A PAIR of F15 Eagle fighter planes were reportedly spotted flying low over Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this afternoon.

The fast jet fighter is in service with air forces in the United States, Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

They flew low over Bournemouth Airport causing rumours that they had landed there, however a spokesman for the airport confirmed that they had just passed overhead.

Two jets created a buzz earlier this month when they were spotted in the skies above Southampton as part of an exercise.

The duo were from the 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. 

Did you get a picture or video footage? email it to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk

Factfile

The Mc Donnell Douglas (now Boeing) F15E Eagle is a twin-engine tactical fighter first flown in 1972 and entered service in 1976.

The F15E Strike Eagle is a variant on the initial plane which was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed manoeuvres.

Carrying a crew of two, it is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.5, or more than 1,650mph.
They are nearly 20 metres (64ft) in length with a wingspan of more than 13 metres (42.8 ft).

Weighing more than 14 tonnes, it has a combat radius of at least 790 miles or 2,400 miles with minimum weight and extra fuel tanks.

It can fly at heights of 60,000 feet and can climb 50,000 feet in one minute (or 254 metres per second).

The standard payload can include 16 air-to-air missiles, 13 air-to surface missiles and a range of bombs including nuclear weapons.

The Strike Eagle has been deployed for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. During these operations the F-15E has carried out strikes against high-value targets, combat air patrols, and providing air support for US and British troops.

It has also seen action in later conflicts and has been exported to several countries such as Japan and Saudi Arabia for use with their air forces.

The F-15 Eagle is expected to be in service with the US Air Force past 2025 with the production line set to end in 2019, 47 years after the type's first flight.

The 48th Fighter Wing of the US Air Force is the only F-15 wing based in Europe.