10/4/2005 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- The two newest F-15 Eagles off the Boeing production line in St. Louis are on their way to South Korea.
South Korea Air Force officials purchased 40 fighters from Boeing for $4.2 billion, and the first two stopped here Oct. 2 on their way to Seoul.
“We have been coordinating with Pacific Air Forces to get us over to South Korea,” said Ed Wilson, a Boeing test pilot who has been planning this delivery mission for eight months.
“It all came together at the last moment. We worked hard to put it all together.”
KC-135 Stratotankers from the Hawaii Air National Guard will refuel the two fighters on their way to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where they will stop before arriving in South Korea.
Boeing test pilots and South Korean fighter pilots took the first two F-15s through a number of performance tests on their way to Hawaii.
South Korea Air Force Maj. Young Su Lee said he likes what the new F-15 brings to his Air Force.
“The South Korean Air Force will now have a jet to extend our operation limits, and have precision attack for long distances,” he said. “It will enhance our operation between the (South Korea) Air Force and the U.S. Air Force.”
This K-model F-15 is compatible with other South Korea Air Force systems as well as U.S. assets in the region. The K-model version packs all the latest avionics capabilities available on the market.
This newest version of the F-15 will make its debut at the South Korean Air Show in late October.
