hhmmm...not just the C/Ds models got grounded....
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/05/f15.grounding/index.html
updated 8:25 p.m. EST, Mon November 5, 2007
Air Force grounds F-15s in
Afghanistan after Missouri crash
Story Highlights
F-15Es can fly only in emergency situations to protect troops,
official says
F-15 models grounded after crash in Missouri
Plane fell apart and the pilot ejected; the crash cause is under
investigation
Fighter, attack and bomber aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles
will fill gap
Next Article in U.S. »
From Mike Mount
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A mandatory grounding of Air Force F-15s has
been expanded to cover those flying combat missions over
Afghanistan after a crash in Missouri last week, Air Force
officials said Monday.
The F-15Es in Afghanistan can fly only in emergency situations to
protect U.S. and coalition troops in a battle, according to Maj.
John Elolf, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force Central
Command.
Maj. Cristin Marposon, an Air Force spokeswoman, told The
Associated Press the country's fleet of 676 F-15s, including
mission critical jets, was grounded on November 3 for
"airworthiness concerns" after the crash of an older model F-15C on
Friday.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but Air Force
officials said it was a structural failure and the plane broke
apart in flight.
A spokeswoman for Boeing, the aircraft's manufacturer, told AP the
company was cooperating with the Air Force but could not provide
additional comment because of the pending investigation.
Col. Robert Leeker, commander of the 131st Fighter Wing, said
Friday the plane had been among four planes split into pairs and
were engaging in one-on-one training flights in which speeds of 400
to 450 mph are typical, according to AP.
A pilot, a 10-year veteran of the guard whose name and rank were
not released, safely ejected from the aircraft when it crashed in
Dent County, Missouri, AP reported. The pilot suffered a dislocated
shoulder, a broken arm and minor cuts and bruises.
Now only "mission critical" F-15s will fly.
Pentagon officials said the U.S. Navy has had to move the only
aircraft carrier in the region from the Persian Gulf to the North
Arabian Sea to fill mission gaps for the F-15s.
Several dozen F/A-18 fighters from the aircraft carrier USS
Enterprise will fly missions with other Air Force aircraft to fill
mission gaps.
The F-15E Strike Eagle is an air-to-ground and air-to-air fighter,
making it more versatile than other F-15 models, which are used for
only air-to-air missions.
The Strike Eagle is used in Afghanistan in its air to ground role,
dropping bombs on targets with its advanced sensors.
"The U.S. Air Force maintains assigned F-15E Strike Eagles on
ground alert and will accomplish all assigned missions with a
variety of fighter, attack and bomber aircraft, and unmanned aerial
vehicles, under my command and control during this period," Lt.
Gen. Gary L. North, commander of the U.S. Central Command's
Combined Forces Air Component, said in a statement Monday.
The single-seat F-15C is one of the older models in the Air Force's
fleet of 700 F-15s which entered service in 1979.
The Air Force's top aircraft, the stealthy F-22 Raptor, is newly
operational for the air service and has not yet been deployed in
combat.
The expensive F-22 will eventually be the main fighter jet for the
Air Force, but budgetary restrictions on the plane have forced the
Air Force to cut the number of planes it will have in the
fleet.
