESERT STORM

IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE
AIR CAMPAIGN

THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

Norman Schwarzkopf:
THE IRAQI EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

HAS COMPLETELY FAILED,

AND THEIR AIRCRAFT HAVE
BEEN CAUGHT TOTALLY BY SURPRISE.

Grant: GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF,
THE COMMANDER,

HAD STAKED A LOT

ON BEING ABLE TO CLEAR THE SKIES
OF THE IRAQI MIGs.

THAT LET THE U.S.
AND COALITION ARMIES

MOVE UNMOLESTED ON THE GROUND.

Anderegg:
YOU KNOW, THE OBJECTIVE HERE

IS NOT TO HAVE A FAIR FIGHT.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE

OVERWHELMING,
DECISIVE VICTORY IMMEDIATELY.

Narrator: AFTER THE GULF WAR,

THE F-15 SEEMS POISED
TO DOMINATE THE SKIES FOREVER,

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO LEARN
THAT SOMETIMES

THE HIGHER YOU GO,
THE HARDER YOU FALL.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 2, 2007.

AN F-15 IS ON A ROUTINE
TRAINING MISSION,

WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.

JUST MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF,
THE PLANE STARTS TO BREAK APART.

Anderegg: HE WAS IN
ABOUT A 6-G TURN,

AND THE WAY IT CAME APART

WAS LITERALLY THE COCKPIT
BROKE OFF THE FUSELAGE,

AND THE PILOT EJECTED.

HE WAS INJURED, BUT HE EJECTED.

Narrator: THE F-15 CRASHES
INTO THE MISSOURI COUNTRYSIDE.

IT'S THE SIXTH TIME THE PLANE
HAS CRASHED IN JUST FIVE YEARS.

THE ACCIDENT BOARD
RECONSTRUCTS THE CRASH

AND DISCOVERS
SOMETHING ALARMING.

Anderegg:
THE ACCIDENT BOARD FOUND

THAT TWO OF THE MAIN
SUPPORT PIECES

THAT RUN ALONG
THE COCKPIT AND THE FUSELAGE

HAD FAILED,
AND WHEN THEY FAILED,

THE WHOLE THING BROKE APART.

Narrator:
THERE'S NO PLANE ON EARTH

THAT CAN BRING THE F-15 DOWN,

BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT
EVEN THE F-15 CAN'T BEAT--AGE.

Anderegg: AT THAT POINT,

THE AIRPLANE OPERATIONALLY
WAS LIKE 30 YEARS OLD,

AND AIRPLANES DO AGE,

AND THEY DO HAVE
STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

IF THEY'VE BEEN OVERSTRESSED,

YOU KNOW, TOO MANY Gs PULLED
AND THAT SORT OF THING.

Narrator: IT ISN'T EASY TO KEEP
A 30-YEAR-OLD PLANE RUNNING.

IT TAKES 160 MEN AND WOMEN

TO COAX EACH AGING FIGHTER
INTO THE SKY.

Noah Demerly: IMAGINE A WHOLE
FLEET OF 15 1980s LAMBORGHINIS

AND TAKING THOSE LAMBORGHINIS

AT 150 MILES AN HOUR
AROUND A TRACK EVERY DAY.

DOING THAT WOULD BE AN IMMENSE
FEAT IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD,

AND THAT'S EXACTLY
PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE DO HERE.

Narrator: AFTER THE ACCIDENT
IN 2007,

THE AIR FORCE
IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENS

INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.

THE NEW INSPECTION GUIDELINES
COME TOO LATE

TO SAVE THE F-15 IN MISSOURI,

BUT THEY MAY HAVE
SAVED MANY OTHER LIVES.

THERE ARE 670 F-15s IN SERVICE.

AFTER INSPECTION,

THE AIR FORCE GROUNDS
ALMOST 300 OF THEM INDEFINITELY.

Grant: AERODYNAMICISTS
RATE FIGHTERS

FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS,

AND AFTER THAT,
ALL THE UPGRADES IN THE WORLD

DON'T GIVE YOU THE STRUCTURAL
STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE

THAT YOU HAVE
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAS

ONLY A FEW THOUSAND HOURS ON IT.

Narrator: THE F-15 MAY BE
THE TOUGHEST FIGHTER ON EARTH,

BUT IRONICALLY,

ITS HIGH STANDARDS HAVE PAVED
THE WAY FOR ITS OWN DEMISE.

APRIL 1997.

MARIETTA, GEORGIA.

AT THE LOCKHEED MARTIN
ASSEMBLY PLANT,

THE AIR FORCE UNVEILS ITS
LATEST WEAPON: THE F-22 RAPTOR.

Grant: SO THE DECISION
TO START RESEARCH ON THE F-22

WAS REALLY TO CONTINUE
THE F-15 TRADITION

OF HAVING A DOMINANT
AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER

THAT WAS
FAR BETTER THAN ANYTHING

THE SOVIET UNION
OR ANYONE ELSE COULD FIELD.

JUST AS THE F-15 HAD
IMPROVED COCKPIT AVIONICS,

THE F-22 TOOK THIS
EVEN A STEP FURTHER,

WITH INTEGRATED DISPLAYS
IN THE COCKPIT.

THE F-22 ALSO HAD
MORE INTERNAL FUEL CARRIAGE

AND INTERNAL
WEAPONS CARRIAGE.

Anderegg: THE F-22 BRINGS
TO THE TABLE A NEW AIRFRAME,

EVEN MORE MANEUVERABLE,
MORE AGILE THAN THE F-15,

BUT IT ALSO HAS LOW
OBSERVABLE STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT
FOR OTHER RADARS TO SEE IT.

Narrator: THE F-22'S
TECHNOLOGY IS IMPRESSIVE,

BUT IT COMES AT A COST.

A WHOPPING $412 MILLION
FOR EACH F-22,

OVER 10 TIMES
AS MUCH AS AN F-15.

THE UNITED STATES IS SLOWLY
PHASING THE F-15 OUT OF SERVICE,

BUT ORDERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

HAVE THE PRODUCTION LINE
RUNNING UNTIL 2019.

THERE ARE STILL OVER 1,200 F-15s
IN SERVICE ALL OVER THE WORLD--

INCLUDING THE U.S.,
SAUDI ARABIA,

ISRAEL, JAPAN, AND KOREA.

Grant: THE F-15 REMAINS
A CORNERSTONE

OF EVERY AIR FORCE
THAT'S EVER BOUGHT IT.

IT'S STILL A HUGE PART
OF AIR SUPERIORITY.

Narrator:
IT'S THE MOST DOMINANT FIGHTER

THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN,

AND IT LEAVES
A POWERFUL LEGACY.

Grant: THE LEGACY OF THE F-15
IS THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT WE MUST NEVER COMPROMISE
ON AIR SUPERIORITY.

Anderegg:
TO DATE, THE F-15 HAS ACHIEVED

104 AERIAL VICTORIES OR KILLS
AGAINST OTHER AIRPLANES,

AND IT HAS NEVER LOST,
SO ITS KILL RATIO IS 104:0.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED
IN AERIAL WARFARE.

Narrator: THE F-15
IS LIKE NO OTHER FIGHTER

THAT CAME BEFORE IT--

MORE VERSATILE AND MORE DEADLY.

IT BLAZED THE WAY
FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

TO BECOME THE MOST LETHAL
AIR-FIGHTING FORCE

ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH,

AND IT GAVE ITS ALLIES
A SHOT AT POWER, TOO.

UNTIL ANOTHER PLANE PROVES

FASTER, STRONGER,
OR MORE DEADLY,

THE F-15 REMAINS
THE KING OF THE SKIES.