F-15s return to flying status

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Capt. Glenn Gonzales, an F-15 Eagle pilot with the 71st Fighter Squadron, checks to see if his wingman, Lt. Col. Robert Garland, 71st FS commander, is ready the start engines Jan. 9. After a month-long stand-down, the 71st launched the first of their F-15C fleet Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers)

First F-15s return to the skies

Published Jan. 9, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- Eagle drivers from the 71st Fighter Squadron here were among the first pilots to get back in the cockpit after Air Combat Command commander Gen. John D. W. Corley ordered 60 percent of F-15A-Ds back into the air.

Lt. Col. Robert Garland, 71st FS commander, was the first Ironman to fly the F-15 since the standdown of the F-15 fleet in December.

"The Eagle's been tied to the cage for a little while," Colonel Garland said. "It's time to go out and get back to business."

Colonel Garland led five of his pilots, three instructor pilots and two supervisors, in the first sortie, allowing the flyers to regain their currency in landing, aircraft handling and basic fighter maneuvers.

"One of the things we're concerned with now that we're back in the air is getting our proficiency back as quickly as possible," he said. "It's important to fly as much as you can every week and every month, from our young guys, our most inexperienced to our old guys."

Pilots weren't the only Ironmen proud to see the F-15 return to flight. The maintainers responsible for keeping the Eagle airworthy were glad to see it take to the air again.

"It feels totally awesome," said Master Sgt. Jeffrey Carter, 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit production superintendent. "After sitting down so long, to get our Eagles back in the air is definitely an experience."

Sergeant Carter said the F-15 maintainers never doubted this day would come and were prepared for it.

"We maintained our standards all along," he said. "All of us still have faith in the Eagle. She's proven herself so many times. She's still fit to fight. It's great to get our birds back in the air. Flying is what we do."

Colonel Garland said the 71st FS trained as well as they could with simulators and academics, but nothing can compare to actually flying.

"You hit a bunch of ball on the range, you spend a bunch of time in the batting cage, but at some time you have to get back on the field," he said. "So we've trained and prepared for that with good simulator use, with good academic preparation and a lot of good gym time focusing on physical fitness. But now it's time to step up to the plate and get back in the game."