The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter, first flew on July 27, 1972. It is one of the most successful and widely used modern fighter aircraft, serving with the US Air Force and several allies. The F-15 has been used in numerous conflicts and has a remarkable combat record.

The F-15 Eagle, with its powerful engines and sleek design, became a symbol of American air superiority in the post-Vietnam era. It has been celebrated in poems and stories as the ultimate fighter, representing a 'killer' in the sky. Its reputation was solidified during the Gulf War, and it became a subject of many modern aviation poems.