Saudi 9246 F-15SA at Anatolian Eagle

[Boxhill Bob]

There is some controversy over Saudi F-15SA 9246 and as the Saudi AF change there serials according to the squadron. You need see the TDB to ID the aircraft, which is on the port engine intake to check it
the problem is the TDB states 93-0855 (Which by the way did not come through Lakenheath) but the ejector seat shows a different serial 93-0891 which is unusual See attached photos They usually keep the same seat with the
the aircraft and there is no serial on the aft seat which again is ususual

Answer on a Post Card

9246 F-15SA RSAF 92Sqn .... by Bob Fernandes, on Flickr

93-0855 F-15SA Intake by Bob Fernandes, on Flickr

83-0891 Seat by Bob Fernandes, on Flickr

[sschofield]

Bob,

Far from conclusive, and certainly only conjecture on my part. Presumably the ejector seats are "lifed", i.e. they have to be replaced every so often. Maybe they are short of spares, and perhaps 93-0891 is undergoing a period of maintenance, so they've "borrowed" (technically when you do this and move lifed items between aircraft, certainly in the civvy world, it's known as a "robbery") at least one seat from 891 whilst it doesn't need it? That would explain why the stencilling hasn't been updated, assuming the seat(s) is/are going back into 891 soon enough.

Like I say, just my thoughts. It makes sense to me, but that doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean it's right!

[Thunder]

I would be very surprised if the seats stay with the a/c throughout, as seats obviously need to be removed to be serviced as well. More than likely the seats when fitted into an a/c are marked accordingly to that a/c at that given time, probably to help identify seat/crew in the unfortunate case of a crash.