|
Description
| Notes: ALL-WEATHER, tactical fighter with variable sweep wing, crew capsule (2 CREW) . | ||
| Manufacturer: | General Dynamics | |
| Base model: | F-111 | |
| Designation: | F-111 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Aardvark | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1948-Present | |
| Basic role: | Fighter | |
Specifications
| Length: | 73' 6" | 22.4 m | |
| Height: | 17' 1.5" | 5.2 m | |
| Wingspan: | 63' | 19.2 m | |
| Empty Weight: | 46,172 lb | 20,939 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 70,000 lb | 31,746 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 98,850 lb | 44,829 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-3 (A/B 18,500 Lb) | ||
| Thrust (each): | 9,800 lb | 4,444 kg | |
Performance
| Cruise Speed: | 685 mph | 1,103 km/h | 596 kt |
| Max Speed: | 1,452 mph | 2,338 km/h | 1,263 kt |
| Ceiling: | 57,000 ft | 17,373 m | |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Air Force Flight Test Center Museum | Edwards AFB | California |
| Canon AFB | Canon AFB | New Mexico |
| Nellis AFB | Nellis AFB | Nevada |
| Sheppard AFB Air Park | Sheppard AFB | Texas |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
F-111A on display
Air Force Flight Test Center Museum | Canon AFB | Nellis AFB | Sheppard AFB Air Park | |
United States Air Force Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Russell Burge Hoopeston, IL | I went to Nellis AFB right out of tech school to the 474th Fms airframe repair shop.[sheet metal]. I was there from Oct. 1969 until April 1973.
Great aircraft. Went TDY to Tahkli Sept. '72 until March'73. Was there the night one crashed on take off. What a night. Both pilots got out ok. Alot of great memories. 04/07/2009 @ 10:13 [ref: 24085] |
| john ellard death valley, CA | was a crew chief on 68-001 at raf upper heyford from 79 to 80 . yellow section . acft assinged were 68-001 , 68-011 , 68-021 , 68-031 , 68-041 , 68-051 , 68-061 , 68071 , 68-079 . 79tfs . we got 68-033 from eglin what a pig . we worked it and it worked , was glad to see it at pima though , touched the nose . 001 lost sad to here about that , spent manny hours on her . glad to hear that 011 is still here ,even though it is misstaken for an f model . my problem with all the photos ever taken is i have never seen a picture of one on victor allert . i worked victor allert . the scairiest thing i ever saw was this thing setting ther with it's wings swept back , two silver bullets on it's inbord pylons and two external tanks on the outbord pylons . it was and still is beautifill pig . 03/19/2009 @ 07:18 [ref: 23977] |
| Daniel Baumgartner Ft. Worth, TX | I was stationed at MHAFB from Oct 76 to Sep 78. I worked Non Powered Age until the flew all the F111F models to the UK. I then was assigned A/C 67-059 to crew in Red Section. It was at Depot for the 6 months and then sat around for a few months becaused they Canned parts off of it. We finally got it flying and they moved me to swing shift. Part of that move was to make sure that A/C remained my. While I was on dorm cleanup, the new Section Chief desided to have my assist crew chief take. After a discussion with my supervisor, the new section chief got a call from the section commander and I kept my A/C. I found out that 6 months after I leave the base the A/C crash on a local training mission, still with my name on the aircraft and in the forms.
After leaving MHAFB, I PCS'd to Hahn AB in Germany working Phase on F4E's. 02/19/2009 @ 18:07 [ref: 23767] |
| Glenn Gutridge Leucadia, CA | I first saw Sheppard AFB in 1967. It was a mystery to me and somewhat unsettling as to why there were a few of us not able to return home after basic and tech school. We were to join the first 200 USAF personnel to take duties at Nellis, AFB with the newly released from GD the F-111A. I joined the forming 428th then transferred to the 429th TFW. I was blessed to have had an amazing Flight Commander Robert 'Pete' Peterson and my Flight MSgt John Heckler. I was crew chief with a group of guys I will never forget. Lonnie Baakin became a close friend who I have since lost touch; The trio 'two cowboys and an Indian' + one Rx Ranger (me): Rob "Hutch" Hutchinson (who's claim to fame now is advising Dale Brown on technical information from a Crew Chief's perspective about the F-111 in Dale's book Chain of Command.)Stoney Burk and Marvin ? finished out my NCO buddines. My last 8 months in the Air Force were spent working with a General Dynamics specialist by the name of Ray Tibbets. We were analyzing the pivot pin stress and flap and slat challenges relating to stress and weather on the F-111. Ray was an amazing guy; often I wonder why I didn't take his advise and go to Dallas Fort Worth and take a GS position with the F-111 group at General Dynamics. 'Silent Death' was truly the best code name for this aircraft. I am so proud to have served in the Vietnam era; it is unfortunate it took 9/11 to get so many fallen, fragile, forgotten heros the recognition they have deserved for so many years. What an experience to have served in the USAF on such an amazing a 'controversial' aircraft the F-111A during a controversial time in our lives. For those who want to continue to live our history with the F-111, I highly recommend the website maintained by our Australian friends www.f-111.net
This is a great resource of current and past information about our aircraft and how it continued to serve in defending freedom. Thanks for the opportunity for me to post my thoughts about the F-111 and the people who kept it in the air during the Vietnam Era. 05/25/2008 @ 10:23 [ref: 21001] |
| Don Ingalls Marietta, GA | I was a crew chief on a F111A stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada and Thailand from Oct 70 to Aug 1974. Served with the 430th Tac Fighter Squadron, 474th Tac Fighter Wing. Meet alot of great people and many great memories. Remember Robert Purdie, and Jimmy Walker. Like to hear from them and others. mrclock@mindspring.com 04/30/2008 @ 06:22 [ref: 20754] |
| ROBERT PURDIE SHERIDAN,, WY | I WASASSIGNED TO NELLIS, AFB FROM 1968 YO 1971.IST TO THE429TH FALCONS AND THEN TO THE 430TH TFS. WORKED IN PHASE DOCKS AND FLIGHTLINE CREW CHIEF ON 65-0082. ALOT OF FOND MEMORIES WIYH ALOT O GREAT FUN-LOVING GUYS IN VEGAS. JIM WALKER, DAVE MOLLETT, TOM GRAYSON,JOHN FURNEY AND ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE RESPOND TO starbyrdll@yahoo.com. livn'in sheridan , wyo BEEEEEP-BEEEEP " THE BYRDMAN" 03/12/2008 @ 11:26 [ref: 19992] |
| ROBERT PURDIE SHERIDAN,, WY | I WASASSIGNED TO NELLIS, AFB FROM 1968 YO 1971.IST TO THE429TH FALCONS AND THEN TO THE 430TH TFS. WORKED IN PHASE DOCKS AND FLIGHTLINE CREW CHIEF ON 65-0082. ALOT OF FOND MEMORIES WIYH ALOT O GREAT FUN-LOVING GUYS IN VEGAS. JIM WALKER, DAVE MOLLETT, TOM GRAYSON,JOHN FURNEY AND ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE RESPOND TO starbyrdll@yahoo.com. livn'in sheridan , wyo BEEEEEP-BEEEEP " THE BYRDMAN" 03/12/2008 @ 11:25 [ref: 19991] |
| James Walker Cambridge, OH | I was a crew chief on a F111A stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada from December 1968 to June 1972. Served with the 430th Tac Fighter Squadron, 474th Tac Fighter Wing. Great airplane and great memories with alot of great friends. This note in memory of Lt. Colonel William C Coltman, 430th TFS, kia Southeast Asia 1972. 01/20/2008 @ 05:55 [ref: 19370] |
| Terry Cooper Cleveland, TX | I loaded bombs on the F-111A from 1975 to 1979. First at Nellis AFB, then transfered up to MT. Home AFB during Operation Ready Switch. I operated the bomb lift truck, or "jammer" as we called it. The first day out of tech school they had me and one other kid pick up a couple of jammers to drive back to our hanger. I was trying to keep up with the other driver, but I wasn't real familiar with the rear-wheel steering and the suicide knob and ended up on top of a barrel that separated the road from the flight line. The nose of the jammer was straight up in the air. I felt like an idiot, but learned to handle the jammer a little bit better as the day went on. It was a pretty fun job actually. At Nellis we roasted our butts off in the summer on the flight line, and at Mt. Home we froze our butts off in the winter, but I had a great time at both bases. I remember getting kicked out of several casinos in Vegas because I was underage (but only if I was winning). I remember that SR-71 landing at MHAFB. I think it had generator problems. They parked it in our hanger. Never saw they SP's so nervous as they guarded the hanger that night.
Had a lot of great times. The best was probably when we went TDY to Edwards AFB for a Nato Chiefs of Staff demonstration. 13 hour work days loading live 500 pounders, but loved evry minute of it. On the last day the pilots rolled out a dolly stacked with cases of beer to show their apreciation. It was great. Loved working on the F-111 even if it did have some problems. 01/05/2008 @ 19:44 [ref: 19166] |
| D Brooks , TX | I worked the munitions side of the house for the Vark at MHAFB, Jan 80 - May 83 and again from Dec 90 until their retirement.(Sad Day Indeed)I loved the plane, its size, speed, payload capability, a truly incredible aircraft. My Only complaint, other AMMO troops who've worked with the Vark will verify, T-LUGS. Swapping out D-Lugs for the T-Lugs added approx 2 - 4 minutes to the assembly of each weapon and when you're trying to meet a frag in minimal time and it gets shortened even more, those precious minutes swapping the lugs out became critical. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the F-111A, an aircraft with a deadly sleek ugliness that made it beautiful. 11/30/2007 @ 16:15 [ref: 18737] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
