F-15D Eagle 1:72 Die Cast Model, "N897NA," NASA, 2011, by Hobby Master HA4503

In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre. NASA had asked for replacements for their aging 1976 F-15B and what they got were three 1978 and 1979 F-15Ds, they had been hoping for newer than that. F-15D 79-0007 c/n 0577/D018 was delivered to the USAF August 25, 1980 before arriving at the Dryden Flight Research Center on September 11, 2010 and given the civil registration of N897NA. All three replacements were former 325FW aircraft based at Tyndall AFB, Florida. The F-15Ds had all their military equipment removed and were tasked with flight research and mission support.