Get ahead of the curve

[tinlail]

Israeli is looking for a new longer range version of the F-15E
http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/003831.html

So where would you put more gas in this plane?

[elmayerle]

Well, besides the FASTPACs, I'm not sure where it could easily be placed, save perhaps as a conformal tank, in place of a drop tank, on the fuselage center line and that'd take some care.  I'd probably also go for hotter engines under those circumstances.

[gooberliberation]

perhaps a hunchback, eliminating the airbrake

[MartG]

perhaps a hunchback

No, just hire dwarf pilots, leaving space in the cockpit for more fuel

OK, I'll get my coat.....

[B777LR]

I doubt that they will go for more F15s, Its only a short time ago since they chose the F16I over the F15.

[anthonyp]

They use both the F-15I and F-16I.  Compared to the F-15I, the F-16I can't carry as much as far, and if Israel wants to bomb the snot out of someone far away, they can do it with less F-15I's than -16I's.  As the article states, they're looking for insurance against delays in the JSF program.

As for more fuel, I got nothing, save putting overwing tanks on it like the Lightning.

[B777LR]

a single question from me:
During the terrorist attacks on mombasa, kenya, a El Al Boeing 737 was also attacked, and ive heard rumours that the israeli air force sent fighters and a tanker to intercaept it and escort it to israel. Is this true?

[tinlail]

I like a big conformal tank on the belly, the only other notion I had was a extending the fuselage behind the cockpit.

[Jschmus]

Weren't they looking at putting different wings on the F-15 at one point?  I've seen concept art of an F-15 with Raptor-style wings.  The illustration might've even had IDF markings, I don't remember exactly.

[elmayerle]

Weren't they looking at putting different wings on the F-15 at one point?  I've seen concept art of an F-15 with Raptor-style wings.  The illustration might've even had IDF markings, I don't remember exactly.

Well, the pictures I've seen seem to show wings that are a blend of YF-22 and F-15 wings, at least that's the way I intend to model them.

For the Israelis, I'd imagine any changes made would be ones that could be done at a comparatively minimal cost impact.  One reason I suggested the under-fuselage conformal tank in conjunction with the FASTPACs.

[Sentinel Chicken]

Would it be possible to make the FAST packs deeper (top to bottom) while keeping the same width? I can't see why this couldn't work out as the landing gear is directly below the engine nacelles and not in the way and by keeping the same width, it won't interfere with the wing stores pylon.

They'd probably have to beef up the structure that the FAST packs attach to. That'd probably be one way to avoid extensive structural mods.  

[B777LR]

According to flight international, the israeli air force are evaluating modifications to the F15Is. A range increase is being evaluated, by increasing the size of the conformal fuel tanks. Possible changes to the current wing (no, you wont see F-22 wings on F15s, just modified wings), and israel is still evaluating the purchase of more F15s.  

[tinlail]

So that would mean my f-15xl plane isn't going to happen?

[GTX]

Though, I'm sure they won't go this way, how about a larger conformal tank underneath (in addition to the FASTPACs) similar to this proposal for the F-4:



or something crude like the tank fitted to some Gloster Meteors:



Regards,

Greg

[rallymodeller]

In the anime movie "Patlabor 2" there were some interesting "future" fighters (considering it's supposed to take place in 2004), including an F-15 variant which looked like a cross between the Agile Eagle and the YF-23, and an F-2 variant with X-31-style exhaust paddles and F-22-style tail surfaces. If I can dig up some pics I'll post them...