Key Factors and Abstract: The F-111 Aardvark, a Chilly Battle-era U.S. Air Drive fighter-bomber, was a groundbreaking plane with variable-sweep wings, terrain-following radar, and high-speed, low-altitude strike capabilities.
Key Level #1 – It excelled in Vietnam, conducting over 4,000 missions with minimal losses, and performed a key function in Operation El Dorado Canyon’s long-range strike on Libya. Able to carrying nuclear and standard weapons, the F-111’s versatility made it a formidable strike plane.
Key Level #2 – Regardless of its effectiveness, the Aardvark was retired in favor of the B-1 bomber. Whereas not in service, its modern design and fight file cement its place in army aviation historical past.
The F-111 Aardvark: The Supersonic Strike Jet That Modified Warfare
The US Air Drive F-111, often called the Aardvark, was born within the Chilly Battle beneath the Tactical Fighter Experimental Program (TFX) when Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Protection.
When it was first operational, it was an excellent platform able to performing a number of roles to fly the skies. The “Aardvark” additionally represented the primary manufacturing airframe with a variable-sweep wing configuration that the pilot might change in flight.
Background of the F-111
In the course of the top of the Chilly Battle, the US was not conscious of how superior the Soviet Union’s anti-aircraft defenses had been till Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy airplane was shot down over the skies of Russia.
McNamara ordered a jet to fulfill the Navy’s and Air Drive’s wants. Initially, the Secretary was searching for a high-altitude jet. Common Dynamics constructed the plane from the bottom up. Designers developed the platform with two-seat and twin-engine options.
Powered by two highly effective Pratt & Whitney TF30 afterburning turbofan engines with 25,100 kilos of thrust, the F-111’s prime velocity was 1,452 mph. The pilot and weapons officer sat side-by-side within the cockpit. The variable-sweep wings span in full ahead and full sweep varies from 16° to 72.5°.
The sweep wings prolonged and swept to achieve supersonic speeds at excessive and low altitudes, permitting for shorter take-off and touchdown distances.
The F-111 plane performed its maiden flight in December 1964 and entered service with the Air Drive in 1967. Manufacturing ceased in 1976 after 566 plane had been constructed in numerous variations. The F-111 variants had been in service with the Air Drive till 1998.
The F-111, Aardvark
The FB-111A was a strategic bomber variant developed for the USAF Strategic Air Command. It had elevated load-carrying capability and vary and used the SAC Mark IIB avionics suite. It had Triple Plow II intakes and a TF30-P-7 engine. The primary armament of FB-111A was the Boeing AGM-69 short-range assault missile.
The interior bay might carry Mk 117 sort (340kg) bombs, and as much as Mk 118 (1,400kg) was cleared. The F-111 might carry varied free-fall nuclear weapons akin to B43, B57, and B61 bombs. The F-111C can launch AGM-142 Popeye stand-off missile, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile, and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile.
The avionics programs included communications, navigation, terrain following, goal acquisition and assault, and enemy air protection programs suppression.
The F-111’s computerized terrain-following radar system flew the plane at a relentless altitude above the bottom, following the Earth’s contours, referred to as the Nap of the Earth. It allowed the plane to fly in valleys and over mountains, day or night time, no matter climate circumstances. A fail-safe computerized climb was initiated throughout any system malfunction.
The radar bombing system was synchronized with a laser recognizing system to ship weapons exactly at night time or in unhealthy climate.
Lengthy, Distinguished Fight File
The Aardvark flew over 4,000 missions in Vietnam with solely six losses, one of many lowest loss charges of the battle. In the course of the 1972 Linebacker raids, the F-111 Aardvark lastly demonstrated its potential. Flying beneath North Vietnam’s intensive radar community at night time, F-111s blasted North Vietnamese airfields and air protection batteries, weakening the resistance to incoming B-52 raids.
Aardvarks didn’t require the fighter escort, digital warfare assist, or midair refueling that different bombers required and will function in inclement climate.
In 1986, troubles with Libya rose with the USA after the bombing of the La Belle nightclub perpetrated by Libyan brokers in Berlin killed two US servicemen. President Reagan ordered an assault on Libyan dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi’s private compound close to Tripoli, codenamed Operation El Dorado Canyon.
As a result of the USA couldn’t get approval from mainland European nations (France) for the raid, the Aardvarks took off from the UK and needed to circumnavigate Spain, growing whole flight time to 13 hours. In all, they wanted to be refueled six occasions on the roundtrip. It was probably the most prolonged fighter mission in historical past. Qaddafi escaped as a result of the Prime Minister of Italy tipped off Qaddafi on the final minute.
The Aardvark might land and take off from shorter runways, which additionally helped its efficacy throughout Vietnam, the Chilly Battle, and Operation Desert Storm. The US bought the F-111 to Australia, whose pilots affectionately referred to as it “the Pig.”
Sadly, the Air Drive determined to not prolong its service life as they’ve carried out to a lot of their nice plane platforms. It was an amazing plane. It might fly low and unobservable to enemy radar, and she or he was quick and maneuverable.
Nevertheless, the B-1 Bomber was able to fly, and the F-111 was retired.
F-111: All The Photographs
F-111. Picture Credit score: Artistic Commons.
RAAF A8-134 Common Dynamics RF-111C Aardvark c/n D1-10. Farewell F-111 Aerial Show – Australian Worldwide Airshow 10-15 March 2009. File: A8-134_YMAV_20090314_5871
An air-to-air left entrance view of an F-111 plane throughout a refueling mission over the North Sea.
F-111
F-111. Picture Credit score: Artistic Commons.
F-111. Picture Credit score: Artistic Commons.
F-111. Picture Credit score: Artistic Commons.
Concerning the Writer: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive Nationwide Safety Columnist. He served as a US Military Particular Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. Along with writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA). His work was often featured in lots of army publications.
