Hobby Master 1/72 HA4557 Douglas F-15C Desert Flanker Scheme 78-0517, 57th Wing, 65th Aggressor Sqn., 2012

In 1967 the U.S. became aware of the Soviet MiG-25 Foxbat. This made it necessary to develop a new aircraft to counter the MiG-25. The USAF rejected the USN F-14 Tomcat and issued its own requirements. The solution came in the form of the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle. The F-15A made its inaugural flight in July 1972 and in January 1976 the first Eagle entered service. The "E" entered service in 1989. The F-15 was the first dedicated USAF air superiority fighter since the F-86 Sabre.

The 65th Aggressor Squadron was activated in October 1975 at Nellis AFB, Nevada but was disbanded in 1989 only to be reactivated in 2005 equipped the squadron with F-15C and D. At full strength the 65th AGRS had an inventory of 19 F-15C and F-15D Eagles. On September 26, 2014 the 65th AGRS was once again subject to budget cuts and disbanded. F-15C 78-0517 c/n 504 was transferred the 422nd Test & Evaluation Sqn/53rd Test & Evaluation Group also located at Nellis AFB.