Top 10 Iconic RAAF Aircraft - 1: General Dynamics F-111C
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- Опубликовано: 23 мар 2021
- At number one in the countdown of our most iconic aircraft, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for: the General Dynamics F-111C.
Arriving in Australia in 1973, the ‘Pig’ was the fastest aircraft we have ever operated. Its innovated swing-wing design allowed it to fly at a top speed of Mach 2.5, or two and a half times the speed of sound.
A favourite at air displays for decades until its retirement in 2010, it doesn’t get more iconic than an F-111 dump and burn. Did you get to see the F-111 in action?
#AirForce100 #ThenNowAlways 
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Hey I'm famous! 3.25 I'm in the maintenance shot, that's me standing on a ladder looking into the cockpit. ISTR it was either A8-130 or 131 R5 servicing
The best aircraft we've ever had. So sorry to see it retired 10yrs ago. Awesome jet. The pig is gone. Long live the memories of this magnificent piece of aeronautical engineering. Lest we forget.
Always loved the Pig
I saw its last ever dump and burn the river fire of 2010 and I cried
Same.
It’s my favorite plane
@@flinticusmaximus5687I cried too when I saw the last flight.
Definitely the inspiration for a lot of people wanting to become fast jet pilots in the RAAF, myself included
Living at Ipswich for a number of years, I never got tired of seeing these planes flying over head to land at the nearby RAAF base' Amberley. A beaut plane and even more so when they were "show offs" with that dump and burn. 24/03/2121
I share those memories. Although Victorian I spent time every year with relatives in Ipswich. The beautiful old heritage house at the top of Blackstone rd opposite queens park. When flying in a pair you would often see 1 of them either dip or roll over Ipswich, This was my uncle Jack letting us know which plane he was flying. He was squadron leader of squadron 1 and flight commander of all 9 squadrons. Got to visit Amberley many times as a kid and play in F-111's. So may great memories of both Ipswich and the F-111's.
During its whole service life it never saw combat or conflict. Maybe it needs to be remembered as the Peacekeeper Pig
Weren't the RAAF & USAF F-111 deployed during the Gulf War ( Operation: Desert Storm ), as if i remember correctly F-111's destroed more than 1,500 Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles during the Gulf War...
In the early seventies I visited the GD factory in Houston building the F-111C with my dad who was the RAAF Project Manager of the Pig. The buiding was almost a mile long.
Jim, Your dad worked with my uncle. Jack was the aussie pilot who went to Texas to learn the F-111's then trained pilots here at Amberly, he for most of the time was Flight Commander and Squadron leader of Squadron 1. Remember climbing in and out of them and playing in them as a young kid.
@@paulroberts3550 Good memories indeed for many of us Rugrats. I spent my teenage years in The States because of the F-111 (69 to 74). I have kept in contact with a few friends from H School & was visiting on a regular basis until recently.
Dad passed 3 years ago now & was given a military funeral with the Top Brass & the Last Post. We're still wondering about throwing his ashes out the back of a C-17 - as he used to be the CO of 36 Sqdn. Cheers.
It was an honour to work on them at 3AD in the 70's. A truly remarkable aircraft, cutting edge achievements, proven.
This has been a great series of videos by the RAAF in celebration of their Centenary. Congratulations to the RAAF and the team who created the videos for a job well done.
We're glad you enjoyed them Robert.
The Pig is a fitting No. 1. However, it's a disgrace that the P-40 Kittyhawk didn't make the list. It's the aircraft in which Australia's most successful fighter pilot became an Ace-in-a-Day and, in the hands of 75 & 76 SQNs, was pivotal in the first land defeat of the Japanese at Milne Bay. Milne Bay is the one battle in the history of the RAAF where RAAF aircraft were, in the words of the Commanding General, decisive in the Allied victory and its a shame that this significant achievement is not recognised.
Yeah the P-40 is so underrated considering all the work they did
That was a P-40B Tomahawk not a P-40E Kittyhawk that were flown by 75 and 76 squadrons at Milne Bay.
Clive Caldwell is also the highest scoring ace with a Tomahawk.
He actually taught himself deflection aiming after an unsuccessful sotie by shooting at the shadow of his aircraft on the desert sand.
He also got the nickname "Killer" after shooting down Luftwaffe pilots as they descended back to Earth via parachute but only because the Luftwaffe were doing it first.
He figured that if that's how they were going to play the game then they deserved the same treatment.
I had one do a dump and burn overhead in the Grampians when I was a teen.
When I joined the 128 transport troop at 17. I found it it was doing photo recon for the reserves training.
Just brilliant, leading tech at the Time of purchase, and these beauties put the fear of God into any neighbours that had aggressive thoughts about Australia 👍
Sonic Booms over government headquarters have a distinct effect on governments that are thinking of doing sabre-rattling. 😆
This is a brilliant series and wish it had more exposure. From the narrative, cinematography, history, interviews and overall editing all were exceptional. Well done.
I love this aircraft so much.
They should bring back the F-111 for air show purposes
The most effective military hardware we have ever operated. A capability not replaced, not even close to matched.
Are you just referring to the RAAF or Australia's military as a whole. If so some in the navy may disagree with your statement.
@@tomnewham1269 I’m navy. F111 prevented war with Indonesia. I can’t say our frigates have ever been such a deterrent, nor our subs.
Lived at Toonumbar Dam west of Kyogle in the 1970s. Think they often used it as a waypoint on the way down to the bombing range south of Evan Heads. Came down the valley seemingly very low with the sound echoing off the valley walls and stored water. Frightened the hell out of me a number of times.
THE F1- 11 IS STILL MY FAVOURITE JET
We need to bring it back
Too expensive and wayyyy too complicated
We cant, theyre gone and general dynamics arent building the anymore
If we start digging now we might hit them before the year's over
Find the plans, build new airframes, drop in modern locally made avionics and a pair of super-cruise capable engines. Done.
We don't need stealth, we need speed to shorten response time to incoming threats.
Definitely one of my most favorite Aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force and our United States Air Force! Hate they retired the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvarks, FB-111s, and EF-111A Ravens "Spark Varks"! Love the Pig!!
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@@Tuglife912
🇦🇺🇺🇸
🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
The Pig! What an aircraft man I miss seeing this bird in the sky. Definitely #1 in my book. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻🙃🙃
Gotta love it...
The one and only! Still miss it.
Thanks you for your service and thank you for making our nation strong and god bless you all
Lest we forget all the maintenance personnel who have suffered and died that kept these 'pigs' in the air. 😪😌
Ah the Pig, anyone who had designs on making Australia part of fheir world had second thoughts with these things operating just loved to g e t done at the end of the runway and watch what a beautiful bird. Thanks Sir for your summary and comments and thanks all those who fkew them and mosf important those who maintained her. Thanks fòr this 10 of the best can we have another 10 of the rest please
f - 111 .. Gone but NOT forgotten .
Australia's F-111C Aardvarks (or just Pigs as our air force guys called 'em due to their lengthy snouts and terrain-following abilities) never flew a mission in anger in their 37 years with the RAAF, although they did do necessary recon missions more than once. No, what endeared them to the public was a party trick in which they'd dump their fuel and light it up in a giant airborne flame behind them, turning night into a throbbing orange daylight on the ground and thrusting the pilot (as one told me) into his seat with a brutal kick. They did their thing at major national events from Riverfire up in Brisbane to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and never failed to light up a crowd's mood while they burned the sky 🛬💥🔥🔥🔥
"never flew a mission in anger in their 37 years with the RAAF" - So they did the job of 'deterrent' correctly then? :)
As for the PR Flights, yep, sitting there watching, and knowing that the fastest fighter-bomber on the planet was always ready to keep us all safe, it's a good thing for civilians to be aware of.
Yes a great deterrent the F111..same as the Mirage.. 20 years of loyal service with never firing a weapon in anger ..tax payers money well spent I say..after all we are a DEFENCE force not an aggressive attack force...but look out if they do
really nice video!!
Lets go, called it on day one. Knew it would be
Awesome.! .. I miss the F111 at Kiwi airshows... unfortunately 2 F111's have been lost here in NZ... thanks from across the ditch 👍🇳🇿
A iconic legend
❤🌠👍💓💥 BEASTY will live on forever
The Americans said that you couldn't put patches on the skin of the F111, but the RAAF did. They were so successful that, later, the patches were older than the pilots in the cockpit.
Best aircraft raaf ever had
I love this jet and the power it was able to project for Australia! We still haven't replaced its capabilities!!
Supersonic Diplomacy,..... :)
FuckTon cheaper than aircraft carriers
Take the F-111c... Reduce its speed, range, and payload, by 40%... Voila, you get F-35 and Super Hornet. Literally half a century later! What am I missing here?
I can still remember the f-111's last flight in 2009
Best plane to ever serve.
Brilliant.
Yes, yes, yes
best aircraft ever
This plane is like a brother for me
One of the sexiest looking aircraft ever.
Yes, in a way that said it took no crap from anyone
Hottest aircraft
Worthy #1 entry, truly iconic - now go and make us a video for the Orion! Absolutely should have been in this list, and drop the F35 until it has earned a place!
Great vids - more to come ? A lot more aircraft to talk about
Great commentary regarding the F111 use in Australia l wonder what they thought was better to get the job done.
The second last to land is tail number 109 which is on display at HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport, Albion Park, NSW. Come along we will even let you sit in the left hand seat!
love it
It didn't do so much in wartime (despite its capabilities) but sure inspired us in peace. Nothing else breathed fire like the F-111 🛬💥🔥🔥🔥
It wasn't used in anger by the RAAF but apparently it was used for reconnaissance work leading up to the peace mission in East Timor.
@@tomnewham1269 Yes, and also flew reconnaissance on the work on the Franklin River back in 1983(?) leading up to the blocking of the dam.
It kept the Indos honest.
The C model didn't do much but I was there in desert storm with the E, EF and F models....plenty of sorties flown before, during and well after that war!
@@tradingiq744 Wow, you were there! And yes, you're talking USAF ones. I still remember an interview in a documentary on Desert Storm in which a USAF officer explained how carpet bombing with B-52s had been producing disappointing numbers of tank kills, so one night they sent some Aardvarks out instead, equipped with infra-red cameras and smart bombs and discovered that (a) Iraqi tanks glowed clearly against the desert sand having heated up throughout the day, and (b) could be picked off one by one with perfect precision in good numbers, so that's the way they hit them for the rest of the war. I felt a bit bad Australia hadn't sent our own but you guys didn't need them anyway.
About half the number of times I've seen them flying while out and about on holidays they were at a lower altitude than myself and I don't fly.
YUAAASSSS!!!!
Really going to do the kittyhawk like that 😫
وحش امريكي انا من ليبيا 🇱🇾
YES 🥰
The forgotten war winner
Go the Pig!!! but Can't believe there's no Mirage in the top 10 !! 🤔 Come on.
I don't think the Mirage was suitable for Australia - short range
Same with the Spifire.
@@jetalse7974 Mirage deserved to be in the top 10, everyone should know that.
@@lappin6482 Why?
The Mirage was a supersonic interceptor, designed to take off, fly a short distance very quickly, fire a missile, and land. They did that well. They were not so good in the A-A combat or A-G modes that we used them.
It was the chemical compound used to seal the fuel tanks that was the major issue and the Government is still fighting against the law suit.
A delaying tactic until there's no litigants left
my father worked on the fuel tank reseal program in the 70's he used to clean the tanks inside in shorts and nothing else. he thought it odd that the next year suddenly he needed a full coverage hazmat style suit. something called "golden oil" anyway he like many others contracted bladder cancer (the same rare one all maintenance people did) and did not survive it. It was 30 years later the cancer developed, yet His bills were covered by the veterans affairs office. I think the line was - we cant admit fault, but we will cover your medical bills.
@@andrewpuckridge7633 . Sorry to hear that.
All the affected service personnel deserved better than that.
@@andrewpuckridge7633 Sounds like the service took care off their own, while the politicians avoided responsibility.
@@MartintheTinman thankyou martin. that they did
@@PiDsPagePrototypes I agree there. I still remember his commanding officer being at the funeral..
Man forgot about the cac boomerang
Will you do one on the Mirage and the Kittyhawk????
Dump and burn?
Always thought it was a rear facing flame thrower
Yup, called it
There is still stuff all that can touch the pig.
And it was the only thing with a chance to catch a Foxbat.
i am sure this plane would be much better suited to the mission in top gun maverick than the FA 18.
Miss the pig (F-111)
I wonder what the music at the start of the video is called
NOOOOOO... Where my CAC Boomerang at???
The F-111 is far more iconic
@@domonok5497 Yeah but the Boomerang was awful, but kind of iconic aswell
Facts!!!
Interesting flame thrower on the back.
It's all for show and does nothing... except maybe burn dumped fuel in an emergency to save the environment.
RAAF needs B-1B Lancer as the replacement for this aircraft.
Agree, need more bone ..they are my second favourite..
so a bigger version of this?
@@Jungle_Studio if not the mighty B-21
Even the US thinks they are too expensive to keep flying. We could possibly pick up some cheaply in future if we were silly enough to take on the maintenance costs.
@@robman2095 I suppose, in terms of maintenance and human resource costs, operating about a squadron of 12 of those bomber aircraft is cheaper than having one or two light aircraft carriers.
Yay I’m first I love f-111
Should have kept them and in 2020 upgraded the avionics and weapons
Yeeeeeeessssssssss
G’day, I just purchased a RAAF F-111 die cast model and doing an UNBOXING video, may I ask your permission to use some of your footage of our country’s F-111 to use in my UNBOXING VIDEO. It would be great to see the plane in flight. I hope you can positively respond to my request. Cheers mate.
The one guy who disliked this is crazy
Maybe he is a flight line engineer.
What exactly are we replacing it with?
*Half a century later* - The RAAF can barely do Mach 1.5, can barely cover half the combat range, and can barely carry just over half the payload... What am I missing here?
yes, it is very sad to see the RAAF come to this. it’s because of our crap government and PM, also our military power isn’t a great now and we are extremely low on personnel. and our military budget, but i hope the RAAF will come great again
I remember seeing a F-111 on its last flight at Williamtown. I knew I wanted to be a pilot but that just made me want to be a fast jet pilot.
After my apprenticeship I'm enlisting into the airforce straight after I'm qualified
Soundtrack name?
What a shame these videos are so damn short !
You want a bit of history and pride and you get an advertisement... SIGH
McNamara's Edsel.
#f117 #mig3
i wish australian airforce had a good buying list, try aquire a couple of bombers, maybe new f15s for the insane exterior hardpoint count, new missiles, more growlers, think of getting a gunship, use our c-130s or c27s to make them, think of getting long range bomber boat planes, replace our useless f35s, or get another model, make our defence force great again, not a laughing stock :)
Seaplane Bombers that can double duty as coastal patrol and fire fighters, it's not a crazy idea for an Island Nation.
Build 'em here. And while we're at it, build some fresh F-111 airframes, fit some modern engines and avionics, give us back our Mach 2.5 response speed for incoming threats.
We need a new Bomber. F18 super hornets can’t do it.
Defo number 1. I am asking this question,...specifically to those who think the F35 is a lemon. Do you remember the gestation of the F111?? By the way,...the F35 is an awesome capability. But Iconic,...absolutely not. I maintain the aircraft was placed in the top 10 for promotional purposes only,....and a poor representation on what iconic actually means in the history of the Australian public and the RAAF.
The F-111 took a long time to cook, but once served, was never going to be forgotten.
When the F-35's are done, people won't notice, no one will come out to see their last flights or campaign to have them preserved in flight museums.
and then they scrapped them.
'
very beautifully american F-111 / F-117...
come on america company can make it many more F-111 / F-117 with better speeding up, little bigger size, more mile range...
new is F-111/ F-117 superfighters
Give a like if the F-111 is your favorite aircraft
👇
The F-111C was a maintenance headache and should have been dumped for the Mcdonald Douglas F-4E II fighter bomber when Australia was given the chance with the 24 that were on loan during the transition period.
The Phantoms were a launch platform, not a fighter. Heck, a 747 could out turn a Phantom!
The F-111 was faster, close to twice the maximum take off mass, so significantly more payload deliverable, about the only place the Phantom was better was vertical climb, but once it got there had nowhere near the range. Truth be told, the RAAF should never have gotten any F-4's.
The dump and burn was always a complete wank. Showed nothing of the performance of the aircraft. Real aviation enthusiasts hated it. Strictly for the petrol-heads in the audience.
It was a ugly looking aircraft. But it did the job.