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This NASA F-15 was the first aircraft to demonstrate a fully integrated inlet-engine-flight control system, a self-repairing flight control system, and a propulsion-only flight control system. The F-15 was designed as a single-seat, twin-engine air superiority fighter by McDonnell Aircraft Co., McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri. The F-15 is normally powered by two Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-100 or 220 engines, depending on the model. The NASA F-15 was equipped with advanced versions of the F100 -- F100 EMD (engine model derivative). The aircraft was capable of flying more than twice the speed of sound. The F-15 is 63.75 feet long and has a wingspan of 42.83 feet. This NASA F-15 was extensively modified for research activities and did not carry any armament.

NASA's F-15B research testbed jet from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center flew in the supersonic shockwave of a Northrop-Grumman Corp. - modified U.S. Navy F-5E jet in support of the Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration (SSBD) project, which is part of the DARPA's Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) program.

On August 27, 2003, the F-5 SSBD aircraft demonstrated a method to reduce the intensity of sonic booms.The project is an effort to lessen sonic booms.

During the recent demonstration, the F-15B flew behind the modified F-5E sonic boom demonstrator aircraft in order to measure the aircraft's sonic boom characteristics.

Flying behind and below the F-5E, and using its specially-instrumented nose boom, the F-15B recorded many shockwave patterns from the F-5E at various distances and orientations from the aircraft.

NASA F-15 835 was a unique one-of-a-kind aircraft called the F-15 Flight Research Facility. It was highly instrumented and equipped with an integrated digital electronic flight control system. It could be flown over a broad flight envelope to carry out complex and sophisticated research projects.