The F-15I Ra'am is the export version of the Boeing (formerly McDonnell-Douglas) F-15E that is in
current use by Israeli Defense Force / Heyl Ha’Avir (Israeli Air Force). It began service
with the IAF in January of 1998 and was designated the F-15I Ra’am (Thunder).
The F-15E was chosen by the Israel Air Force in January of 1994 to be used as their primary
fighter aircraft. While externally very similar to the US F-15E, the F-15I incorporates
numerous changes necessary for use as part of the IAF.
This Web Site
provides an in-depth look at the history as well as the capabilities and development of the aircraft.
Thanks Joe!
Just to show that there are some really nice guys left in the world I'd like to point out
that I didn't buy the kit or any of the aftermarket parts for this model, except for the CAM
exhausts. I'm building an
F-105D for a man and during our email conversations I mentioned that I wanted to do
an F-15I at some point. I came home one day to find the kit on my deck and the aftermarket
stuff showed up a couple of weeks later (except for the AIM-120's which were included with his
F-105 shipment). Needless to say I was stunned and grateful. Thanks,
Joe! This one is really going to look good when it's done!
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CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS AND NOTES |
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November 19, 2005 -- I haven't even started this model yet and I'm already scared! The
IsraDecal Decals will be a daunting
task to say the least. If I counted right (and I would be surprised if I did!) there
are 878 decals on three sheets. This does include three sets of numbers, many of
which won't be used once I decide on an aircraft number, but even without them there are
around 850 decals to place. The set is so complete that even the panel ID numbers
are included. There are ten pages of decal instructions and 2 pages of painting
instructions. I was also given a set of Cutting Edge and Sky's The Limit decals
for F-15I's so I have enough decals to spend a couple of months just doing them.
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| Aircraft Name: |
McDonnell-Douglas F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) |
| Aircraft Category: | Two-seat Attack Aircraft |
| Wing Span: | 44.3' |
| Overall Length: | 63.7' |
| Height: | 18.5' |
| Empty Weight: | 31,700 lbs |
| Gross Weight: | 81,020 lbs |
| Engine: | Two F100-PW-229 Pratt and Whitney turbofan engines with afterburning |
| Thrust: | 29,000 (afterburning) pounds each |
| Speed: | Mach 2.5 |
| Range: | 2,765 mi |
| Ceiling: | 60,000 ft |
| Date Of First Flight: | (F-15I) September 12, 1997 |
| Date Deployed: | (F-15I) November 6, 1997 |
| REFERENCES AND MY THANKS TO ... |
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