F-15 crash raises questions about America's aging fighter fleet

Posted on: Nov. 6th, 2007 || Source: stltoday.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The Air Force has stopped all noncombat F-15 flights after a crash Friday in southern Missouri, raising anew questions about the military's aging fighter fleet.

The accident remains under investigation, but preliminary findings point to "a possible structural failure" of the aircraft, Air Force officials said. And they ordered a suspension of nonessential F-15 operations while they look for answers.

The St. Louis-built planes will still fly combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they have been used extensively. But years of heavy use are starting to take a toll on the planes, many of which are more than two decades old, analysts and military officials say.

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