The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, after more than 25 years of service, was still the U.S. Air Force's premier fighter as the year 2000 approached. The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models were followed by the two-seat, dual-role F-15E "Strike Eagle," the world's most technologically advanced fighter. With increased payload capacity, the F-15E flew for the first time on Dec. 11, 1986. The F-15E Strike Eagle can fly higher than 50,000 feet at more than Mach 2.5. It can fly air-to-air, air-to-ground, long-range, day or night missions, in any kind of weather.