F-15C Cockpit Instruments
The F-15C cockpit is organized around three combat references: the HUD, the Vertical Situation Display (VSD), and the Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) display. Engine, navigation, fuel, armament, and countermeasure instruments are grouped below and around those displays so the pilot can cross-check aircraft state while staying focused on the fight.
Cockpit Panel Index
| No. | Instrument | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multi-Purpose Color Display (MPCD) | Weapon, gun, countermeasure, and external tank status |
| 2 | Indicated Airspeed and Mach Indicator | IAS in knots and Mach number |
| 3 | Vertical Situation Display (VSD) | Radar, datalink, and target information |
| 4 | Attitude Director Indicator (ADI) | Pitch, bank, turn, and slip reference |
| 5 | Vertical Velocity Indicator (VVI) | Climb or descent rate |
| 6 | Barometric Altimeter | Pressure altitude in feet |
| 7 | Fan Turbine Inlet Temperature (FTIT) | Engine temperature |
| 8 | Tachometer | Engine RPM percentage |
| 9 | Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) | Radar warning and ECM state |
| 10 | Fuel Quantity Indicator | Internal, external, and total fuel |
| 11 | Chaff and Flare Indicators | Countermeasure dispense and low-count state |
| 12 | Landing Gear Handle | Gear command |
| 13 | Landing Gear Position Indicator | Gear locked/down status |
| 14 | Angle of Attack Indicator | AoA units for maneuvering and landing |
| 15 | Accelerometer | Current and recorded G-load |
| 16 | Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) | Heading, course, bearing, and waypoint distance |
| 17 | Aircraft Clock | Time reference |
| 18 | Engine Fuel Flow Indicator | Fuel flow per engine |
| 19 | Engine Nozzle Position Indicator | Exhaust nozzle opening |
| 20 | Cabin Pressure Gauge | Equivalent cabin altitude |
| 21 | Warning Light Panel | System warning annunciators |
Combat Displays
Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
The VSD is the F-15C radar display. It shows the radar search volume, target returns, lock state, and target details used for beyond-visual-range employment. Radar procedures and symbology are covered in the radar chapter.
Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS)
The TEWS display is the pilot's radar warning display. It presents radar emitters around the aircraft symbol, prioritizes the most dangerous threat, and shows missile launch indications and ECM status.
Multi-Purpose Color Display / Weapons Control Panel
The MPCD is the F-15C's weapon status panel. It shows external tank state, selected weapon category, missile readiness, gun ammunition, and remaining chaff and flares.
The tank line uses L, C, and R for the left, centerline, and right external stations. A station with a mounted tank shows FUEL; an empty tank pylon shows PYLON. Gun ammunition is shown on the left side and normally counts down in increments of 10 while firing.
Missiles are grouped as SRM for short-range missiles such as AIM-9 and MRM for medium-range missiles such as AIM-7 and AIM-120. The selected missile station displays RDY; other missiles of the same category remain in STBY. CHF and FLR show remaining chaff and flares.
Flight Instruments
Indicated Airspeed and Mach
The airspeed and Mach indicator is mounted to the right of the MPCD. The fixed scale reads indicated airspeed from 50 to 1000 knots. The Mach pointer becomes useful above roughly 200 knots.
Angle of Attack Indicator
The AoA indicator shows angle of attack in F-15 units, not geometric degrees. Use it during approach, slow-speed maneuvering, and high-AoA recovery. For landing, the normal target is about 20 to 22 units.
Accelerometer
The accelerometer shows current G-load and records the maximum positive and negative G reached during the sortie. Treat it as a structural health cross-check after aggressive maneuvering.
Attitude Director Indicator
The ADI provides pitch and bank attitude. Pitch markings are spaced in 5-degree increments, and bank markings are spaced in 10-degree increments. The lower turn-and-slip indicator shows whether the aircraft is coordinated in the turn.
Horizontal Situation Indicator
The HSI overlays aircraft heading, selected course, course deviation, bearing to the selected steerpoint, and distance to the steerpoint in nautical miles. Use it as the primary backup reference when HUD steering is unavailable.
Barometric Altimeter
The altimeter combines a pointer and a drum counter. The drum displays altitude in feet while the pointer provides fine altitude reference. Local pressure setting changes the indicated altitude.
Vertical Velocity Indicator
The VVI shows climb or descent rate in thousands of feet per minute. Clockwise movement indicates climb; counter-clockwise movement indicates descent.
Engine and Fuel Instruments
Tachometer
The paired tachometers show left and right engine RPM as a percentage. Use them during engine start, taxi, takeoff checks, and throttle cross-checks.
Fan Turbine Inlet Temperature
The FTIT gauges show engine temperature in hundreds of degrees Celsius. A needle entering the red range indicates excessive turbine temperature and requires throttle reduction.
Engine Fuel Flow
The fuel flow gauges show left and right engine fuel flow in pounds per hour. They are useful for detecting asymmetric engine behavior and estimating endurance.
Engine Nozzle Position
The nozzle gauges show exhaust nozzle opening percentage relative to fully open. Nozzle position changes with engine power and afterburner operation.
Fuel Quantity
The fuel quantity indicator shows internal fuel with the pointer and total fuel with the lower digital counters. External tank fuel is reflected by the selector and total-fuel indication.
Pressure and Countermeasures
Cabin Pressure Gauge
The cabin pressure gauge displays equivalent cabin altitude. If damage or pressurization failure causes the indicated cabin altitude to rise toward 10000 ft, descend promptly.
Chaff and Flare Indicators
The chaff and flare lights flash for about three seconds during dispense. The minimum warning light illuminates when remaining countermeasure quantity is critically low.
