The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has added one of the most celebrated fighter jets in modern military aviation to its collection – the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle. This marks the very first F-15 to be officially accessioned by the Smithsonian, and it has now taken its place at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, after arriving there on 13 August.
Michael Hankins, modern military curator at the museum, noted the importance of this milestone: “We are thrilled to accept the F-15C into the museum’s collection. The Eagle is one of the most iconic American fighter aircraft of the last 50 years, and this particular F-15 has powerful stories to tell.”
Designed as an air-superiority fighter for the U.S. Air Force, the F-15 series is universally regarded as one of the most successful jet fighters ever built. The twin-engine aircraft boasts a top speed of Mach 2.5 and a legendary combat record: more than 100 enemy aircraft shot down and not a single Eagle lost in air-to-air combat.
This particular F-15C holds a proud operational history. While flying it during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, then-U.S. Air Force captain Cesar “Rico” Rodriguez achieved two confirmed aerial victories against Iraqi MiG fighters while flying for the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing. Eight years later, in a different F-15, he added a third kill during Operation Allied Force, making him one of only four U.S. pilots since 1972 to achieve three aerial victories – and the closest any American has come to ace status since the Vietnam War.
The arrival of this F-15C Eagle at the Udvar-Hazy Center ensures that its legacy – and Rodriguez’s – will continue to inspire visitors and aviation enthusiasts for years to come.
The National Air and Space Museum’s main building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Udvar-Hazy facility in Chantilly are open daily from 10:00 to 17:30, except on 25 December. Admission is free, though parking at Udvar-Hazy carries a $15 fee.
