The skies above Florida recently bore witness to a momentous occasion for the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, as Lt. Col. Joel “Thermo” Thesing, an F-15C instructor pilot from the 123rd Fighter Squadron, became the unit’s first aviator to take the controls of the highly anticipated F-15EX fighter jet. This inaugural flight marks a significant step forward as the 142nd Wing prepares to transition its fleet to this next variant of the Boeing F-15.
The training mission took place at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where five F-15C instructor pilots from the 123rd Fighter Squadron are currently undergoing a two-week intensive training program on the F-15EX. They are receiving instruction from experienced pilots of the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, a unit that was tasked to evaluate and integrate the F-15EX into the Air Force inventory.
Lieutenant Colonel Thesing acknowledged the initial learning curve associated with mastering the new aircraft. “The initial work will take a lot of studying and practice to get the basics of flying the aircraft down and learning its systems,” he said. “That process has a steep learning curve, and never really ends for as long as you’re a pilot.” However, he expressed his excitement for the future, looking forward to when the focus can shift “from how to fly the EX, to how to employ it tactically.”
The F-15EX program is a product of a long-term commitment by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to modernize its fighter jet fleet. In July 2020, the USAF awarded Boeing a nearly $1.2 billion contract for the first eight F-15EX aircraft. This initial order included not only the jets themselves but also support and training materials, spare parts, and technical data. This move marked a significant step towards bringing the F-15EX into active service.
The Air National Guard plans to equip the 142nd Wing with a total of 18 F-15EX jets, with the first scheduled to arrive at their Portland, Oregon base this summer. This transition represents a major modernization effort for the Air National Guard, enhancing its overall combat readiness and ensuring its ability to effectively defend American airspace.
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