When Pigs Could Fly
The F-111, beloved by pilots in America and Australia, takes to the air for the last time.
- By Michael Klesius
- AirSpaceMag.com, January 31, 2011
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John Freedman
Green tactical light bathes navigator Flt. Lt. Jake Romanowski (left) and pilot Flt. Lt. Andrew Kloeden in their night vision goggles during an exercise in the F-111 simulator at Amberley in June 2009. The crew placed Freedman’s camera on the instrument panel for a six-second, timer-triggered exposure. Amberley’s simulator is a non-motion surround-visual type, complete with Pave Tack equipment and authentic graphics of Australian terrain. It is run by RAAF pilot Steve Clarke, whose 3,400-plus hours in the Pig beats that of any Australian pilot.
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Comments (8)
I love that the ground crew wear camo and high-visibility jackets at the same time. The world really is messed up.
Posted by Rick on February 1,2011 | 10:38 PM
Truly awesome pictures! I prefer the name "Aardvark," but by whatever name, the F-111 will be missed by aviation enthusiasts.
Posted by John on February 12,2011 | 02:03 PM
This bird had a rocky start, and would not have made it without political pressure. We had the first six prototypes at Edwards AFB in 1966, four for the Air Force, and two for the Navy. Ours were dogs.
Going out for an interphone problem on #766, I noticed that the right wing was missing its leading edge. When I asked the crew chief about it, he told me that it "blew off in flight", then called me down from the cockpit to show me some things with another one on jacks in the hangar, including loose aluminum sheets on the empennage, and other troubles. The Crew Chief himself did not like that airplane.
When it came down to the political vote, busloads of Congressmen were brought in to climb in and play fighter pilot on the ground. We workers were not allowed to be there.
I always liked the F-111A, but I think its genesis was more political than technical.
Posted by gkam on February 17,2011 | 12:07 PM
If you would like to see another amazing dump and burn, check out Steve McDermott's photo page.
http://www.ambient-aperture-photography.com/Airplanes/RAAF-F1-11-Dump-And-Burn/14863556_rBvfX#1109079197_cxx83
Posted by Joe on February 24,2011 | 12:57 PM
You may wish to view the following pages -
THE VARK MEMORIAL
http://www.f-111.net/memorial_files/the_plaque.htm
http://www.f-111.net/memorial.htm
Posted by CLAY MARSTON on February 24,2011 | 05:47 PM
Could you be referring to that POS also known as "the MacNamara switchblade Edsel"???
Posted by c.wawrzynski on February 25,2011 | 12:26 PM
Please help me find my old friend. I was his WSO at (1) Nellis AFB, (2) Takhli, Thailand, (3) Korat, Thailand, (4) RAF Upper Heyford, England and Cannon AFB, NM (for much of Brad's record we were sitting beside each other in the F-111 A/E/D. 757.246-0706 - thomminnis@gmail.com. EDITORS' REPLY: What's your friend's name? You might try contacting whichever service he was in--or the Air Force Association.
Posted by Thomas Minnis on May 29,2011 | 07:14 PM
I was the thermo engineer on the F-111 Crew Module made by McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis from 1965 through 1967.
I have many career changing memories being involved in such a big project in my mid twenties. The windshields were a real design problem due to the flight profile requirements.
I am proud to be a part of great aviation history.
Gene
Posted by Gene Millner on September 22,2011 | 09:29 PM