Honouring Irv Burrows, the First Pilot to Fly the F-15 Eagle

The aviation community is paying tribute to Irving Louis Burrows Jr., the former McDonnell Aircraft chief test pilot who became the first person to fly the F-15 Eagle, following his death on April 10, 2026, at the age of 98. Burrows leaves behind a legacy closely intertwined with one of the most recognisable fighter aircraft of the modern era, having played a pivotal role during the formative years of the Eagle programme. His passing has prompted reflections from colleagues, former military pilots and aerospace executives who credit his work with helping shape both the aircraft’s development and the standards of safety and professionalism associated with flight testing.

Burrows was honoured during a memorial service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis with a ceremonial F-15 flyover — a tribute considered especially meaningful given his historic connection to the aircraft. As mourners gathered among the cemetery’s rows of white marble gravestones, the sound of the Eagle passing overhead briefly broke the silence, creating an emotional moment for family members, friends and former co-workers in attendance. The military ceremony also included the playing of Taps, a rifle salute and the presentation of a folded American flag to the Burrows family, underscoring both his military service and his contributions to American aviation.

Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defence, Space & Security, described Burrows as a highly respected figure whose influence extended well beyond the F-15 programme itself. Parker recalled meeting Burrows during a visit to Boeing’s St. Louis facilities in 2018, when the veteran aviator, then already 90 years old, spent time discussing with employees, engineers and test crews. According to Parker, many workers saw the visit as an opportunity to meet a pioneering figure whose experiences bridged generations of aviation development, from the early Cold War years to the advanced fighter programmes of today.

“At the time, I was the F-15 programme vice president and programme manager, a role Irv had once held, so the visit was especially meaningful,” Parker said. “The inspiration and insight he shared stayed with me throughout my career,” Parker added. Burrows’ contributions to the F-15 programme, to Boeing and to the broader aerospace industry continue to be remembered by those who worked alongside him and by the many pilots who later flew the aircraft he helped bring into service.

Burrows’ aviation career began in the United States Air Force, where he graduated first in his pilot training class, demonstrating the discipline and flying ability that would later define his professional life. During the Korean War, he flew 100 combat missions, an experience that exposed him to the demanding realities of military aviation amid rapid technological change. His wartime service earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals, recognition of both his skill as a pilot and his conduct under operational conditions.

Following his military service, Burrows joined McDonnell Aircraft in 1956 as a data engineer, later transitioning to flight testing as a production test pilot. The move placed him within one of the most innovative periods of post-war aerospace development, as American manufacturers competed to produce increasingly advanced military aircraft. Over time, Burrows became deeply involved in experimental and developmental flying, building a reputation for calm professionalism, technical understanding and a meticulous approach to safety.

His most historically significant achievement came on July 27, 1972, when he became the first pilot to fly the F-15 Eagle. Developed by McDonnell Douglas, the twin-engine fighter was designed to establish air superiority and counter emerging Soviet threats during the Cold War. The successful first flight represented a major milestone for the programme and paved the way for what would become one of the most successful fighter aircraft ever produced. Over subsequent decades, the F-15 earned a formidable reputation for speed, manoeuvrability and combat effectiveness, serving with the United States and several allied air forces around the world.

Burrows was promoted to chief test pilot in 1974, serving in the role until 1976 before moving into a series of senior management positions within the company. His career progression eventually saw him become executive vice president of McDonnell Aircraft Company, a division of McDonnell Douglas, before retiring in 1991. Even after retirement, however, he remained closely associated with the aviation community and continued to be regarded as a respected figure among test pilots and aerospace professionals.

Former F-15 chief pilot Matt Giese said Burrows was admired throughout the flight test community not only for his flying ability, but also for his emphasis on preparation, discipline and safety. Giese recalled an occasion when Burrows visited Boeing’s flight simulator facilities in St. Louis and demonstrated the aircraft in an advanced simulator while Air Force pilots were attending a training session nearby. According to Giese, the presence of the man who had conducted the Eagle’s first flight immediately drew attention from everyone in the building.

“Everyone broke from the class and ran upstairs to meet him, shake his hand and hear about what that first F-15 Eagle flight was like,” Giese said. “It was mesmerising.” He added that Burrows’ calm confidence and attention to detail had become legendary within the aviation testing community, where pilots routinely operate at the limits of aircraft performance.

Following Burrows’ passing, members of Boeing Test & Evaluation coordinated with the United States Air Force, the Defence Contract Management Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration to secure approval for the memorial flyover. The tribute was intended to honour not only Burrows’ historic first flight of the F-15, but also his broader contribution to aviation safety, military capability and aerospace innovation over the course of a decades-long career.

For many in attendance, the sight and sound of the lone Eagle flying above the cemetery served as a reminder of Burrows’ enduring connection to the aircraft and the legacy he leaves behind. Thousands of pilots around the world have flown the F-15 in combat, training and national defence roles since its introduction, but Irving Louis Burrows Jr. will always be remembered as the pilot who first took the Eagle into the sky.