https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111_Aardvark
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was a supersonic, medium-range interdictor
and tactical attack aircraft that also filled the roles of strategic nuclear
bomber, aerial reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare aircraft in its various
versions. Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, it first entered service
in 1967 with the United States Air Force. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
also ordered the type and began operating F-111Cs in 1973.
The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production aircraft, including
variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated
terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight. Its design influenced
later variable-sweep wing aircraft, and some of its advanced features have since
become commonplace. The F-111 suffered a variety of problems during initial
development. Several of its intended roles, such as an aircraft carrier-based
naval interceptor with the F-111B, failed to materialize.
USAF F-111 variants were retired in the 1990s, with the F-111Fs in 1996 and
EF-111s in 1998. The F-111 was replaced in USAF service by the F-15E Strike
Eagle for medium-range precision strike missions, while the supersonic bomber
role has been assumed by the B-1B Lancer. The RAAF was the last operator of the
F-111, with its aircraft serving until December 2010.
The F-111 was an all-weather attack aircraft, capable of low-level penetration
of enemy defenses to deliver ordnance on the target. The F-111 featured
variable-geometry wings, an internal weapons bay and a cockpit with side-by-side
seating. The cockpit was part of an escape crew capsule. The wing sweep varied
between 16 degrees and 72.5 degrees (full forward to full sweep). The wing
included leading edge slats and double slotted flaps over its full length. The
airframe was made up mostly of aluminium alloys with steel, titanium and other
materials used in places. The fuselage was made of a semi-monocoque structure
with stiffened panels and honeycomb structure panels for skin.
The F-111 used a three-point landing gear arrangement, with a two-wheel nose
gear and two single-wheel main landing gear units. The landing gear door for the
main gear, which was positioned in the center of the fuselage, also served as a
speed brake in flight. Most F-111 variants included a terrain-following radar
system connected to the autopilot. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt &
Whitney TF30 afterburning turbofan engines. The F-111's variable-geometry wings,
escape capsule, terrain following radar, and afterburning turbofans were new
technologies for production aircraft.
Role
Interdictor, fighter-bomber, and strategic bomber
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
General Dynamics
First flight
21 December 1964
Introduction
18 July 1967
Retired
USAF: F-111F, 1996; EF-111A, 1998
RAAF: F-111C, 2010
Status
Retired
Primary users
United States Air Force (USAF)
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Number built
563
Unit cost
F-111F: US$10.3 million (flyaway cost in 1973)
Variants
General Dynamics-Grumman F-111B
General Dynamics F-111C
General Dynamics-Grumman EF-111A Raven
General Dynamics F-111K
After early testing, a detachment of six aircraft were sent in March 1968 to
Southeast Asia for Combat Lancer testing in real combat conditions in Vietnam.
In little over a month, three aircraft were lost and the combat tests were
halted. It turned out that all three had been lost through a malfunction in the
horizontal stabilizer, not by enemy action. This caused a storm of criticism in
the U.S. It was not until 1971 that 474 TFW was fully operational.
September 1972 saw the F-111 back in Southeast Asia, stationed at Takhli Air
Base, Thailand. F-111As from Nellis AFB participated in the final month of
Operation Linebacker and later the Operation Linebacker II aerial offensive
against the North Vietnamese. They also supported regional aerial operations
against other communist forces such as Operation Phou Phiang III during the
Laotian Civil War in Laos. F-111 missions did not require tankers or ECM
support, and they could operate in weather that grounded most other aircraft.
One F-111 could carry the bomb load of four McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs.
The worth of the new aircraft was beginning to show; F-111s flew more than 4,000
combat missions in Vietnam with only six combat losses.
From 30 July 1973 F-111As of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (347th TFW) were
stationed at Takhli Air Base. The 347th TFW conducted bombing missions in
Cambodia in support of Khmer Republic forces until 15 August 1973 when US combat
stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base from 12 July 1974 until 30 June
1975. In May 1975 347th TFW F-111s provided air support during the Mayaguez
incident.
Ground crew prepares an F-111F of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing for a
retaliatory air strike on Libya.
On 14 April 1986, 18 F-111s and approximately 25 Navy aircraft conducted air
strikes against Libya under Operation El Dorado Canyon. The 18 F-111s of the
48th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing flew what turned
out to be the longest fighter combat mission in history. The round-trip flight
between RAF Lakenheath/RAF Upper Heyford, United Kingdom and Libya of 6,400
miles (10,300 km) spanned 13 hours. One F-111 was lost over Libya, probably shot
down.
The F-111 was in service with the USAF from 1967 through 1998. The Strategic Air
Command had FB-111s in service from 1969 through 1992. At a ceremony marking the
F-111's USAF retirement, on 27 July 1996, it was officially named Aardvark, its
long-standing unofficial name. The USAF retired the EF-111 electronic warfare
variant in 1998.
Specifications (F-111F)
General characteristics
Crew: two (pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
Length: 73 ft 6 in (22.4 m)
Wingspan:
Spread: 63 ft (19.2 m)
Swept: 32 ft (9.75 m)
Height: 17.13 ft (5.22 m)
Wing area:
Airfoil: NACA 64-210.68 root, NACA 64-209.80 tip
Empty weight: 47,200 lb (21,400 kg)
Loaded weight: 82,800 lb (37,600 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 100,000 lb (45,300 kg)
(79.6 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 25,100 lbf (112 kN) each
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186[173]
Aspect ratio: spread: 7.56, swept: 1.95
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph, 2,655 km/h) at altitude; Mach 1.2 (915 mph,
1,473 km/h) at sea level
Ferry range: 3,700 mi (3,210 nmi, 5,950 km) ; with external drop tanks
Service ceiling: 66,000 ft (20,100 m)
Rate of climb: 25,890 ft/min (131.5 m/s)
Wing loading:
Thrust/weight: 0.61
Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.8 (subsonic L/Dmax)[173]
Armament
(seldom fitted)
attach points in weapons bay with a capacity of 31,500 lb (14,300 kg) and
provisions to carry combinations of: Missiles:
AGM-69 SRAM thermonuclear air-to-surface missile
AGM-130 stand-off bomb
Bombs:
Free-fall general-purpose bombs including Mk 82 (500 lb/227 kg), Mk 83 (1,000
lb/454 kg), Mk 84 (2,000 lb/907 kg), and Mk 117 (750 lb/340 kg)
Cluster bombs
BLU-109 (2,000 lb/907 kg) hardened penetration bomb
Paveway laser-guided bombs, including 2,000 lb (907 kg) GBU-10, 500 lb (227 kg)
GBU-12 and GBU-28, specialized 4,800 lb (2,200 kg) penetration bomb
BLU-107 Durandal runway-cratering bomb
GBU-15 electro-optical bomb
B61 or B43 nuclear bombs
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