Blast from the past. I was a crew chief on this same plane (67-113) from '77 to '79 when it was an F-111A with the 366th TFW. Seeing sitting in the museum, it looked right at home. This plane spent more time in the hangar than out on the flight line. Something was always broke on it. Thanks for a chance to see my old nemesis again.
My Lackland MTI was an Aardvark crew chief and although he was proud of his work, he told all the 2A-bound trainees in the flight to get used to the suck of long days, no weekends and no holidays. When I reported to my unit it was still flying C-141s, but transitioning to C-17s and the 141s were in hangars about 80% of the time. The structures guys were overwhelmed.
@@davidbrooks7806 While walking the flightline at old Mountain Goat AFB I noticed several of the A models had faded "NA" on the tail and couldn't help but think "Why the fuck couldn't they have sent me to Vegas when I came back from overseas?"
That's awesome. Interesting to see all the comments from ex Mt. Home guys, and those who remember RAAF crews coming over for Red Flag. I was born in '79. Sometime around '94-'95 I had an opportunity to attend an info/PR briefing at Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) regarding the introduction of the newly purchased G models, courtesy of a friend's Dad who was president of a local aero club. Some guys from 6SQN flew one down from RAAF Amberly in Queensland, we watched a presentation regarding the upgraded capabilities and met the aircrew then were led out to a hanger to see it in the metal, complete with a full array of dummy weaponry laid out in front and a scaffold so we could look inside the cockpit (no cameras allowed obviously, security was heavy!). Made a huge impression on me as a young lad and I desperately wanted to join the RAAF. Unfortunately my poor eyesight and a chronic medical condition led me down a different path, but I've had a huge respect for the Pig/Aardvark and her crews ever since, will never forget it. (As an older bloke with a bit of mechanical experience though... I bet they were an absolute bitch to work on. My sympathies to any maintainers dealing with long-term medical issues stemming from fuel tank deseal/reseal operations).
The F-111F was my first bird out of avionics tech school in the USAF. The avionics systems on these birds was high tech at the time, but just barely past tubes (valves) and into discrete solid state devices. The central support computer (CENPAC) was programmed with punched tape, converted to mag tape, and would send signals to the test stations which in turn would evaluate the device under test. Pre-hard disk drive, but crazy sophisticated for a kid barely over 20 years old. Stationed at Mountain Home, I soon deployed to Korat, Thailand to support the A models that were there from Nellis. I followed them back to Nellis after the fall of Saigon. The Aardvark runs through my veins.
I miss make a small correction, THE F-111D was the first fully digital Avonics & WEAPONS PLATFORMS. I KNOW BECAUSE I WORKED ON THEM BOTH ( F-111F Mt. HOME Nov 1973- May 1976, F-111D June 1977 - Dec 1982 as Weapons & Avonics System Specialist)
I was a part of the TFX-111 program, for several years, in the late 60's. The screen, next to the laser display screen was the LCOS, or Lead Computing Optical Sight, which was my specialty. it could track up to 18 mixed threats and automatically respond to 8 of them, either by missles, chaff, electronic countermeasures, etc. Its so weird to see the display uncovered. Back in the day, you had to possess a top secret clearance to even look at it. We had to have a "move man" lock it in a vault when we went on break or the bathroom. The display was always covered with a red plastic cover...
I worked on F-111 when they were brand new, still had that new aircraft smell. Stationed at Mountain Home AFB Idaho, with the 366th Fighter Wing, the "Gun Fighters". The F-111's replaced F-4's. My AFSC Machinist was to repair/manufacture replacement parts and to fix everyone screw ups. Removing stripped fasteners, the Torg-Set Titanium screws were difficult to remove and the screw head stripped easily. The hydraulic ram for the landing gear door/air brake required a machining modification. The 366th FMS Machine Shop received a new big lathe to perform he modification. The new lathe was a dream to operate, no back lash in the machine. What made me feel old was when I visited Mountain Home Idaho 40 years after discharge. In the the city park was a F-111 on display on a stand. I am sure I worked on the same plane when it was new.
Great vid mate. I'm from Texas and was a contractor at Cannon AFB, New Mexico way back in '92. There was a spot just north of the runway not even 150 meters that you could see these majestic birds take-off from runway. The sound of an F-111 on initial take-off is deafening in MIL power. Once they kicked the after burners it was pure joy. You could feel it in your chest.
I was 27th CES at Cannon. Air Field Lighting & Power. Sometimes, at night while making my rounds of the air field. I would sit on top of one of the elevated approach light towers as the planes would fly over on approach to landing. Loud and Beautiful.
Retired 1991 Cannon AFB. Left Mountain Home AFB in 87 for Misawa Japan F-16C/D *load toad* just to get sent back to NM to work the aardvark one last time. Whispering Death was the F111. You were dead before you heard it 👍🏻
I was a 19yo crew chief on this very aircraft in Thailand March-Aug 1973 and then back at Nellis later. During this time most of our missions were from Takhli Royal AFB into Cambodia and Laos. They usually launched with 24 250lbs bombs (6 bombs on each rack per pylon) or 4 2000lbs bombs. (1 bomb per pylon). Most missions were 4 hours long. One day after getting to work there was a crew module sitting in the hanger. 67-0111 crashed after being accidently run into by another F-111 (67-0094). One was leading the second aircraft like a Pathfinder. The pilots ejected in the crew module (we did not use the term pod) landing safely on a railway. The second aircraft landing back at another base missing about 25% of a wing. If I ever get back to Australia I will have to make a visit.
I was there at the same time frane. I returned to Mountain Home (I volunteered along with 12 other Crew Chiefs) I got asked to extend my 6 month TDY to go to Australia wish I had now. Small world😁
Interesting to think that from the Wright Brothers first flight until the design of the F111 was 59 years - and from the Design of the F111 until now is 59 years
@You are correct But Warplanes are optimized around different parameters. Since it takes 4x the thrust to go twice as fast, it's been decided to save the weight for other things, like fuel and payload. Engine technology has come leaps and bounds--All you have to do is go to wikipedia and read a little to know that. Although, given your username, I suspect you're deliberately trying to sound misinformed.
@@sillyoldbastard3280 were defo getting smarter as we invent new tech, but health and safety has got right in the way. Space travel has gone even more backwards it would seem
Great video Paul... thank you! Love the "Vark", USAF service, or the "Pig", as it was affectionately known in RAAF service. What an Awesome bird... hated to see them retired from both respective air forces, but that's the way it is. Saw the D model for the first time in the mid 1970s, at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The F model is my favorite, and it carried the load in the raid on Libya, Spring of 1986, with Operation El Dorado Canyon. Lost one Vark, and her crew, during that raid... Karma-52... God Bless em! I believe those USAF F-111 crews that transfered, and trained up for the Varks eventual replacement, the F-15E, soon missed the low, fast and smooth ride the F-111 offered. A big thank you to the RAAF for giving all F-111 fans better than another decade of thrills, after the the USAF opted to retire the Vark in the late 1990s. All the best!
I was a crew chief on the E & F models in the UK in the 80's. The canopies are manually operated and can lock in several open positions. With them completely open and the long nose it looks like an Aardvark. But, it was the most difficult airplane I ever worked on. It was indeed a pig!
Great ! Had the pleasure of working D models straight out of tech school at Cannon in the late 70's, still remember engine runs on the trim pad ,the vibration and sound was like no other ,pure awesomeness!!!!
Right on Que Paul you hit the Nail on the Head. The Fantastic F111, I doubt Biased or not that This Aircraft was the Ground Breaking all Weather TFR (Terrain Following Radar) genius Aircraft and when the Ball as we called it Photo, Infrared and Laser Guidance system was fitted it enabled us to Deliver Weapons on Target with the Desired Effect. She would still be in the Top Tier of High Quality Strike Aircraft and why didn't we improve on them, We were sorry to see them go from 82 Wing / No's 1 & 6 Squadrons and the only Country outside of the United States to fly the type, we called it the "" C "" Version in our original Airframe Version because she had a Wider Wing Span than United States Airframes but we lost some Aircraft on low level practise run's and their Sadly Missed in Terms of the Crews, Mark, Shorty and others Rest In Peace, I Often when in the Tenterfield Region drop off at a Stone Wall marked with Two Names who died their one night place Flower's there. The incident report shows what I thought on Radar System it looked like a low but thick mist but not at that level with the solid feedback I saw and I said up Full Afterburner 085 to the Vertical but it was to late for them as they hit what i yelled over the Radio Bats, they ingested Flamed, out, We looked for a Beacon sound that would come from both the Crew and the Escape Capsule but their was none forthcoming and time was now the essence of an end of story for them, We all know and respect that flying close to the ground brings Inherently dangerous situations and that was one of them another was at Evans Head Live Weapons range when one of Aircraft hit a flock of Pelicans and they think the Two Crew were Dead before the plane hit the ground as post Incident records show Penetrating of Cockpit by these bird's as well as ingestion and the belief is they were killed by the shear impact speed in the Air. In terms of Tenterfield they being the Air Force should have known at around that time of year fruit was plentiful and bats were there in the Thousands, We some time after purchased ex the United States Air Force some replacement F111s That we called the "" G "" Model. On a very positive note though this Aircraft would not look out of place in today's environment of flight envelope for this type of Aircraft especially with a Structural upgrade and the latest LGB or Laser guided missile defence systems incorporated into a totally new Cockpit environment and power plants upgrade would still have made this Aircraft A truly unique Aircraft that in the main would not let you down. She was always forgiving in terms of being tossed around and to say we besotted with them is an understatement. Her External Weapons Loads made it all the more unforgiving of the enemy. They say in a nutshell that with a little bit of work and refits she would still be one of the Deadliest Aircraft around. Thankyou Paul for the insight into our Swing Wing Aircraft and again your excellent Narrative and Visual of this beautiful but deadly strike Aircraft. I know that they being General Dynamics Vaunted around a new concept Aircraft basically Built on that if the F111 but I think at the time and I am totally not sure could have been General Dynamics entrant to the Bomber program which later saw the B1 Lancer evolution but that's for another time, Well produced Paul and my Congrats as usual
I flew 'varks at Lakenheath and Upper Heyford, and in Desert Storm from Taif. What a boss! Thanks for this trip down memory lane! BTW- with wings back at 72 degrees and in full mil power, it was not unusual to get to .97M in the F-111F. That's really something- nearly supercruise with '70s technology engines and a '60's airframe.
I was instrument/autopilot tech and instructor from 1970 to 1980 on the F111D and F111A. I grew to love that airplane. My dream was to be a pilot but that was not to be because of my eyesight. Next best thing for me was to fix them. I wanted to get to ride in one at least once. They were not giving rides when I was a technician but later when I was an FTD instructor at Mt Home they were. One of my students got a ride. I'm 72 years old now and I'm still pissed about that. I do understand the cost for a ride is very expensive and that was the main reason it was not done very much.
Colonel Thomas C. Germscheid was a Captain on the initial Combat Lancer deployment in1968 at Takhli RTAFB. He was an Instructor when they went back in 73 - 74 at Takhli and Korat RTAFB where I was stationed. He retired as the Wing King at Canon AFB, and then started a career working on them as a contractor with Access Research Corp. where I was the Classified Contract Manager. We worked on them through the Pave Tack installation and Desert Storm. It's STILL the most efficient strike aircraft EVER in the USAF. Love that bird. There's one of the F-111F models at the Santa Fe Airport, near Angel Fire, NM where my friend Tom retired finally. Hammer
I love this plane. My father was in the USAF and we were stationed in England where they had the F111E. It was great seeing if flying around and getting up close during air shows
Thanks for sharing! I was raised in Brisbane in the 70's and 80's - F-111's were a regular sight in the sky back then. They had a distinctive roar and you could hear them coming before you could see them.
I loved working on this aircraft in the RAAF, despite blowing a disc at L5S1 in my back while removing hydraulic lines from a spoiler actuator, these birds gave me the best years of my career. I thoroughly enjoyed every challenge it could present to a fresh faced technician and I especially enjoyed changing spikes in a time nobody else could beat (LH or RH). Five serials to the US in 1983 for 2.5 months and we didn't drop a single sortie at the bombing competition at Mountain Home AFB or Red Flag Las Vegas. I'll cherish the photos I have with me flying A8-126 with the CO.
My dad flew these in Desert Storm, Bosnia, & other places I don't know about. E for sure, and another model or models before that. I always loved the planes, and him and his friends spoke fondly of it. Many fine memories with the F-111 in them. What a powerful jet to have taxi up to you, especially if you pulled the muffs up or an earplug out. Thank you, Paul.
Spent a week working on this legend while doing work experience at Amberley. What an eye opener working on this unique machine. Great to see them still in the public eye.
I recently checked out the F-111 at Evans Head, NSW. By chance I was able to sit in the cockpit and was given a personalised tour by a retired F-111 navigator who had over 1000hrs on type with the RAAF. He also said that the Yanks were jealous of the sheepskin covers us Aussies had. Absolutely incredible aircraft! One thing that I don’t know you mentioned - they had an arrestor hook for high speed aborts, assuming the airfield had an arrestor cable off the end of the strip. Maybe they were originally designed for carrier ops for the US Navy? Great video!
Thank you for showing an F111 THAT I know my dad would have worked on , as he was the lead Tec avionics that was in Vietnam when the F111 was used there . My Father was in Vietnam between red 67 through to the 69 , and yes the f111 was there so thank you for showing one that he would have worked on .
I worked on the TFR, ARS, nav and bomb computer system, doppler and hud systems on the F-111As, EF-111s and FB-111As. I was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB in '80 to' 81 before being stationed at RAF Upper Heyford in England and Pease AFB in NH. Spent 8 years working on that pig, but I enjoyed the challenge. I enjoyed my tours.
This brings back memories of when I was younger. I lived outside the back gate of Pease AFB N.H. I remember when they had a scramble they took off full afterburners followed by the tankers. We use to go to the golf course at the end of the runway to watch them fly. One of the incidents they had put the plane into a housing development and the pod into the Piscataqua river. Seeing those afterburners at night was a site to see. I remember an airshow were they came in on the runway with terrain following swept wing. It was an incredible aircraft. One of my favorites. Take care, Be safe.
As a young lad I would have seen you making approaches along the beach towards Donna nook range in the 80s,I used to sit in the Sandhills at Mablethorpe with binoculars,I could see UH on the tail.
I remember one Friday afternoon in the mid 90's I was out with a mate of mine and his 3 young kids picking up his Jetski from his parents place right near RAAF Amberley. We were out the front of the house and an F111 was coming into the area lining up to land. The pilot must have seen us because he rolled the plane over to come our way, right over us - which was awesome. but then it got better. We got a private airshow for about 10 or 15 minutes with the pilot doing a few loops and rolls etc for us before he flew over us slow one last time and waved as he went past. It was dead set ******* awesome. I was way more excited than the kids. I wish we had mobile phones back then :)
Saw a pair of F-111s fly over our house in Perth in 1978 and as they came directly overhead they both lit up their afterburners. One of my favorite memories along with seeing a Vulcan, and two F-105s flying just subsonic about 200ft above me.
I gave 6 years to the F-111A and G model 81-87. Thank you for the memories. I spent many hours loading munitions and sitting in the cockpit running weapons systems checks. USAF👊🏻 Just a FYI feet on the seat entering was forbidden back then.
When I worked these as a crew chief in Mountain Idaho (82-83) we had Aussies there doing training. One flew in from Australia and in the bomb bay were cases of "Cordial" a local fruit drink from down under.
The F-111’s debut in Vietnam during 1968 was disastrous. It’s return in 1970-71 was spectacular any remained a spectacular strike aircraft for decades thereafter.
AHHH the pig. Many a night watching these beautiful birds doing touch n gos at RAAF bases we lived on. I miss the good old after burn show they always put on, the sound and the wow, they always bought to any training run.
If memory serves me correctly, panels 1101 and 1102 were forward of the cockpit on the left (from the pilots perspective); panels 1201 and 1202 were on the right, all secured with #4 apex screws torqued to 45 inch pounds. The nose radome had four latches with screws torqued to 25 inch pounds. The Doppler radome had 63 or 64 screws and you would use your head to hold it in place while attaching it if working alone. 3-axis inertial navigation system could take 8 hours to complete. I think I had as much cockpit time as many crew members but never left the ground. 5 years, 27 days at Cannon AFB as a “D” model avionics guy!
@@johndunn3424 spent 10 yrs on RAAF F111Cs and Gs, first 5 as an avtech, mostly instrument and elec, then the last 5 yrs as a gunnie, including a tour at the crew module time change section. There was nothing like standing at the end of the carports (on the flightline where the jets parked), watching 2 take off side by side just on dusk. The noise, the heat, and the vibration making the carports hum. Still miss it!
Back in the mid-1970s I spent my summers in Las Vegas & North Las Vegas, NV and used to watch the F-111s in pairs ignite those afterburners towards dusk with the blue flame and they were gone. I also remember the Aussie pilots from down under coming in to gas up at the service station I worked at as they were training there at Nellis. Thanks to all our service me and women here in the U.S. or Australia and New Zealand for serving in peacetime and in war. Thanks for the video.
I was friends with an Air Force general who thoroughly loved this jet. He said that it was a dream to fly. I had another friend who was an Air Force mechanic who hated it because of it’s maintenance issues. To me it looks fast just parked on the ground. I think it’s cool!😎
It was best when it was flown regularly. Sitting in the hangar, we had to put large drip pans under it because it leaked quite a bit. Whenever an alert drill sounded, we would head for the tool box because we knew one of the planes would need maintenance.
I was a boy scout in Sacramento, California, in the 1980s. McClellan AFB (which serviced the F-111) was located there. Someone's father worked at McClellan and arranged for some of us to go out there one evening when they conducted a post-servicing engine run up inside some sort of hangar (sorry, I don't know the terminology). I got to sit in the righthand seat, next to the guy who was operating the engines, which I though was pretty cool. However, the other scouts got to see all the flames shooting out the back; I'm not sure who had the better deal.
I was at cannon in74 thru 79. When they tied the plane down at the Trim Pad. And adjusted the engines was a memory you canr forget. I lived between clovis an the texas border. When they ran the afterburners it would rattle the dishes in our kitchen 7 miles away.. i will never forget the whine of the engines .as they taxied around the flight line! Hey anyone remember the little white light up on the tail that blinked when the engines were running ? God bless us all. F111 alumni. 27 ems A G E ......
My years working on the F-111 was great! I spent ~20 years with the Aardvark, or as it was better known by our enemies 'Whispering Death', and have fond memories of those days. I remember when the RAAF was buying the airplanes from the USAF. And I traveled to Amberley several times after working on the conversion with Rockwell. My favorite Aussie F-111C engineer? Stork, of course.
My gpa was mike m. He designed most of the computer systems and gave the pilots their final system briefings. When we sold the fleet to Australia, they offered gpa 500,000 bucks and a house to come over and oversee the program for 5 years.. but grandma refused to move out of the u.s. lol
I could not agree more, I always preferred the lawn dart designation, despite it's somewhat grim connotation, I heard the tail of an F111 encountering a thunder head between mountains that the tfr decided to save the crew from by shooting almost straight up and squishing them into the bulk head. 😃👍🏴☠️
I've always been impressed with the complex engineering that went into this magnificent aircraft. I would've torn a groin tendon trying to enter or exit this aircraft! Good for you for not having that problem, Paul.
I worked on them for 13 years in the USAF and they were the biggest piles of crap to work on, everything broke, over Engineered and complicated. Great for pilots, but for every mission it took 176 hours of maintenance. But a impressive fighter.
Fantastic video Paul. I'm having a 1-1 guided tour of the last F111-C to fly in Australia next week by Air Vice-Marshal (ret) David Dunlop, who flew F-111's for the RAAF. It's at least a 2.5 hour tour that has been told to have gone on for over 5 hours for those interested in getting into the weeds! I can't wait!
One of the features of the F111D, maybe all models, was the ability to program a route in the navigation computer using a tape machine and the autopilot would follow that route. The navigation computer could remember 99 coordinates. Pretty good stuff for the late 1950s and early 1960s. The first F111 flew in 1964. The technology had to be in place before that date. We received the first F111D at Cannon AFB around 1971.
I just found this video. My jaw dropped when I saw this plane was at Nellis AFB Nevada. My dad was the Director of Operations at Nellis for the 474th. Infact my dad was the first Col to be combat ready in the F-111. How neat. Thanks for the video
I grew up at Amberly. Next to the base for the F111 spent my whole youth watching them fly. And do some amazing displays. Will always tresure those younger memories.
I was a Communications, Navigations, Electronic Counter Measures System Specialist on the F-111A at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. I was very fond of 67-113 and 67-114, which were very reliable birds. I remember that I was disappointed when the Aussies got them from the United States. I remember hearing about an Aussie during dayshift flying one of the F-111s at high speed, low altitude near the flight line. I heard it was a great experience for those on the flight line. Scary for some. LOL. I enjoyed this blast from the past. It brought back a lot of fond memories I had about the F-111.
@@harrystone8847I was in the 390th AMU also. I think I remember you. I was injured in a car accident in Oct 1981 immediately prior to our squadron going to Florida on TDY.
@@Chuckers317 I went on that deployment, IIRC, but I thought it was closer to summer. my memory ain't what it used to be. we were probably on different shifts.
I did NDT on these at Sacramento Air Logistics Center (SMALC) in California in the 1990’s. Fantastic aircraft and the flame cones from the engine outlets are an amazing thing to see and feel in person.
Wow, what strong memories I have of the F-111. I was a USAF crew chief stationed at RAF Lakenheath from '76 to '79 during the switch from F-4Ds to F-111Fs.
Crew Chief of F-111F, RAF Lakenheath, 78-80, 48 TFW. Blue Tail 74 -0367, mid-air collision with wing man, April 1979. Both aircrews ejected safely, both jets went into North Sea. I'll never forget that day or ol' 367!!! (Still have main landing gear lock collar!)
While serving in the USAF in the late 70's early 80's on B-52G's and KC-135's (SAC) I was called to the other side of the base (TAC side) when a transient F-111 landed with engine issues. I wasn't an engine guy but since the problem was the tachometer and I was an Avionics Instrument's tech, I was called to help find and fix the problem. Got to the TAC side and met up with a senior crew chief and we crawled into the port side engine intake and reached the front of the engine -- a not insignificant distance I might add. The crew chief had things pretty well figured out but wanted someone with deeper Avionics experience to give a second look -- he'd done well and the plane took off without issue the next day. Kind of showed the level of professionalism that many techs have that they would ask for a second opinion before signing off on the work.
My father was in charge of the advanced electronics on the F-111. This plane was very much modified and improved by the crews at McClellan AFB. Especially the E model.
I was stationed at Mt. Home when this, and the other 3 F-111A's were transferred to RAAF. I was in Green section, the 390th. I was responsible for "cleaning" the avionics, making sure it had everything required, and removing avionics that were USAF specific items. Funny thing, these were the top 4 tail numbered A models in existence, and the original contract between the RAAF and the USAF specified the US would provide replacement aircraft if needed, and since there weren't any more "new" F-111C's, the AF provided the RAAF with the closest thing it had, which was the F-111A. So, I actually had my hands on this aircraft right before it left MT. Home AFB.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I'm a retired USAF F-111 pilot. I remember the Aussies coming to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho to train with us and fly in Red Flag exercises. It was interesting to see in your video some of the upgrades for that A model. Side note, I cringed when you stepped on the seat cushion. Crew chiefs would skin us alive if we did that. An F-111 loaded with live munitions burned to the ground at Mountain Home with explosions all night long when an oxygen leak in the capsule hit a greasy footprint on a seat cushion.
@@PaulStewartAviation and don't forget the girls who flew as WO in the Aussie F-111. No point trying to impress those girls with a fast car when they get around at Mach 2.
Your story is not credible, a "crew chief" would not likely discipline a pilot for stepping on a seat to aid ingress. Stepping on a seat is preferable to stepping on switches and instruments.
Thanks for the anecdote! Along with thousands of others, I've had the pleasure of paying five bucks to sit in the cockpit of F-111C A8-109 (sn 67-0109) which is maintained as a museum piece by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society based at Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) near Wollongong, a couple of hours south of Sydney. You don't sit on the seat cushion itself, you step/sit on a metal plate attached to the seat frame by the HARS crew. The BN's seat is left uncovered so you can see the wear and tear caused by many many hours of TFing. She's a special bird, being the final F-111C to ever take off. Although not the last to land (that honour went to A8-125, the first to land on Aussie soil upon initial delivery) A8-109 was the last F-111 to shut down those TF30s for the final time, anywhere in the world. She also carries the highest number of airframe hours of the entire RAAF fleet. Sits low on her gear due to the hydraulic system being drained, but still a magnificent example of a truly amazing aircraft. Will be visiting her again in November for Wings Over Illawarra 2021.
Great video as always! One small correction here though; the fuel dump has nothing to do with afterburner. It’s there to dump fuel in an emergency situation, like landing with too much fuel onboard making it too heavy to land. The fuel for AB is injected directly in the exhaust/AB section by a nozzle inside the exhaust. 👍🏻
Awesome Jet, I loved being a C-Shopper on the D's, E's, and EF Models in the 522nd, 524th, 55th, 79th and 42ECS (Deployed). I So Miss the F-111, that Roar on take off, The People that made the Aircraft a Legend. Too Bad Hollywood missed a serious opportunity, the personality of the Aircrews, Ground-crews and the Airplane. Now would be a good time to go down to the Three Shoes for a Pint.
Another impressive video of an impressive aircraft. Thanks for great footage and commentary Paul and I learnt a lot about this military plane capable of 2.5 times the speed of sound.
I Remember Playing War Games At Red Flag (Nellis)With The Ardvarks of Mt. Home. I Was Lucky To Watch A ACMI Scenario Play Out Where Our Birds Were Getting Blown Out Of The Sky. The EF-111's and F-111's Turned On There LATRIN And They Where Gone. I Can Still See Them In My Mind Leaving Our Birds In The Dust They Were Amazing. Needless To Say. They Accomplished The Mission. Without a Loss. I Also Got Some Training On A F-111 at Sheppard AFB. The Rumor Was The Pin That Allows The Wings To Sweep Was Made Out Of Gold. Ahhh The Memories Of A Crew Chief In The U.S.A.F. 83-87.
Thanks Paul....slightly different aircraft, but I remember hiking in the Yorkshire Dales back in the 1980s when two Panavia Tornados came through the valley BELOW where we were sitting. You could see them slightly rise as they approached a hedge or drystone wall, one of our party was a RAF Navigator, and explained it was the terrain following radar in action, making adjustments of just 3 or 4 feet as necessary.....incredible to see in action.😀
Let me tell you, flying low altitude on TFR at night in the mountains is a life changing experience! 500kts, 500ft, on NVGs and TF. It is so scary. But the systems are well designed with many built in fail-safes. But still. It is a harrowing experience.
To see the darkness of the terrain above and to the side of you while you’re in a valley at night at those speeds and the stick not moving as the aircraft maneuvers….😬
Worked on the F-111E at raf upper hayford in 1977 thru 1978.theres some things u left out like it capable of carrying cruze missiles in its bomb bay.it also carried a 20mm gattling gun in the bomb bay as well.both the gun and the missile rotisserie could be swapped out on the ground very easily.fantastic aircraft.
Well, I was a 462 weapons guy back in the day. (72 thru 78). 474th TFW out of Nellis AFB. My unit had two TDY's to Takhli, Thailand. 72 & 73. We had a lot of missions with only a couple of problems. Considering what they did, those pilots had some large huevos 🔥🔥 Imagine being 250ft above the ground, at night, moving at 500kts ! On total auto pilot using the TFR. (Terrain Following Radar). That has got to be some level of trust in the machine 👌
Dad flew the RAAF C model. The TFR was either your best mate or worst enemy apparently. Apparently it used to get down to about 1000ft then go nuts and dive to 200ft and the crew were passengers hoping it worked.
Have an F-111 on display here in town, just about a half mile away from where I live. Hard to miss it as it sits on an island in the middle of the main road.
Watching "The Pigs" do a dump and burn was awesome to see here at RAAF Base Curtin. Still remember the post show after Exercise Kangaroo 95' where everyone watched 2 F-111's take off then come over for a Dump and Burn next thing I was watching a dot get bigger and bigger from the West coming in under the F-111's it was an F/A-18 he pulled up right over the crowd catching most off guard it was epic.
We had them arrive in December 1970 at Pease, Air Force Base, to replace the B-52's, which left this base about a year earlier. When the first one arrived, The Wing Commander first flew past the base with the afterburner on. Then a while later, some US there got to take a look into the Cockpit and saw what you showed. We always had the KC-135 tankers there. Today, Pease AFB, is Pease Tradeport, with The New Hampshire Air Nationak Guard deployed there. Pease, and other SAC bases closed in 1992, when SAC was disbanded.
My brother was a WSO on an Aardvark. He flew in Operation Desert Storm and his squadron had the most ground kills of any USAF squadron (including the A10s at the time). While the EW variant got most of the attention during that period, it was the F111A that took out more Iraqi armor than any other airplane.
The A model never made it to Desert Storm. It was the E, the F, and the EF that went. The D model was supposed to go, but Cannon didn't get their act together.
@@harrystone8847 It was one of those. I don't know the exact variant, just that they destroyed more ground units than any other aircraft in the war. I wasn't flying them, so I'm sure I got the variant wrong.
Despite any of it's short comings the F-111 was an awesome aircraft, I had several friends who worked on the wings when McClellan AFB was still in active service, the high cost of operation was due to the constant stress on the wing pivots, they would develop small stress cracks on the pivot hubs, McClellan AFB was one of the few bases in the world that was equipped to perform non destructive stress testing of aircraft using essentially a large X-Ray camera which made the base a main hub for the repair of the F-111, when pilots were first training to fly it many said it took some getting used to letting the plane fly itself at such high speed so close to the ground in any conditions, I worked very close to the base and I remember always hearing them testing engines and the F-111 was one of the loudest and amazing to watch takeoff and you could feel the immense power they had.
i worked at McClellan AFB as an aircraft electrician from 86-97. i worked on almost all of the planes that went through there. The A-10, F-15, F-4, A-7, KC-135, and of course the F-111. Mostly the F model, I was fortunate enough to be involved with the kit proofing of the DFCS, digital flight control sytem and Pacer Strike navigation upgrade system modifications down in "dock 5".
I used to work on the A model, lots of memories with this video! My job was maintenance on navigation snd Radars...the main navigation computer weighed around 90 lbs (40 kg) and was installed in the center of the instrument panel, just to the right of the engine gauges. It’s not present here, looks to have been upgraded to a digital system. Imagine climbing into the cockpit carrying a 90 lbs object roughly the size of a 19” television! Good times, good times!
There’s another reason for the side by side configuration of the cockpit. It’s a long plane and front to back configuration would have made the aircraft too long. When the capsule ejected it did have the ability to float but some of the bags were for impact shock absorbing.
My father was career US Air Force and we were stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho while I was in high school (in the 70's). At that time the 366th TFW was flying F-111Fs there. 3 of my high school buddies' fathers were F-111F pilots.
A friend of mine and sometimes drinking body flew the first batch of f111’s to Australia. During training the yanks made them fly over the Grand Canyon using the terrain following radar at night. He ended up as a squadron leader and an Air Marshal with many good stories to tell.
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Blast from the past. I was a crew chief on this same plane (67-113) from '77 to '79 when it was an F-111A with the 366th TFW. Seeing sitting in the museum, it looked right at home. This plane spent more time in the hangar than out on the flight line. Something was always broke on it. Thanks for a chance to see my old nemesis again.
My Lackland MTI was an Aardvark crew chief and although he was proud of his work, he told all the 2A-bound trainees in the flight to get used to the suck of long days, no weekends and no holidays.
When I reported to my unit it was still flying C-141s, but transitioning to C-17s and the 141s were in hangars about 80% of the time. The structures guys were overwhelmed.
I was crew chief on 67-077 at Nellis 73-77 474TFW 429TFS 474OMS. I got out just before the move to Mt Home. They were a bear to work on for sure.
I was a flight simulator operator/maintainer at Mt. Home 366th CRS 82-85. Still had the A model then, plus EF-111As
@@davidbrooks7806 While walking the flightline at old Mountain Goat AFB I noticed several of the A models had faded "NA" on the tail and couldn't help but think "Why the fuck couldn't they have sent me to Vegas when I came back from overseas?"
That's awesome. Interesting to see all the comments from ex Mt. Home guys, and those who remember RAAF crews coming over for Red Flag.
I was born in '79. Sometime around '94-'95 I had an opportunity to attend an info/PR briefing at Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) regarding the introduction of the newly purchased G models, courtesy of a friend's Dad who was president of a local aero club.
Some guys from 6SQN flew one down from RAAF Amberly in Queensland, we watched a presentation regarding the upgraded capabilities and met the aircrew then were led out to a hanger to see it in the metal, complete with a full array of dummy weaponry laid out in front and a scaffold so we could look inside the cockpit (no cameras allowed obviously, security was heavy!). Made a huge impression on me as a young lad and I desperately wanted to join the RAAF. Unfortunately my poor eyesight and a chronic medical condition led me down a different path, but I've had a huge respect for the Pig/Aardvark and her crews ever since, will never forget it.
(As an older bloke with a bit of mechanical experience though... I bet they were an absolute bitch to work on. My sympathies to any maintainers dealing with long-term medical issues stemming from fuel tank deseal/reseal operations).
The F-111F was my first bird out of avionics tech school in the USAF. The avionics systems on these birds was high tech at the time, but just barely past tubes (valves) and into discrete solid state devices. The central support computer (CENPAC) was programmed with punched tape, converted to mag tape, and would send signals to the test stations which in turn would evaluate the device under test. Pre-hard disk drive, but crazy sophisticated for a kid barely over 20 years old. Stationed at Mountain Home, I soon deployed to Korat, Thailand to support the A models that were there from Nellis. I followed them back to Nellis after the fall of Saigon.
The Aardvark runs through my veins.
I miss make a small correction, THE F-111D was the first fully digital Avonics & WEAPONS PLATFORMS. I KNOW BECAUSE I WORKED ON THEM BOTH ( F-111F Mt. HOME Nov 1973- May 1976, F-111D June 1977 - Dec 1982 as Weapons & Avonics System Specialist)
Wish i could say an f-111 was my first bird.
That's awesome! I forget that we have air bases in Idaho haha
@@ChickentNug Almost 50 years later, Mtn Home AFB is still going strong.
There were 16 miniature Klystron tubes in the radar detectors. There were some IC’s but mostly hand built modules
I was a part of the TFX-111 program, for several years, in the late 60's. The screen, next to the laser display screen was the LCOS, or Lead Computing Optical Sight, which was my specialty. it could track up to 18 mixed threats and automatically respond to 8 of them, either by missles, chaff, electronic countermeasures, etc. Its so weird to see the display uncovered. Back in the day, you had to possess a top secret clearance to even look at it. We had to have a "move man" lock it in a vault when we went on break or the bathroom. The display was always covered with a red plastic cover...
Interesting, thanks for the extra insights!
Ralph Donnell was my grandfather's first cousin.
I worked on F-111 when they were brand new, still had that new aircraft smell. Stationed at Mountain Home AFB Idaho, with the 366th Fighter Wing, the "Gun Fighters". The F-111's replaced F-4's.
My AFSC Machinist was to repair/manufacture replacement parts and to fix everyone screw ups. Removing stripped fasteners, the Torg-Set Titanium screws were difficult to remove and the screw head stripped easily.
The hydraulic ram for the landing gear door/air brake required a machining modification. The 366th FMS Machine Shop received a new big lathe to perform he modification. The new lathe was a dream to operate, no back lash in the machine.
What made me feel old was when I visited Mountain Home Idaho 40 years after discharge. In the the city park was a F-111 on display on a stand. I am sure I worked on the same plane when it was new.
Great vid mate. I'm from Texas and was a contractor at Cannon AFB, New Mexico way back in '92. There was a spot just north of the runway not even 150 meters that you could see these majestic birds take-off from runway. The sound of an F-111 on initial take-off is deafening in MIL power. Once they kicked the after burners it was pure joy. You could feel it in your chest.
I was 27th CES at Cannon. Air Field Lighting & Power. Sometimes, at night while making my rounds of the air field. I would sit on top of one of the elevated approach light towers as the planes would fly over on approach to landing. Loud and Beautiful.
Retired 1991 Cannon AFB. Left Mountain Home AFB in 87 for Misawa Japan F-16C/D *load toad* just to get sent back to NM to work the aardvark one last time. Whispering Death was the F111. You were dead before you heard it 👍🏻
We farm close to Cannon as a kid plowing they would come right on top of you and shake the ground. Also on occasion we had sonic booms
I was a 19yo crew chief on this very aircraft in Thailand March-Aug 1973 and then back at Nellis later. During this time most of our missions were from Takhli Royal AFB into Cambodia and Laos. They usually launched with 24 250lbs bombs (6 bombs on each rack per pylon) or 4 2000lbs bombs. (1 bomb per pylon). Most missions were 4 hours long. One day after getting to work there was a crew module sitting in the hanger. 67-0111 crashed after being accidently run into by another F-111 (67-0094). One was leading the second aircraft like a Pathfinder. The pilots ejected in the crew module (we did not use the term pod) landing safely on a railway. The second aircraft landing back at another base missing about 25% of a wing. If I ever get back to Australia I will have to make a visit.
I was there at the same time frane. I returned to Mountain Home (I volunteered along with 12 other Crew Chiefs) I got asked to extend my 6 month TDY to go to Australia wish I had now. Small world😁
Interesting to think that from the Wright Brothers first flight until the design of the F111 was 59 years - and from the Design of the F111 until now is 59 years
And of those last 59 years, the F-35 easily took up 20 to 25 years to design and develop and get into the air.
@@markfryer9880 We're getting smarter but slower 😀 and that Pig is still a great plane.
@@timmiddleton7493 I really don't think we are "getting smarter" as you say. Our hey day has been and gone.
@You are correct But Warplanes are optimized around different parameters. Since it takes 4x the thrust to go twice as fast, it's been decided to save the weight for other things, like fuel and payload. Engine technology has come leaps and bounds--All you have to do is go to wikipedia and read a little to know that. Although, given your username, I suspect you're deliberately trying to sound misinformed.
@@sillyoldbastard3280 were defo getting smarter as we invent new tech, but health and safety has got right in the way. Space travel has gone even more backwards it would seem
Fantastic loved watching F-111F's flying out of Raf Lakenheath with the 48th Tfw in the 80's & early 90's
Great video Paul... thank you! Love the "Vark", USAF service, or the "Pig", as it was affectionately known in RAAF service. What an Awesome bird... hated to see them retired from both respective air forces, but that's the way it is. Saw the D model for the first time in the mid 1970s, at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The F model is my favorite, and it carried the load in the raid on Libya, Spring of 1986, with Operation El Dorado Canyon. Lost one Vark, and her crew, during that raid... Karma-52... God Bless em! I believe those USAF F-111 crews that transfered, and trained up for the Varks eventual replacement, the F-15E, soon missed the low, fast and smooth ride the F-111 offered. A big thank you to the RAAF for giving all F-111 fans better than another decade of thrills, after the the USAF opted to retire the Vark in the late 1990s. All the best!
The lead sled!
We lived under the flight path of Nellis AFB and used to watch these F-111’s fly over our house every day. Very impressive.
I was a crew chief on the E & F models in the UK in the 80's. The canopies are manually operated and can lock in several open positions. With them completely open and the long nose it looks like an Aardvark. But, it was the most difficult airplane I ever worked on. It was indeed a pig!
Great ! Had the pleasure of working D models straight out of tech school at Cannon in the late 70's, still remember engine runs on the trim pad ,the vibration and sound was like no other ,pure awesomeness!!!!
I was there also in the late 70's. AMS, then red section.
Right on Que Paul you hit the Nail on the Head.
The Fantastic F111, I doubt Biased or not that This Aircraft was the Ground Breaking all Weather TFR (Terrain Following Radar) genius Aircraft and when the Ball as we called it Photo, Infrared and Laser Guidance system was fitted it enabled us to Deliver Weapons on Target with the Desired Effect.
She would still be in the Top Tier of High Quality Strike Aircraft and why didn't we improve on them, We were sorry to see them go from 82 Wing / No's 1 & 6 Squadrons and the only Country outside of the United States to fly the type, we called it the "" C "" Version in our original Airframe Version because she had a Wider Wing Span than United States Airframes but we lost some Aircraft on low level practise run's and their Sadly Missed in Terms of the Crews, Mark, Shorty and others Rest In Peace, I Often when in the Tenterfield Region drop off at a Stone Wall marked with Two Names who died their one night place Flower's there.
The incident report shows what I thought on Radar System it looked like a low but thick mist but not at that level with the solid feedback I saw and I said up Full Afterburner 085 to the Vertical but it was to late for them as they hit what i yelled over the Radio Bats, they ingested Flamed, out, We looked for a Beacon sound that would come from both the Crew and the Escape Capsule but their was none forthcoming and time was now the essence of an end of story for them, We all know and respect that flying close to the ground brings Inherently dangerous situations and that was one of them another was at Evans Head Live Weapons range when one of Aircraft hit a flock of Pelicans and they think the Two Crew were Dead before the plane hit the ground as post Incident records show Penetrating of Cockpit by these bird's as well as ingestion and the belief is they were killed by the shear impact speed in the Air.
In terms of Tenterfield they being the Air Force should have known at around that time of year fruit was plentiful and bats were there in the Thousands, We some time after purchased ex the United States Air Force some replacement F111s That we called the "" G "" Model.
On a very positive note though this Aircraft would not look out of place in today's environment of flight envelope for this type of Aircraft especially with a Structural upgrade and the latest LGB or Laser guided missile defence systems incorporated into a totally new Cockpit environment and power plants upgrade would still have made this Aircraft
A truly unique Aircraft that in the main would not let you down.
She was always forgiving in terms of being tossed around and to say we besotted with them is an understatement.
Her External Weapons Loads made it all the more unforgiving of the enemy.
They say in a nutshell that with a little bit of work and refits she would still be one of the Deadliest Aircraft around.
Thankyou Paul for the insight into our Swing Wing Aircraft and again your excellent Narrative and Visual of this beautiful but deadly strike Aircraft.
I know that they being General Dynamics Vaunted around a new concept Aircraft basically Built on that if the F111 but I think at the time and I am totally not sure could have been General Dynamics entrant to the Bomber program which later saw the B1 Lancer evolution but that's for another time, Well produced Paul and my Congrats as usual
I flew 'varks at Lakenheath and Upper Heyford, and in Desert Storm from Taif. What a boss! Thanks for this trip down memory lane!
BTW- with wings back at 72 degrees and in full mil power, it was not unusual to get to .97M in the F-111F. That's really something- nearly supercruise with '70s technology engines and a '60's airframe.
I was instrument/autopilot tech and instructor from 1970 to 1980 on the F111D and F111A. I grew to love that airplane. My dream was to be a pilot but that was not to be because of my eyesight. Next best thing for me was to fix them. I wanted to get to ride in one at least once. They were not giving rides when I was a technician but later when I was an FTD instructor at Mt Home they were. One of my students got a ride. I'm 72 years old now and I'm still pissed about that. I do understand the cost for a ride is very expensive and that was the main reason it was not done very much.
Colonel Thomas C. Germscheid was a Captain on the initial Combat Lancer deployment in1968 at Takhli RTAFB. He was an Instructor when they went back in 73 - 74 at Takhli and Korat RTAFB where I was stationed. He retired as the Wing King at Canon AFB, and then started a career working on them as a contractor with Access Research Corp. where I was the Classified Contract Manager. We worked on them through the Pave Tack installation and Desert Storm. It's STILL the most efficient strike aircraft EVER in the USAF. Love that bird. There's one of the F-111F models at the Santa Fe Airport, near Angel Fire, NM where my friend Tom retired finally. Hammer
I love this plane. My father was in the USAF and we were stationed in England where they had the F111E. It was great seeing if flying around and getting up close during air shows
Thanks for sharing! I was raised in Brisbane in the 70's and 80's - F-111's were a regular sight in the sky back then. They had a distinctive roar and you could hear them coming before you could see them.
I loved working on this aircraft in the RAAF, despite blowing a disc at L5S1 in my back while removing hydraulic lines from a spoiler actuator, these birds gave me the best years of my career. I thoroughly enjoyed every challenge it could present to a fresh faced technician and I especially enjoyed changing spikes in a time nobody else could beat (LH or RH). Five serials to the US in 1983 for 2.5 months and we didn't drop a single sortie at the bombing competition at Mountain Home AFB or Red Flag Las Vegas. I'll cherish the photos I have with me flying A8-126 with the CO.
My dad flew these in Desert Storm, Bosnia, & other places I don't know about. E for sure, and another model or models before that. I always loved the planes, and him and his friends spoke fondly of it. Many fine memories with the F-111 in them. What a powerful jet to have taxi up to you, especially if you pulled the muffs up or an earplug out. Thank you, Paul.
Spent a week working on this legend while doing work experience at Amberley. What an eye opener working on this unique machine. Great to see them still in the public eye.
I recently checked out the F-111 at Evans Head, NSW. By chance I was able to sit in the cockpit and was given a personalised tour by a retired F-111 navigator who had over 1000hrs on type with the RAAF. He also said that the Yanks were jealous of the sheepskin covers us Aussies had. Absolutely incredible aircraft!
One thing that I don’t know you mentioned - they had an arrestor hook for high speed aborts, assuming the airfield had an arrestor cable off the end of the strip. Maybe they were originally designed for carrier ops for the US Navy?
Great video!
Thank you for showing an F111 THAT I know my dad would have worked on , as he was the lead Tec avionics that was in Vietnam when the F111 was used there . My Father was in Vietnam between red 67 through to the 69 , and yes the f111 was there so thank you for showing one that he would have worked on .
I worked on the TFR, ARS, nav and bomb computer system, doppler and hud systems on the F-111As, EF-111s and FB-111As. I was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB in '80 to' 81 before being stationed at RAF Upper Heyford in England and Pease AFB in NH. Spent 8 years working on that pig, but I enjoyed the challenge. I enjoyed my tours.
This brings back memories of when I was younger. I lived outside the back gate of Pease AFB N.H. I remember when they had a scramble they took off full afterburners followed by the tankers. We use to go to the golf course at the end of the runway to watch them fly. One of the incidents they had put the plane into a housing development and the pod into the Piscataqua river. Seeing those afterburners at night was a site to see. I remember an airshow were they came in on the runway with terrain following swept wing. It was an incredible aircraft. One of my favorites.
Take care,
Be safe.
I was a Vark crew chief at RAF Upper Heyford on the "E" model from 1980 to 1983. Loved Heyford and the Vark.
As a young lad I would have seen you making approaches along the beach towards Donna nook range in the 80s,I used to sit in the Sandhills at Mablethorpe with binoculars,I could see UH on the tail.
I was there on the south side, same time frame
I was stationed down the road from RAF Upper Heyford in the early 70's where they had F-111's. What a tremendous aircraft.
I remember one Friday afternoon in the mid 90's I was out with a mate of mine and his 3 young kids picking up his Jetski from his parents place right near RAAF Amberley. We were out the front of the house and an F111 was coming into the area lining up to land. The pilot must have seen us because he rolled the plane over to come our way, right over us - which was awesome. but then it got better. We got a private airshow for about 10 or 15 minutes with the pilot doing a few loops and rolls etc for us before he flew over us slow one last time and waved as he went past. It was dead set ******* awesome. I was way more excited than the kids. I wish we had mobile phones back then :)
Saw a pair of F-111s fly over our house in Perth in 1978 and as they came directly overhead they both lit up their afterburners. One of my favorite memories along with seeing a Vulcan, and two F-105s flying just subsonic about 200ft above me.
I gave 6 years to the F-111A and G model 81-87. Thank you for the memories. I spent many hours loading munitions and sitting in the cockpit running weapons systems checks. USAF👊🏻 Just a FYI feet on the seat entering was forbidden back then.
When I worked these as a crew chief in Mountain Idaho (82-83) we had Aussies there doing training. One flew in from Australia and in the bomb bay were cases of "Cordial" a local fruit drink from down under.
My dad flew the F model out of Mtn. Home AFB 70-72. He enjoyed that plane very much.
The F-111’s debut in Vietnam during 1968 was disastrous. It’s return in 1970-71 was spectacular any remained a spectacular strike aircraft for decades thereafter.
I was a Avionics tech at RAF Upper Heyford in the 80’s. Had sooooo much fun working on FB’s and E models
FB’s at Plattsburgh, NY. SAC trained killer! LOL
AHHH the pig. Many a night watching these beautiful birds doing touch n gos at RAAF bases we lived on. I miss the good old after burn show they always put on, the sound and the wow, they always bought to any training run.
Worked on these for many years; F-111F,
FB111A, and the D models during training.
I still remember many of the panel numbers and more. Great Plane
I was on weapons load crew at Plattsburgh NY Aug 1984 to Oct 1985.
If memory serves me correctly, panels 1101 and 1102 were forward of the cockpit on the left (from the pilots perspective); panels 1201 and 1202 were on the right, all secured with #4 apex screws torqued to 45 inch pounds. The nose radome had four latches with screws torqued to 25 inch pounds. The Doppler radome had 63 or 64 screws and you would use your head to hold it in place while attaching it if working alone. 3-axis inertial navigation system could take 8 hours to complete. I think I had as much cockpit time as many crew members but never left the ground. 5 years, 27 days at Cannon AFB as a “D” model avionics guy!
@@johndunn3424 You are correct.
I believe 4210 was the panel on top that had the anticollision light in?
@@johndunn3424 spent 10 yrs on RAAF F111Cs and Gs, first 5 as an avtech, mostly instrument and elec, then the last 5 yrs as a gunnie, including a tour at the crew module time change section. There was nothing like standing at the end of the carports (on the flightline where the jets parked), watching 2 take off side by side just on dusk. The noise, the heat, and the vibration making the carports hum. Still miss it!
You mean like 1101,1102 and 1201,1202 ?
Back in the mid-1970s I spent my summers in Las Vegas & North Las Vegas, NV and used to watch the F-111s in pairs ignite those afterburners towards dusk with the blue flame and they were gone. I also remember the Aussie pilots from down under coming in to gas up at the service station I worked at as they were training there at Nellis. Thanks to all our service me and women here in the U.S. or Australia and New Zealand for serving in peacetime and in war. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Living in Brisbane. Seen the afterburner nearly every year at sky fire. A great site to see
I was friends with an Air Force general who thoroughly loved this jet. He said that it was a dream to fly. I had another friend who was an Air Force mechanic who hated it because of it’s maintenance issues. To me it looks fast just parked on the ground. I think it’s cool!😎
It was best when it was flown regularly. Sitting in the hangar, we had to put large drip pans under it because it leaked quite a bit. Whenever an alert drill sounded, we would head for the tool box because we knew one of the planes would need maintenance.
I was a boy scout in Sacramento, California, in the 1980s. McClellan AFB (which serviced the F-111) was located there. Someone's father worked at McClellan and arranged for some of us to go out there one evening when they conducted a post-servicing engine run up inside some sort of hangar (sorry, I don't know the terminology). I got to sit in the righthand seat, next to the guy who was operating the engines, which I though was pretty cool. However, the other scouts got to see all the flames shooting out the back; I'm not sure who had the better deal.
I was at cannon in74 thru 79. When they tied the plane down at the Trim Pad. And adjusted the engines was a memory you canr forget. I lived between clovis an the texas border. When they ran the afterburners it would rattle the dishes in our kitchen 7 miles away.. i will never forget the whine of the engines .as they taxied around the flight line! Hey anyone remember the little white light up on the tail that blinked when the engines were running ? God bless us all. F111 alumni. 27 ems A G E ......
This aircraft has always intrigued me. Big, fast, unmistakable looks, great in its role.
My years working on the F-111 was great! I spent ~20 years with the Aardvark, or as it was better known by our enemies 'Whispering Death', and have fond memories of those days. I remember when the RAAF was buying the airplanes from the USAF. And I traveled to Amberley several times after working on the conversion with Rockwell. My favorite Aussie F-111C engineer? Stork, of course.
It may have been called the "pig" but this was a seriously fast airplane. So glad the RAAF gave this "beauty" an extended service life.
Two Engines ! Mach one +
My gpa was mike m. He designed most of the computer systems and gave the pilots their final system briefings. When we sold the fleet to Australia, they offered gpa 500,000 bucks and a house to come over and oversee the program for 5 years.. but grandma refused to move out of the u.s. lol
I could not agree more, I always preferred the lawn dart designation, despite it's somewhat grim connotation, I heard the tail of an F111 encountering a thunder head between mountains that the tfr decided to save the crew from by shooting almost straight up and squishing them into the bulk head. 😃👍🏴☠️
I've always been impressed with the complex engineering that went into this magnificent aircraft. I would've torn a groin tendon trying to enter or exit this aircraft! Good for you for not having that problem, Paul.
I worked on them for 13 years in the USAF and they were the biggest piles of crap to work on, everything broke, over Engineered and complicated. Great for pilots, but for every mission it took 176 hours of maintenance. But a impressive fighter.
Fantastic video Paul. I'm having a 1-1 guided tour of the last F111-C to fly in Australia next week by Air Vice-Marshal (ret) David Dunlop, who flew F-111's for the RAAF. It's at least a 2.5 hour tour that has been told to have gone on for over 5 hours for those interested in getting into the weeds! I can't wait!
One of the features of the F111D, maybe all models, was the ability to program a route in the navigation computer using a tape machine and the autopilot would follow that route. The navigation computer could remember 99 coordinates. Pretty good stuff for the late 1950s and early 1960s. The first F111 flew in 1964. The technology had to be in place before that date. We received the first F111D at Cannon AFB around 1971.
I just found this video. My jaw dropped when I saw this plane was at Nellis AFB Nevada. My dad was the Director of Operations at Nellis for the 474th. Infact my dad was the first Col to be combat ready in the F-111. How neat. Thanks for the video
Ignoring any downfalls that this jet had, it's one of my favorite jets in existence
I grew up at Amberly. Next to the base for the F111 spent my whole youth watching them fly. And do some amazing displays. Will always tresure those younger memories.
Had the privelage as a work experience student working on these at Amberley in 1985. Best jet ever made....
I was a Communications, Navigations, Electronic Counter Measures System Specialist on the F-111A at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. I was very fond of 67-113 and 67-114, which were very reliable birds. I remember that I was disappointed when the Aussies got them from the United States. I remember hearing about an Aussie during dayshift flying one of the F-111s at high speed, low altitude near the flight line. I heard it was a great experience for those on the flight line. Scary for some. LOL. I enjoyed this blast from the past. It brought back a lot of fond memories I had about the F-111.
Hey bud. I was there also, same career field. Green section, 80-82
@@harrystone8847I was in the 390th AMU also. I think I remember you. I was injured in a car accident in Oct 1981 immediately prior to our squadron going to Florida on TDY.
@@Chuckers317 I went on that deployment, IIRC, but I thought it was closer to summer. my memory ain't what it used to be. we were probably on different shifts.
@@harrystone8847 I worked 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. on regular shifts, but was slotted to work dayshift during the TDY.
@@Chuckers317 Yep. I was on day shift for most of my last year there.
I have always loved the F-111, technically, the last of the Century Series. What a beast!
Thank you for the tour. The aesthetics of the F-111 is a beaut. One of my favs as well as the B-58 Hustler.
I did NDT on these at Sacramento Air Logistics Center (SMALC) in California in the 1990’s. Fantastic aircraft and the flame cones from the engine outlets are an amazing thing to see and feel in person.
Wow, what strong memories I have of the F-111. I was a USAF crew chief stationed at RAF Lakenheath from '76 to '79 during the switch from F-4Ds to F-111Fs.
Dad was USAF as well.
Thanks for your service!
I went to Lakenheath in January 1977 to recover the F-111s arriving there. Ready Switch/Creek Swing. Left for Mtn Home in June 1980.
Crew Chief of F-111F, RAF Lakenheath, 78-80, 48 TFW. Blue Tail 74 -0367, mid-air collision with wing man, April 1979. Both aircrews ejected safely, both jets went into North Sea. I'll never forget that day or ol' 367!!! (Still have main landing gear lock collar!)
One of the most beautiful aircraft ever made.
While serving in the USAF in the late 70's early 80's on B-52G's and KC-135's (SAC) I was called to the other side of the base (TAC side) when a transient F-111 landed with engine issues. I wasn't an engine guy but since the problem was the tachometer and I was an Avionics Instrument's tech, I was called to help find and fix the problem. Got to the TAC side and met up with a senior crew chief and we crawled into the port side engine intake and reached the front of the engine -- a not insignificant distance I might add. The crew chief had things pretty well figured out but wanted someone with deeper Avionics experience to give a second look -- he'd done well and the plane took off without issue the next day. Kind of showed the level of professionalism that many techs have that they would ask for a second opinion before signing off on the work.
My father was in charge of the advanced electronics on the F-111. This plane was very much modified and improved by the crews at McClellan AFB. Especially the E model.
Who was your dad?
I was stationed at Mt. Home when this, and the other 3 F-111A's were transferred to RAAF. I was in Green section, the 390th. I was responsible for "cleaning" the avionics, making sure it had everything required, and removing avionics that were USAF specific items. Funny thing, these were the top 4 tail numbered A models in existence, and the original contract between the RAAF and the USAF specified the US would provide replacement aircraft if needed, and since there weren't any more "new" F-111C's, the AF provided the RAAF with the closest thing it had, which was the F-111A. So, I actually had my hands on this aircraft right before it left MT. Home AFB.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I'm a retired USAF F-111 pilot. I remember the Aussies coming to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho to train with us and fly in Red Flag exercises. It was interesting to see in your video some of the upgrades for that A model. Side note, I cringed when you stepped on the seat cushion. Crew chiefs would skin us alive if we did that. An F-111 loaded with live munitions burned to the ground at Mountain Home with explosions all night long when an oxygen leak in the capsule hit a greasy footprint on a seat cushion.
Cheers Garry. Yep I'm not as flexible as I used to be haha. The tour guide was joking that the jets are designed for fit 20yo guys, not me haha.
@@PaulStewartAviation and don't forget the girls who flew as WO in the Aussie F-111.
No point trying to impress those girls with a fast car when they get around at Mach 2.
@@markfryer9880 suddenly that SS isn't quite so impressive!
Your story is not credible, a "crew chief" would not likely discipline a pilot for stepping on a seat to aid ingress. Stepping on a seat is preferable to stepping on switches and instruments.
Thanks for the anecdote!
Along with thousands of others, I've had the pleasure of paying five bucks to sit in the cockpit of F-111C A8-109 (sn 67-0109) which is maintained as a museum piece by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society based at Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) near Wollongong, a couple of hours south of Sydney.
You don't sit on the seat cushion itself, you step/sit on a metal plate attached to the seat frame by the HARS crew.
The BN's seat is left uncovered so you can see the wear and tear caused by many many hours of TFing.
She's a special bird, being the final F-111C to ever take off. Although not the last to land (that honour went to A8-125, the first to land on Aussie soil upon initial delivery) A8-109 was the last F-111 to shut down those TF30s for the final time, anywhere in the world.
She also carries the highest number of airframe hours of the entire RAAF fleet. Sits low on her gear due to the hydraulic system being drained, but still a magnificent example of a truly amazing aircraft. Will be visiting her again in November for Wings Over Illawarra 2021.
Great video as always! One small correction here though; the fuel dump has nothing to do with afterburner. It’s there to dump fuel in an emergency situation, like landing with too much fuel onboard making it too heavy to land. The fuel for AB is injected directly in the exhaust/AB section by a nozzle inside the exhaust. 👍🏻
Your channel is awesome man. Your narration and knowledge is second to none
Cheers mate
Awesome Jet, I loved being a C-Shopper on the D's, E's, and EF Models in the 522nd, 524th, 55th, 79th and 42ECS (Deployed). I So Miss the F-111, that Roar on take off, The People that made the Aircraft a Legend. Too Bad Hollywood missed a serious opportunity, the personality of the Aircrews, Ground-crews and the Airplane. Now would be a good time to go down to the Three Shoes for a Pint.
This was a goodun. The dump and burn was always something special to see at airshows!
Hell yeah, it will forever be my favorite
Another impressive video of an impressive aircraft. Thanks for great footage and commentary Paul and I learnt a lot about this military plane capable of 2.5 times the speed of sound.
I Remember Playing War Games At Red Flag (Nellis)With The Ardvarks of Mt. Home. I Was Lucky To Watch A ACMI Scenario Play Out Where Our Birds Were Getting Blown Out Of The Sky. The EF-111's and F-111's Turned On There LATRIN And They Where Gone. I Can Still See Them In My Mind Leaving Our Birds In The Dust They Were Amazing. Needless To Say. They Accomplished The Mission. Without a Loss. I Also Got Some Training On A F-111 at Sheppard AFB. The Rumor Was The Pin That Allows The Wings To Sweep Was Made Out Of Gold. Ahhh The Memories Of A Crew Chief In The U.S.A.F. 83-87.
Thanks Paul....slightly different aircraft, but I remember hiking in the Yorkshire Dales back in the 1980s when two Panavia Tornados came through the valley BELOW where we were sitting. You could see them slightly rise as they approached a hedge or drystone wall, one of our party was a RAF Navigator, and explained it was the terrain following radar in action, making adjustments of just 3 or 4 feet as necessary.....incredible to see in action.😀
this is my absolute all time favorite jet! It wasn't the best but i love how absolutely unique it is!
Let me tell you, flying low altitude on TFR at night in the mountains is a life changing experience! 500kts, 500ft, on NVGs and TF. It is so scary. But the systems are well designed with many built in fail-safes. But still. It is a harrowing experience.
To see the darkness of the terrain above and to the side of you while you’re in a valley at night at those speeds and the stick not moving as the aircraft maneuvers….😬
I was surprised to learn after desert storm it was the #1 tank killer.Strategic bomber & tank buster.Who knew?
Thank you for the beautiful videos.
Nice to learn and see many featires of the various aircrafts..
Loaded the F-111F at RAF Lakenheath and the F-111D at Cannon AFB. Great plane!
I was stationed at Cannon AFB 1973-1974. 27th CES Power Lineman and Air Field Lighting & Power. Loved them.
I was born I Clovis, small world
Great video Paul I think that’s a very cool plane
Worked on the F-111E at raf upper hayford in 1977 thru 1978.theres some things u left out like it capable of carrying cruze missiles in its bomb bay.it also carried a 20mm gattling gun in the bomb bay as well.both the gun and the missile rotisserie could be swapped out on the ground very easily.fantastic aircraft.
Remember when the Gatlin gun shot off the lower UHF antenna?
Yes, loaded more than a few M61A1's on the F model. We had a pneumatic loading tool that usually froze up, so it was the old hand crank to the rescue.
Well, I was a 462 weapons guy back in the day. (72 thru 78). 474th TFW out of Nellis AFB. My unit had two TDY's to Takhli, Thailand. 72 & 73. We had a lot of missions with only a couple of problems. Considering what they did, those pilots had some large huevos 🔥🔥
Imagine being 250ft above the ground, at night, moving at 500kts ! On total auto pilot using the TFR. (Terrain Following Radar). That has got to be some level of trust in the machine 👌
Dad flew the RAAF C model. The TFR was either your best mate or worst enemy apparently. Apparently it used to get down to about 1000ft then go nuts and dive to 200ft and the crew were passengers hoping it worked.
My dad helped design the ejection pod in the early '60's.
One of the most impressive jets ever
Very cool. LUV the fact that it has a Beverage Holder. Nice detail.
Have an F-111 on display here in town, just about a half mile away from where I live. Hard to miss it as it sits on an island in the middle of the main road.
Pigs do fly! Thanks for the video.
Watching "The Pigs" do a dump and burn was awesome to see here at RAAF Base Curtin. Still remember the post show after Exercise Kangaroo 95' where everyone watched 2 F-111's take off then come over for a Dump and Burn next thing I was watching a dot get bigger and bigger from the West coming in under the F-111's it was an F/A-18 he pulled up right over the crowd catching most off guard it was epic.
We had them arrive in December 1970 at
Pease, Air Force Base, to replace the B-52's,
which left this base about a year earlier.
When the first one arrived, The Wing
Commander first flew past the base with
the afterburner on. Then a while later,
some US there got to take a look into
the Cockpit and saw what you showed.
We always had the KC-135 tankers there.
Today, Pease AFB, is Pease Tradeport, with
The New Hampshire Air Nationak Guard
deployed there. Pease, and other SAC bases
closed in 1992, when SAC was disbanded.
Yep my dad was stationed there in about1975 .I remember how loud these birds where while taking off.
766*5
I was stationed at Pease when it closed.
My brother was a WSO on an Aardvark. He flew in Operation Desert Storm and his squadron had the most ground kills of any USAF squadron (including the A10s at the time). While the EW variant got most of the attention during that period, it was the F111A that took out more Iraqi armor than any other airplane.
The A model never made it to Desert Storm. It was the E, the F, and the EF that went. The D model was supposed to go, but Cannon didn't get their act together.
@@harrystone8847 It was one of those. I don't know the exact variant, just that they destroyed more ground units than any other aircraft in the war. I wasn't flying them, so I'm sure I got the variant wrong.
@@BoomerKeith1 It's ok. Just us old 111 heads get kind of personal when discussing the different models.
@@harrystone8847 I'm sure my brother wouldn't be happy that I got the wrong variant. lol.
I was crew chief on this bird at Cannon aft 73-74 then moved from the D to the A model in Thailand Lots of Good memories.
Despite any of it's short comings the F-111 was an awesome aircraft, I had several friends who worked on the wings when McClellan AFB was still in active service, the high cost of operation was due to the constant stress on the wing pivots, they would develop small stress cracks on the pivot hubs, McClellan AFB was one of the few bases in the world that was equipped to perform non destructive stress testing of aircraft using essentially a large X-Ray camera which made the base a main hub for the repair of the F-111, when pilots were first training to fly it many said it took some getting used to letting the plane fly itself at such high speed so close to the ground in any conditions, I worked very close to the base and I remember always hearing them testing engines and the F-111 was one of the loudest and amazing to watch takeoff and you could feel the immense power they had.
I and 4 electricians strain gaged an EF-111 and an F model out at McClellan for cold proof testing at 6g's at -30 degree F in 93
i worked at McClellan AFB as an aircraft electrician from 86-97. i worked on almost all of the planes that went through there. The A-10, F-15, F-4, A-7, KC-135, and of course the F-111. Mostly the F model, I was fortunate enough to be involved with the kit proofing of the DFCS, digital flight control sytem and Pacer Strike navigation upgrade system modifications down in "dock 5".
I used to work on the A model, lots of memories with this video!
My job was maintenance on navigation snd Radars...the main navigation computer weighed around 90 lbs (40 kg) and was installed in the center of the instrument panel, just to the right of the engine gauges. It’s not present here, looks to have been upgraded to a digital system.
Imagine climbing into the cockpit carrying a 90 lbs object roughly the size of a 19” television!
Good times, good times!
There’s another reason for the side by side configuration of the cockpit. It’s a long plane and front to back configuration would have made the aircraft too long. When the capsule ejected it did have the ability to float but some of the bags were for impact shock absorbing.
My father was career US Air Force and we were stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho while I was in high school (in the 70's). At that time the 366th TFW was flying F-111Fs there. 3 of my high school buddies' fathers were F-111F pilots.
Such a beauty! Tanks for the video :)
Brilliant overview of the F-111 mate, cheers.
i like your camera work, it lets the viewer really feel he/she is the one walking around the plane...
I watch a lot of aircraft related videos but I really learned a lot in this video. Cheers mate
Glad you enjoyed it! There's many more on my channel :)
Wow, amazing video. I find the idea of an ejection pod so cool.
My dad was one of the engineers who designed it, worked for GD for 40 years. After the F-111 he went on to work on the F-16 project.
Awsome, there was some great things on it. Really solidly built.
My step dad did the same!
My grandfather was one of the test pilots and very possibly met your dad back in the day. Small world.
Is your father That lying piece of Sh** Pierre Sprey? Lol just messing with ya bud.
My grandfather was on the F-16 team as well... was Director of Quality Control for GDA, but F-16 project had him in Fort Worth during the 70s
Wow. Didn't realise how huge this beautiful machine was!
Fantastic aircraft, loved these at RAF Lakenheath uk8
Supposedly, when they worked as advertised which was rare, the D models at Cannon AFB in New Mexico were pretty amazing.
A friend of mine and sometimes drinking body flew the first batch of f111’s to Australia. During training the yanks made them fly over the Grand Canyon using the terrain following radar at night. He ended up as a squadron leader and an Air Marshal with many good stories to tell.
Beautiful plane thanks for the tour Paul