【8月15日】看軍聞學英語
■泰戈爾
原文：
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, specially painted to mark 40 years since Operation Eldorado Canyon, the U.S. raid on Libya, has taken to the air for the first time. Hauling a load of eight inert 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, today the jet flew the legendary low-level routes that run through Wales, better known as the Mach Loop. The spectacular accompanying photos of the sortie were kindly shared with TWZ by David Lister and Alec Walker.
With a color scheme recalling an F-111F Aardvark of the same unit, the 48th Fighter Wing F-15E serial 91-0311 had first been unveiled in a ceremony at RAF Lakenheath in England. However, it seems its first flight in its new look was recorded today.
The jet departed Lakenheath in the morning as EAGLE 31, accompanied by its wingman, EAGLE 32. After taking on fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, the jets headed to North Wales. From there, EAGLE flight went to the Holbeach Air Weapons Range on the coast north of Lakenheath, where the inert bombs were dropped.
Recalling the F-111, the specially painted F-15E has the same camouflage scheme in two shades of green and tan, and the original 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron marking and red band on the tail. The tails of the jet also bear the legend "40 years Eldorado Canyon," the panther emblem of the 494th, an F-111 silhouette, and the 48th wing’s Statue of Liberty insignia.
中譯：
一架美國空軍 F-15E 「打擊鷹」戰機，為了紀念美國空襲利比亞的「黃金峽谷行動」40 週年而換上特殊塗裝，並已完成首飛。這架戰機掛載了 8 枚 500 磅重的 GBU-12 雷射導引練習彈，於今日飛越了威爾斯傳奇性的低空飛行航線—即廣為人知的「馬赫谷」。
這架編號 91-0311 的 F-15E 隸屬於第 48 戰鬥機聯隊，其配色方案參考了當年同一部隊的 F-111F 「土豚」攻擊機。該機在英國萊肯希斯皇家空軍基地的儀式上首次亮相，而今日則是其換裝後的首次飛行紀錄。
這架戰機於早晨以呼號「EAGLE 31」從萊肯希斯起飛，並由其僚機「EAGLE 32」陪同。在接受KC-135的空中加油後，雙機編隊前往北威爾斯。隨後，該編隊前往位於萊肯希斯北面海岸的「霍爾比奇空中武器靶場」進行練習彈投擲。
這架特殊塗裝的 F-15E 採用了與 F-111 相同的兩種綠色與褐色相間迷彩，垂直尾翼上則帶有原第 494 戰術戰鬥機中隊的標誌與紅色帶。尾翼上還標有「黃金峽谷 40 週年」字樣、第 494 中隊的黑豹隊徽、F-111 的剪影，以及第 48 聯隊的自由女神像標誌。
─關鍵軍語─
※low-level route：低空航道
※wingman：僚機
※inert bomb：練習彈
※Air Weapons Range：空中武器靶場