General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

Early requirements The May 1960 U-2 incident, in which an American CIA U-2 reconnaissance plane was shot down over the USSR, stunned the United States government. Besides greatly damaging US–Soviet relations, the incident showed that the Soviet Union had developed a surface-to-air missile that could reach aircraft above 60,000 ft (18,000 m). Consequently, the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the RAF Bomber Command's plans to send subsonic, high-altitude Boeing B-47 Stratojet and V bomber formations into the USSR were realized to be much less viable. By 1960, SAC had begun moving to low-level penetration, which greatly reduced radar detection distances. At the time, SAMs were ineffective against low-flying aircraft, while interceptor aircraft had less of a speed advantage at low altitudes. The USAF's Tactical Air Command (TAC) was largely concerned with the fighter-bomber and deep strike/interdiction roles. TAC was in the process of receiving its latest design, the Republic Thunderchief, which was designed to deliver nuclear weapons fast and far, but required long runways. A simpler variable-geometry wing configuration with the pivot points farther out from the aircraft's centerline was reported by NASA in 1958, which made swing-wings viable. This led USAF leaders to encourage its use. In June 1960, the USAF issued specification SOR 183 for a long-range, interdiction/strike aircraft able to penetrate Soviet air defenses at very low altitudes and high speeds. Specifically, it was to be capable of at least of low-level flight, half of which was to be at a speed of no less than Mach 1.2. Furthermore, the specification also called for the aircraft to possess short takeoff-and-landing (STOL) capabilities to permit operations from short, unprepared airstrips that had a length of no more than . Around this time, the United States Navy had been seeking a long-range, high-endurance, fleet air defense fighter to protect its carrier battle groups against long-range antiship missiles launched from Soviet jet bombers and submarines. It would need a more powerful radar and longer-range missiles than the F-4 Phantom II it would replace. The Navy had proposed a subsonic, straight-winged aircraft, the Douglas F6D Missileer in the late 1950s. The Missileer could carry six long-range missiles and loiter for five hours, but would be defenseless after firing its missiles. NASA's simplification made the variable-geometry wings practical. Variable geometry offered high speeds, and maneuverability with heavier payloads, long range, and STOL capability. Tactical Fighter Experimental The USAF and Navy were both seeking new aircraft when Robert McNamara was appointed secretary of defense in January 1961. Both sought high-supersonic, twin-engined, two-seat aircraft that could carry heavy armament and fuel loads and probably use variable-geometry wings. On 14 February 1961, McNamara formally directed the services to study the development of a single aircraft that would satisfy both requirements. Early studies indicated that the best option was to base the design on the USAF requirement, and use a modified version for the Navy. In June 1961, Secretary McNamara ordered the go-ahead of Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX), despite USAF and Navy efforts to keep their programs separate. According to aviation author Peter E. Davis, military officials were disconcerted by McNamara's focus on compromised requirements for financial reasons. The two services could agree only on swing-wing, two-seat, twin-engined design features. The USAF wanted a tandem-seat aircraft for low-level penetration ground attack, while the Navy wanted a shorter, high-altitude interceptor with side-by-side seating to allow the pilot and radar operator to share the radar display. Also, the USAF wanted the aircraft designed for 7.33 g with Mach 2.5 speed at altitude and Mach 1.2 speed at low level with an approximate length of . The Navy had less strenuous requirements: 6 g with Mach 2 speed at altitude and high subsonic speed (about Mach 0.9) at low level with a length of . The Navy also wanted the aircraft with a nose large enough for a diameter radar dish. McNamara developed a basic set of requirements for TFX based largely on the USAF's requirements, and on 1 September 1961, ordered the USAF to develop it. In December, proposals were received from Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, McDonnell, North American, and Republic. The evaluation group found all the proposals lacking, but Boeing and General Dynamics were selected to submit enhanced designs. Boeing's proposal was recommended by the selection board in January 1962, with the exception of the engine, which was not considered acceptable. The board also directed alterations to radar and missile storage and a switch from ejection seats to a crew-escape capsule. Both companies provided updated proposals in April 1962. USAF reviewers favored Boeing's offering, while the Navy found both submissions unacceptable for its operations. A congressional investigation into the procurement process was conducted, but did not change the selection. On 1 May 1964, the definitized contract was issued for the program, including flight testing, spares, ground equipment, training devices, static and fatigue test data, and the production of an initial 23 F-111 aircraft; it was structured as a fixed-price incentive-fee (FPIF) contract with a ceiling price of $529 million, along with provisions for deficiency correction among other operational clauses and performance criteria. Design phase General Dynamics' design team was led by Robert H. Widmer. Recognizing its lack of experience with carrier-based fighters, General Dynamics teamed with Grumman in November 1963 for the assembly and testing of the F-111B. In addition, Grumman would also build the aft fuselage and the landing gear of the F-111A. The General Dynamics and Grumman team faced ambitious requirements for range, weapons load, and aircraft weight. Thus, the F-111 was designed to incorporate numerous features that were new to production military aircraft, such as variable-geometry wings and afterburning turbofan engines. This use of unfamiliar features has been attributed as a major cause of the aircraft's protracted development and weight increases. The F-111A and F-111B shared the same airframe structural components and Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-1 turbofan engines. They featured side-by-side crew seating in an escape capsule as required by the Navy. The F-111B's nose was shorter as the aircraft could fit on existing carrier elevator decks, and had wingtips to improve on-station endurance time; it also carried an AN/AWG-9 pulse-Doppler radar to guide its AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. The USAF's F-111A would be equipped with the AN/APQ-113 attack radar and the AN/APQ-110 terrain-following radar and air-to-ground armament. During September 1963, the F-111A mockup was inspected. Early flights of the F-111, which included supersonic flights, demonstrated favorably simplistic maintenance requirements, among other qualities. Various changes to the program were enacted throughout 1965; this was chiefly in response to a steep climb in unit costs from $4.5 million to $6 million. On 10 May 1967, a new, multiyear FPIP contract replaced the prior procurement process, increasing the total aircraft on order to 493 F-111s of multiple models, including 23 F-111Bs intended for the US Navy, 24 F-111Cs for the Royal Australian Air Force, and 50 F-111Ks intended for the Royal Air Force. Early flights of the F-111 were troubled by compressor surges and stalls across certain portions of the flight regimen. General Dynamics had elected to use an uncommon, spike-shaped, variable intake for the engine for the performance. During February 1965, the F-111A achieved a speed of Mach 1.3 while flying with an interim intake design. Separately, cracks in the F-111's wing attachment points were first discovered in 1968 during ground fatigue testing; during the following year, the crash of an F-111 was attributed to a cracked wingbox. The resolution involved the redesigning of the attachment structure and necessitated testing to ensure adequate design and workmanship. On 31 July 1970, the grounding was lifted. Category I flight testing of the F-111A, which had started in 1964, continued through to 31 March 1972. Australia would procure its own model, the F-111C. Subsequently, the improved F-111E, F-111D, and F-111F models were developed for the USAF. The strategic bomber FB-111A and the EF-111 electronic-warfare versions were later developed for the USAF. Production of the F-111 ended in 1976, following the completion of 563 aircraft. ==Design==

Overview The F-111 was an all-weather attack aircraft, capable of low-level penetration of enemy defenses to deliver ordnance on the target. The F-111 featured variable-geometry wings, an internal weapons bay, and a cockpit with side-by-side seating. The cockpit was part of an escape crew capsule. The wing sweep varied between 16 and 72.5° (full forward to full sweep). The wing included leading-edge slats and double-slotted flaps over its full length. The airframe was made up mostly of aluminum alloys with steel, titanium, and other materials used in places. The fuselage was made of a semimonocoque structure with stiffened panels and honeycomb structure panels for skin. The F-111 used a three-point landing-gear arrangement, with a two-wheel nose gear and two single-wheel main landing-gear units. The landing-gear door for the main gear, which was positioned in the center of the fuselage, also served as a speed brake in flight. Most F-111 variants included a terrain-following radar system connected to the autopilot. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt and Whitney TF30 afterburning turbofan engines. The F-111's variable-geometry wings, escape capsule, terrain-following radar, and afterburning turbofans were new technologies for production aircraft. Armament The armament included a 20 mm cannon and 5,000 lb of bombs internal; added pylons could carry up to 25,000 lb of bombs or two nuclear weapons internal and four AGM-69 SRAM nuclear weapons external. Weapons bay The F-111 featured an internal weapons bay that could carry bombs, a removable 20 mm M61 cannon, or auxiliary fuel tanks. The F-111C and F-111F were equipped to carry the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack targeting system on a rotating carriage that kept the pod protected within the weapons bay when not in use. Pave Tack featured a forward-looking infrared sensor, optical camera, and laser rangefinder/designator. The Pave Tack pod allowed the F-111 to designate targets and drop laser-guided bombs on them. Australian RF-111Cs carried a pallet of sensors and cameras for aerial reconnaissance use. The FB-111 could carry two AGM-69 SRAM air-to-surface, nuclear missiles in its weapons bay. General Dynamics tested an arrangement with two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles carried on rails in a trapeze arrangement from the bay, but this was not adopted. External ordnance concrete-penetration bombs|alt=Closeup view of cylindrical bombs and ordnance carried under a mostly green aircraft wing Each wing was equipped with four underwing pylons. The inner two pylons on each wing rotated to align with the fuselage, while the outer two were fixed. Each pylon had a capacity of . Various bombs and missiles could be carried on the pylons. Auxiliary fuel drop tanks with capacity each could be fitted. The design of the F-111's fuselage prevented the carriage of external weapons under the fuselage, but two stations were available on the underside for electronic countermeasures pods or datalink pods; one station was on the weapons bay, and the other was on the rear fuselage between the engines. Tactical F-111s were fitted with shoulder rails on the four inner swiveling pylons to mount AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense. FB-111As could carry the same conventional ordnance as the tactical variants, but their wing pylons were more commonly used for either fuel tanks or strategic nuclear gravity bombs. They could carry up to four AGM-69 SRAM nuclear missiles on the pylons. Historical significance The F-111 was the first production variable-geometry wing aircraft. The US Navy's role intended for the F-111B was instead filled by another variable-geometry design, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. ==Operational history==

US Air Force The first of six initial-production F-111s was delivered on 17 July 1967 to fighter squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base. These aircraft were used for crew training. The 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron achieved initial operational capability on 28 April 1968. After early testing, a detachment of six aircraft from the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing (Roadrunners) were sent in March 1968 to Southeast Asia for Combat Lancer testing in real combat conditions in the Vietnam War. During the deployment, 55 night missions were flown against targets in North Vietnam, but two aircraft had been lost; 66–0022 was lost on 28 March, and 66-0017 on 30 March. Replacement aircraft left Nellis, but the loss of a third F-111A (66-0024) on 22 April halted F-111A combat operations. The squadron returned to the United States in November. The cause of the first two losses is unknown, as the wreckages were never recovered. The third loss was traced to a failure of a hydraulic control-valve rod for the horizontal stabilizer, which caused the aircraft to pitch up uncontrollably. Further inspection of the remaining fleet of F-111As revealed 42 aircraft with the same potential failures. This failure could also have contributed to the two earlier losses had the failure caused a pitch down while at low altitude. The 474 TFW was not fully operational until 1971. The word aardvark is Afrikaans for "earthpig" and reflects the look of the long nose of the aircraft that might remind one of the nose of the aardvark. The origin of the name has been attributed to F-111A Instructor Pilot Al Mateczun in 1969, as the aircraft had not received an official USAF name. During September 1972, the F-111 returned to Southeast Asia, stationed at Takhli Air Base, Thailand. F-111As from Nellis AFB participated in the final month of Operation Linebacker and later flew 154 low-level missions in the Operation Linebacker II aerial offensive against the North Vietnamese, They also supported regional aerial operations against other communist forces such as Operation Phou Phiang III during the Laotian Civil War. Crews described their flying in Vietnam as "speed is life", "one pass, haul ass", and "you do more than one pass in a target area you die". The F-111's ability with terrain-following radar ("the best in the fighter world", according to F-111 pilot Richard Crandall) to fly as low as above ground level at or faster in most weather conditions made it very effective; missions did not require tankers or ECM support, and they could operate in weather that grounded most other aircraft. One F-111 could carry the bomb load of four McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs. The worth of the new aircraft was beginning to show: F-111s flew more than 4,000 combat missions in Vietnam with only six combat losses. From 30 July 1973, F-111As of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (347th TFW) were stationed at Takhli Air Base. The 347th TFW conducted bombing missions in Cambodia in support of Khmer Republic forces until 15 August 1973, when US combat support ceased in accordance with the Case–Church Amendment. The 347th TFW was stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base from 12 July 1974 until 30 June 1975. In May 1975, 347th TFW F-111s provided air support during the Mayaguez incident. One of the most unusual missions occurred on 14 February 1986, when two FB-111s of the 509th Bombardment Wing were dispatched from then Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire, to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, to pick up a heart for transplant. The aircraft landed at Bradley International Airport to deliver the organ to a waiting ambulance. On 14 April 1986, 18 F-111s and about 25 Navy aircraft conducted air strikes against Libya under Operation El Dorado Canyon. The 18 F-111s of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing and four EF-111As from the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing flew what turned out to be the longest fighter combat mission in history. F-111s participated in the Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) in 1991. During Desert Storm, F-111Fs completed 3.2 successful strike missions for every unsuccessful one, better than any other US strike aircraft used in the operation. The group of 66 F-111Fs dropped almost 80% of the war's laser-guided bombs, including the penetrating bunker-buster GBU-28. Eighteen F-111Es were also deployed during the operation. Their use in the anti-armor role was dubbed "tank plinking". Though expensive to operate (Crandall said that the aircraft "was nine percent of Tactical Air Command's fleet, but ate up a whopping 25 percent of the maintenance budget"), the F-111 was in service with the USAF from 1967 through 1998. The FB-111s were operated by SAC from 1969 before conversion to F-111G and transferred to Air Combat Command until their retirement in 1993. The USAF retired the EF-111 electronic-warfare variant in 1998. Royal Australian Air Force after a refueling exercise during Exercise Red Flag 2006 The Australian government ordered 24 F-111C aircraft to replace the RAAF's English Electric Canberras in the bombing and tactical-strike role. While the first aircraft was officially handed over in September 1968, structural issues delayed the entry into service. The first F-111C was accepted at Nellis Air Force Base on 15 March 1973. The RAAF's first six F-111Cs arrived at RAAF Base Amberley on 1 July 1973, and three subsequent flights of six F-111s arrived on 27 July, 28 September, and 4 December. from the translation of the Afrikaans word for aardvark, "earth pig". The purchase proved to be highly successful for the RAAF. Although it never saw combat, the F-111C was the fastest, longest-ranged combat aircraft in Southeast Asia, providing Australia with independent strike capability. Benny Murdani told Kim Beazley that when others became upset with Australia during Indonesian cabinet meetings, Murdani told them, "Do you realise the Australians have a bomber that can put a bomb through that window on to the table here in front of us?" Australian F-111s were ready to attack Indonesian forces during the establishment of East Timor's independence and the deployment of the Australian-led International Force for East Timor. In 2006, an RAAF F-111 scuttled the North Korean ship Pong Su with two GBU-10 bombs. Because of the high maintenance time required for every flight hour, the F-111's retirement began with the F-111G models operated by No. 6 Squadron in late 2007. Twenty-four Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets were procured as an interim replacement as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program was delayed. The last F-111s were retired on 3 December 2010. ==Variants==

F-111A The F-111A was the initial production version of the F-111. Early A-models used the TF30-P-1 engine. Most A-models used the TF30-P-3 engine with 12,000 lbf (53 kN) dry and 18,500 lbf (82 kN) afterburning thrust The variant had a maximum takeoff weight of and an empty weight of . The F-111A's Mark I avionics suite included the General Electric AN/APQ-113 attack radar mated to a separate Texas Instruments AN/APQ-110 terrain-following radar lower in the nose and a Litton AJQ-20 inertial navigation and nav/attack system. The terrain-following radar (TFR) was integrated into the automatic flight control system, allowing for "hands-off" flight at high speeds and low levels (down to ). A total of 159 F-111As was produced, including 30 preproduction aircraft that were rebuilt to production standards. Forty-two F-111As were converted to EF-111A Ravens for an electronic warfare tactical electronic-jamming role. In 1982, four surviving F-111As were provided to Australia as attrition replacements and modified to F-111C standard, including its longer-span wings and reinforced landing gear. Three preproduction F-111As were used by NASA for various tests. The 13th F-111A received new wing designs for the Transonic Aircraft Technology and Advanced Fighter Technology Integration programs in the 1970s and 1980s. It retired to the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1989. Unconverted F-111As were mothballed at Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in June 1991. F-111B The F-111B was to be a fleet air defense (FAD) fighter for the US Navy, fulfilling a requirement for a carrier-based fighter aircraft armed with heavy, long-range missiles to defend aircraft carriers and their battle groups from Soviet bombers and fighter-bombers equipped with antiship missiles. General Dynamics, lacking experience with carrier-based aircraft, partnered with Grumman for this version. Seven F-111Bs were completed for testing, but they never entered fleet service. This version had a troubled development, and Navy requirements changed to a maneuverable aircraft for dogfighting. The swing-wing configuration, TF-30 engines, AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles, and AWG-9 radar developed for the F-111B were used on its replacement, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. The Tomcat was large enough to carry the AWG-9 and Phoenix missiles while exceeding both the F-111's and the F-4's maneuverability. F-111C F-111C performing a dump-and-burn, a procedure where fuel is intentionally ignited using the aircraft's afterburner The F-111C is the export version for Australia, combining the F-111A with longer F-111B wings and strengthened FB-111A landing gear. Australia ordered 24 F-111s, and following delays, the Royal Australian Air Force accepted the aircraft in 1973. Four were converted to the RF-111C reconnaissance variant in 1979–80. Australia also purchased four ex-USAF F-111As and converted them into F-111Cs. In the 1990s, the F-111C underwent a comprehensive digital avionics upgrade program (AUP) which introduced new nav/attack systems (PAVE TACK Laser/infrared targeting system) and digital flight control computers. Later, the C model was upgraded with a unique version of the TF-30 engine known as the P-108. This local version mated the P-109 engine to a P-107 afterburner, delivering of thrust and significantly increased reliability. The RAAF retired its last F-111Cs in December 2010 after 37 years of service. F-111D The F-111D was an upgraded F-111A equipped with newer Mark II avionics, more powerful engines, improved intake geometry, and an early glass cockpit. It was to integrate a longer range air-to-air missile in the form of the AIM-7G, but it was canceled in 1970. F-111D was first ordered in 1967 and delivered from 1970–73 after delays due to avionics issues. The D-model reached initial operational capability in 1972; the sole operator was the 27th TFW stationed at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. 96 were built. The F-111D used the new Triple Plow II intakes, which were located four inches (100 mm) further away from the airframe to prevent engine ingestion of the sluggish boundary layer air that was known to cause stalls in the TF30 turbofans. It had more powerful TF30-P-9 engines with 12,000 lbf (53 kN) dry and 18,500 lbf (82 kN) afterburning thrust. The Mark II avionics used digitally integrated microprocessors, some of the first used by the USAF, offering new capability but substantial problems. The Rockwell Autonetics digital bombing-navigation system included an inertial navigation system, AN/APQ-130 attack radar system, Doppler radar, digital computer set, and multi-function displays (MFDs). The terrain-following radar was the Sperry AN/APQ-128. The attack radar featured a Doppler beam-sharpening, moving target indication (MTI), and Continuous-wave radar for guiding semi-active radar homing missiles. Avionics reliability improved but some issues were never fully resolved; F-111E A simplified, interim variant ordered after the F-111D was delayed, the F-111E used the Triple Plow II intakes, but retained the F-111A's TF30-P-3 engines and Mark I avionics. The weapon stores management system was improved and other small changes made. Crandall described the F-111E as "all analog, just like the A model, but It worked". The F-111E was first ordered in 1968. Its first flight occurred on 20 August 1969 and achieved initial operational capability late that year. 94 F-111Es were delivered between 1969 and 1971. It saw action during the Gulf War. Some F-111Es received an Avionics Modernization Program and improved TF30-P-109 engines in the early 1990s. All were retired to AMARC by 1995. F-111F The F-111F was the final variant produced for Tactical Air Command, with a modern, but less expensive, Mark IIB avionics system, more powerful TF30-P-100 engine, and strengthened wing carry-through box. Crandall described it as "the Cadillac of the F-111 force". The USAF approved its development in 1969. 106 F-111Fs were produced between 1970 and 1976. The F-111F could reach Mach 1.2 at sea level on full afterburner. It had the Triple Plow II intakes along with the substantially more powerful TF30-P-100 turbofan with 25,100 lbf (112 kN) afterburning thrust, 35% more thrust than the F-111A and E. The engines were upgraded to the TF30-P-109 version between 1985 and 1986. The F-111F's Mark IIB avionics suite used a simplified version of the FB-111A's AN/APQ-144 radar, which lacked some operating modes but added a new 2.5 mi (4.0 km) display ring. Although tested with digital moving-target indicator (MTI) capacity, it was not used in production sets. In the early 1980s, the F-111F began to be equipped with the AVQ-26 Pave Tack forward looking infrared (FLIR) and laser designator system, which enabled the use of precision laser-guided munitions and was mounted in the internal weapons bay. The Pacer Strike avionics update program replaced analog equipment with new digital equipment and multi-function displays. The last USAF F-111s were withdrawn from service in 1996, replaced by the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. F-111K The British government canceled the BAC TSR-2 strike aircraft in 1965, citing the lower costs for the TFX and ordered 50 F-111K aircraft in February 1967 for the Royal Air Force. The F-111K was to be supplemented later by the Anglo-French Variable Geometry Aircraft then under development. The F-111K was based on the F-111A with longer F-111B wings, In January 1968, the United Kingdom terminated its F-111K order, In 1968, plans called for 263 FB-111s, but the total was reduced to 76 aircraft in 1969. The first production aircraft flew in 1968. After the UK canceled its order for the F-111K in 1968, components for the 48 F-111Ks in production were reused on the FB-111A. Deliveries began in 1969 and ended in 1971. Fuel capacity was increased by 585 gallons (2,214 L) and strengthened landing gear permitted a higher maximum takeoff weight of 119,250 lb (54,105 kg). All but the first FB-111A had the Triple Plow II intakes and the TF30-P-7 with 12,500 lbf (56 kN) dry and 20,350 lbf (90 kN) afterburning thrust. The FB-111A was fitted with the SAC Mark IIB avionics suite. It had an attack radar improved from the F-111A's radar, along with kit later used on the F-111D, such as the inertial navigation system, digital computers, and multi-function displays. The suite also had custom items to support the strategic mission, such as a star tracker navigation system mounted forward of the cockpit, a satellite communications receiver, and an automatic stores release system that replaced the manual arrangement on other F-111 models. The similar FB-111B/C was offered in 1979 without success. The FB-111A became surplus to SAC's needs after the B-1B Lancer entered service; they were subsequently reconfigured for tactical use and redesignated F-111G. The conversions began in 1989 and ended after 34 F-111Gs were produced. After SAC's disestablishment, the FB-111As and F-111Gs were transferred to the newly established Air Combat Command (ACC) and used primarily for training. The remaining FB-111As were retired in 1991 and the F-111Gs were retired in 1993. Australia bought 15 F-111Gs in 1993 to supplement its F-111Cs. ==Operators==

; • Royal Australian Air Force • No. 82 Wing – RAAF Base Amberley • No. 1 Squadron F-111C (1973–2009) • No. 6 Squadron F-111C (1973–2010), F-111G (1993–2007) ; United States Air Force operated F-111A/D/E/F/G, FB-111A and EF-111A. Officially retired its F-111s in 1996 and the EF-111A in 1998. :Tactical Air Command 1968–1992 :Air Combat Command 1992–1998 • 27th Tactical Fighter Wing – Cannon AFB ::428th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-111G (1990–1993), F-111E (1993–1995) ::481st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A/E (1969–1973), F-111D (1973–1980) ::522d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A/E (1971–1972), F-111D (1973–1992), F-111F (1992–1995) ::523d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A/E (1971–1972), F-111D (1973–1992), F-111F (1992–1995) ::524th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A/E (1971–1972), F-111D (1973–1992), F-111F (1992–1995) • 366th Tactical Fighter Wing – Mountain Home AFB ::389th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1971–1977), F-111A (1977–1991) ::390th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1971–1977), F-111A (1977–1982) ::391st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1971–1977), F-111A (1977–1990) • 474th Tactical Fighter Wing – Nellis AFB ::428th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A (1968–1977) ::429th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A (1969–1977) ::430th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111A (1969–1977) ::442nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-111A (1969–1977) :United States Air Forces in Europe • 20th Tactical Fighter Wing – RAF Upper Heyford ::55th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111E (1971–1993) ::77th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111E (1971–1993) ::79th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111E (1971–1993) • 48th Tactical Fighter Wing – RAF Lakenheath ::492d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1977–1992) ::493d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1977–1992) ::494th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1977–1992) ::495th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F (1977–1991) :Strategic Air Command • 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) – Carswell AFB ::4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron FB-111 (1968–1971) • 380th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Plattsburgh AFB ::528th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) FB-111 (1971–1991) ::529th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) FB-111 (1971–1991) ::530th Combat Crew Training Squadron FB-111 (1986–1991) ::4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron FB-111 (1971–1986) • 509th Bombardment Wing (Medium) – Pease AFB ::393d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) FB-111 (1970–1990) ::715th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) FB-111 (1971–1990) • NASA ==Aircraft on display==

on display as a cockpit simulator Australia ;F-111G • A8-272 – RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Victoria. Russia ;F-111A • 67-0068 – , Moscow (cockpit module only). United Kingdom ;F-111E • 67-0120 – American Air Museum, Imperial War Museum Duxford, Duxford, England. The last F-111E from 20th Tactical Fighter Wing in the UK. It was directly transferred from USAF service at RAF Upper Heyford to the museum in late 1993, prior to the base closure in 1994. • 68-0011 – RAF Lakenheath, England (in front of base post office, marked as 48th TFW F-111F) ;F-111F • 74-0177 – National Cold War Exhibition, Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, England. United States ;F-111A • 63-9766 – Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, Edwards AFB, Palmdale, California (first F-111) • 63-9767 – Waukegan National Airport, Waukegan, Illinois. To be put on display at the Lake County Veterans Memorial at the airport. Formerly on display at Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum (former Chanute AFB), Rantoul, Illinois. Although it is a monument, it is possible to take it down because the wheels are unfolded. • • • 63-9775 – United States Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama. • • 63-9778 – Air Force Flight Test Center Museum, Edwards AFB, Palmdale, California (TACT/AFTI F-111) • 66-0012 – Battle Mountain Air Museum, Battle Mountain, Nevada. • 66-0016 – Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico. It is a monument fixed to a pedestal. • 67-0012 – Henderson Park, Brenham, Texas • 67-0046 – Brownwood Regional Airport, Brownwood, Texas. • 67-0047 – American Airpower Museum, Long Island, New York • 67-0051 – Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, Tyler, Texas (marked as 67-0050). • 67-0057 – Dyess Air Force Base Linear Air Park, Abilene, Texas. • • 67-0067 – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio • 67-0069 – The Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, Alabama. • 67-0100 – Nellis Air Force Base, North Las Vegas, Nevada (aircraft display park). It is fixed to a pedestal and serves as a monument. ;F-111D • ;F-111E • 68-0009 – Fort Worth Aviation Museum Fort Worth, Texas • 68-0020 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah (nicknamed "My Lucky Blonde") • 68-0027 – Commemorative Air Force, Midland, Texas. • 68-0033 – Pima Air and Space Museum (adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB), Tucson, Arizona • 68-0039 – Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina. , Robins AFB • 68-0055 – Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia (nicknamed "Heartbreaker") • 68-0058 – Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, Valparaiso, Florida ;F-111F • • 70-2390 – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio • 70-2408 – Santa Fe County Municipal, Santa Fe, New Mexico. • 74-0178 – Aviation Heritage Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky ; F-111G • 67-0159 – Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan AFB (formerly), Sacramento, California (FB-111A development aircraft, converted to F-111G) • 68-0239 – K. I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum, formerly K.I. Sawyer AFB, Marquette, Michigan (nicknamed the "Rough Night"); converted to F-111G • 68-0284 – Barksdale Global Power Museum, Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, Louisiana. • 68-0287 – Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (former Lowry AFB), Denver, Colorado ; FB-111A • 68-0245 – March Field Air Museum, March ARB, Riverside, California (nicknamed "Ready Teddy") • 68-0248 – South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (nicknamed "Free For All"). • 68-0267 – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska (nicknamed "Black Widow") • • • 69-6507 – Castle Air Museum (former Castle AFB), Atwater, California (nicknamed "Madam Queen") • 69-6509 – Whiteman AFB, Knob Noster, Missouri (gate guard) (nicknamed "The Spirit of the Seacoast"). ==Specifications (F-111F)==

(PESA, precursor of the AN/APQ-164 for B-1 Lancer), specifically designed for the FB-111 ==Notable appearances in media==

The sound of an F-111 flyby is on the Voyager Golden Record. The RAAF F-111 aircraft appeared during the Sydney 2000 Olympics closing ceremony in a low flyover. ==See also==