Hello, Killer. We're thrilled to offer up a significant piece of American airpower history – tags cut from a wing pylon removed from F-15A Eagle 71-0285, one of the 12 test Eagles built. This aircraft was also known as “Killer” and was painted blue and white.
We often follow leads when sourcing material, and occasionally people reach out to us with material they’d like to see tagged; but digging at the boneyards is my favorite method for finding this stuff. I was rummaging around a yard earlier this year and noticed the front end of a weapons/wing pylon next to some drop tanks. This part that had been there for years, and I probably stepped over it a hundred times. It was big, and my first thought was a teener of some flavor. After moving some items out of the way and getting dirty, I found several blue USAF serial numbers stenciled on it (71-0285). The data plate confirmed it's Eagle origins and a google search revealed these pylons belonged to Killer. I was over the moon… and then a few minutes later I found its pair – the other pylon with the same stencils! This aircraft now is now used for radar testing with its pylons removed. It is unknown when these pylons were paird with and then separated from the aircraft, but the multiple Eagle gurus we asked suggest they were stenciled during the jet's time at McDonnell.
Tags for this release were cut from one of these inboard wing pylons, and the other will remain complete. Pylons are heavy and structurally complex components. This tag was a difficult one but it is such an honor to add this Eagle to our line-up.
Killer:
Equipped with an internal 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun, a variety of air-to-air missiles, and a "look-down / shoot-down" radar system, the F-15 Eagle marked the United States Air Force's return to a dedicated, single-seat, all-weather air-superiority fighter since the North American F-86 Sabre.
Emerging in the 1960s amid the evolving demand for a next-generation tactical aircraft, McDonnell Douglas developed twelve experimental prototypes of the Eagle, each tailored for specific testing objectives.
Among these prototypes was the F-15A-3, 71-0285, aka, "KILLER," serving as a testbed within the F-15 joint test force at Edwards Air Force Base from 1973 to 1976. It played a pivotal role in evaluating avionics systems, missile firing controls, and fighter control capabilities.
The inaugural production model was delivered to the USAF on November 13, 1974. Renowned for its versatile avionics suite, a combat record boasting 104 air-to-air victories with zero losses, exceptional maneuverability, and the demonstrated ability to maintain controlled flight with heavy battle damage, the airframe stands as a testament to aerospace innovation and superiority.
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Our F-15A Killer tags are offered in 7 variants and every one is on point: White Laser Etched, White Printed (blue/black printed design), White Rivets, White Thick (.25” thick!), Stencil (cut from the blue 71-0285 stencils), Titanium, and Vertical Stab. Also available 2 sets: A full set (one of each), and an Eagle Set that includes a White Riveted tag + a Vertical Stab tag.
The Vertical Stab tags are a scaled down F-15A vertical stab and come with a full color printed front and a fully laser etched back! There are a very limited number of stabs available. The white on these tags is the original exterior paint.
Most of the tags are White laser etched and printed. All other variants are very limited. LIMIT OF 1 Stencil and 1 Titanium tag per customer.
These tags come on a card by BVR.
Only 300 tags were cut from this pylon and they are some of the best we’ve ever done.