Could the F-15 fighter fly into space if it had a pilot oxygen mask?
The oxygen mask covers but one of many problems you would encounter. Firstly you’d have to reach space. The highest altitude reached by an F-15 was 102,900 feet by an F-15A, named ‘Streak Eagle’. It was stripped of all paint and unnecessary weight, and took off with just 2,600lbs of fuel on board. The jet was bolted to the runway by a chain, and run up to full afterburner. An explosive charge severed the chain from the jet, and it took off. At around 65,000 feet the afterburners flamed out, and at 102,000 feet the engines themselves stalled from lack of air. The aircraft peaked at 102,900 feet, then began a glide back to earth. The pilot started the engines again once below 65,000 feet, and cruised back in for a landing. Look at www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/outdoor/od12.htm for more information. Secondly, the human body needs ambient air pressure around it. While the cabin of an F-15 is pressurised, the pressurisation equipment needs air to pump into the cabin. At high altitudes there would
