F-15C Eagle

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Originally a part of the aircraft selection in LOMAC, the F-15C was ported over to DCS through the FC3 package.

Just like the other FC3 planes, the F-15C is more designed to be controlled through a standardised set of keyboard shortcuts than through any kind of advanced set of peripherals, nor does it feature an interactive “clicky” cockpit.

Features

Conceived as a response to the perceived threat of the MiG-25, and designed as an air-superiority focused complement to the multirole F-16, the F-15 is highly adapted to the task of patrolling the air and lobbing missiles at all kinds of aircraft. While it may change as more capabilities are added to the F/A-18C module, for the longest time, the F-15C was the only western aircraft that could stand up to the MiG-29 and Su-27/-33. It features:

• A highly competent radar with track-while-scan capability.
• The universally (by redfor) hated AMRAAM that can be pickled-off in droves against multiple TWS targets at once.
• A cute little RWR that does not help when the main opposition uses passive IR tracking.
• More thrust than is really reasonable.

Comes with the built-in campaign F-15C - Bear Trap.

Flying the F-15C

Cockpit overview

Getting into the air

The process of getting the F-15C into the air is the same as with all FC3 aircraft:

• Make sure you have loaded the correct weapons.
  (This can only be done with the canopy open and engines off, press LAlt' to open the outfitting menu.)
• RShiftL to turn the power on.
• LCtrlC to open or close the canopy, as needed.
• RShiftHome to start both engine at the same time.
  (RShiftEnd stops both engines; RAlt/RCtrl + Home/End starts and stops the left and right engines individually.)
• Wait for the engines to spool up and stabilise.
• Num+/Num- controls the throttle; increase it carefully to get going and do not go too fast.
  (W controls wheel brakes; be particularly careful when turning since doing it at high speed will make you tip over, scrape your wings, catch fire, explode and — worst of all — become the subject of innumerable screen shots.)
• Use Z and X to control nosewheel steering (and also rudder) to make your way to the runway and line up.
• LShiftF lowers the flaps — they should be in the middle position for takeoff.
• Throttle up to max and try to stay in a straight line as you barrel down the runway.
• Pull back gently to take off.
• Raise landing gears with LCtrlG; raise flaps with LCtrlF.
  (You can generally use G and F to simply toggle gears and flaps, but as a rule during take-off you do not want to accidentally lower them, loose speed, wobble around, and inevitably crash into the ground, so using the specific “raise” binds is a bit safer.)

Shooting something

HUD in TWS mode.

Radar in TWS mode.

• Press 2 to enter BFR master mode.
• Press D to select a missile type.
• Turn on radar (I key).
  (RAltI and RShiftI can be used to change the tracking mode and frequency.)
• Use the ;, ,, . and / keys to move the TDC around — the radar scan zone will follow.
  (Moving the TDC off the radar screen at the top will increase range; at the bottom will decrease it; RShift; and RShift. to angle the search zone up and down.)
• Once a target has been detected, move the TDC over it and press Enter to lock it up.
  (In TWS, this designates a target and allows AMRAAM shots. To enter the STT mode needed for other weapons, lock up the same target a second time, or use a different radar mode.)
• On the left side of the HUD, bars will indicate the range and launch zone of the selected weapon, and the radar and HUD will show a growing steering circle (ASE) as launch conditions improve.
• Manoeuvre to keep the steering cue within the ASE and to get the range cue inside acceptable parameters.
• Once in range, the canopy arch lights will light up — press RAltSpace to fire.
  (If using the semi-active AIM-7, you must maintain STT lock-on until the target is hit.)

Once in the merge, you will probably want to switch to one of the close-range master modes, like VS mode (press 3), BORE mode (4) or VISUAL/FLOOD mode (6).

Add-ons and files

Related DCS modules

• F-15C Aggressors BFM campaign.
• F‑15C 16‑2 Red Flag campaign.
• F-15C The Georgian War campaign.

More information

• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle on wikpedia.
• F-15 Eagle Fighter on globalsecurity.org