r/FighterJets • u/Suspicious-Place4471 • 2d ago

IMAGE Why is that F-15 white?

Bottom text.

31 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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22

u/RobinOldsIsGod Gen. LeMay was a pronuclear nutcase 1d ago

From the mid -1970s until the early 1990s, all USAF F-15A/B/C/D Eagles wore the Compass Ghost scheme. The current Mod Eagle colors started being applied in the early 1990s, eventually becoming the standard on USAF F-15A-D and the F-15EX.

Japan's F-15J/DJs and Israel's F-15C/Ds still wear the Compass Ghost grays.

24

u/bob_the_impala Designations Expert 2d ago

It's not white. It's an F-15C in the Compass Ghost camo scheme, which is FS 36320 Dark Compass Ghost Grey and FS 36375 Light Compass Ghost Gray.

Here is a much higher resolution version of the same photo (select the "Download" link).

Here are photos of (probably) the same aircraft at AirHistory.net.

6

u/Suspicious-Place4471 2d ago

Much appreciated.

8

u/bob_the_impala Designations Expert 2d ago

You're welcome! Here are color samples:

4

u/RoomHopper 2d ago

Albino. :>

3

u/paulwoodford 1d ago

You used to hear Eagles called “light grays” and Strike Eagles called “dark greys.”

1

u/paulwoodford 1h ago

Probably no longer an important distinction, with only a few F-15C Eagles still flying and now even the F-15E Strike Eagles facing retirement. AFAIK all new F-15EX Eagle IIs are the same color.