An Experimental F-15 STOL/MTD Could Take Off at 42 MPH and Land in 1,650 Feet — The Standard F-15 Needs 7,500 Feet

An Experimental F-15 STOL/MTD Could Take Off at 42 MPH and Land in 1,650 Feet — The Standard F-15 Needs 7,500 Feet

The F-15 STOL/MTD, and later the F-15 ACTIVE, were among the most unusual Eagle variants ever built. Experimental platforms, operated by NASA and the USAF, these specialized F-15s were used to test thrust vectoring, ultra-short takeoffs, and future fighter maneuverability concepts at a time when Soviet fears motivated technological expansion. F-15 STOL/MTD: Origins of the Program During the Cold War, the US and its allies were concerned about th…