1/72 F-15C Eagle U.S. ANG 173rd Fighter Wing 2020 (78-0543)

F-15C 78-0543 is assigned to the 114th FS "Eager Beavers" and on January 7, 2020 at Kingsley Field ANG Base, Klamath Falls, Oregon it was unveiled wearing its new paint scheme. The scheme commemorates the heroic actions of David R. Kingsley, bombardier on B-17 "Sandman" during a raid over Ploesti, Romania. The B-17 was hit and falling and everyone was baling out. Kingsley spotted the wounded tail-gunner whose parachute was missing so Kingsley gave the gunner his own parachute. Kingsley died and 75 years later is being honored for his supreme sacrifice with this special scheme.

Designed to meet US Air Force requirements for an air superiority fighter to replace the F-4 Phantom, the F-15 Eagle first flew on July 27, 1972. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's design in 1969 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. Since entering service in 1976, it is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Israeli Air Force.

Features:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Selected moving parts such as canopies, control surfaces and swing-wings.
• Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.