General Dynamics F-111

[Parag0n]

I was so sad when I heard that our air force (RAAF) was retiring the F111's and replacing them with Super Hornets...completely different style of plane and purpose.

Even though the F111's may be old they were still magnificent and obviously battle proven.

I remember as a kid one going past, loudest thing I had ever heard in my life, louder than a top fueller running nitromethane...then I saw it dump and burn it's fuel, amazing sight, worlds biggest ZIPPO lighter.

I love this plane.

[mikennamorato]

Amazing plane

[gnark1ll1us]

Sounds like the legend John Peel doing the voiceover.

[NickoRules17]

what country?

[snoobeagle]

Don't forget the ejection system being the entire cockpit, making for a much safer egress in an emergency!

[duffersson]

@snoobeagle  It's a way safer system. no oxygen problems and i have no idea why they didn't continue the idea.

[VigilanteAgumon]

@duffersson The overall system is heavier and more complex than a zero-zero ejection seat.

[duffersson]

@VigilanteAgumon but you do have the advantage of an easier landing, safer if onto water, and all your survival equipment, a shelter and homing beacon all rolled into one package.

[jaynj908]

I sat in one at RAF Upper Heyford. I was a skinny dude then tight fit

[MadeInLat1]

F-111 is Finaly Retired

I dont know if i am happy or sad ?

[hawk20078]

we call the F-111 here the pig but the government here are replacing her with the F-35

I think it a backward step and would like to see them flying.

There is nothing that has the same capabilities flying to day

[58rpm]

I was a jet mech at Pease AFB from 1978-1981 and at Cannon AFB from 1982-1986. I sure miss that plane. I saw all 27th tail# at D.M. That I worked on, what a sad sight!!!!

[myfunkychannel]

wtf why is there always porn music in military videos

[KatsOlman]

You have no idea how many hours I spent working on the F-111D at Cannon AFB in the '70's & '80's. No matter what anybody says this plane could've been a decisive factor in any conflict if used in force. It could do some amazing stuff, and it could drive crew chiefs like me absolutely nuts!

I damn sure wouldn't want to be on the recieving end of this bird's anger.

[OlderG0ds]

@KatsOlman

Is it true it needs around 150 hours of maintenance for 1 hr flown?

[gnarkillkicksass]

@OlderG0ds Yep its just not cost effective and in a high operational tempo (war for example) the f-111 just cant spend enough time in the air. The C-5 Galaxy is the worst though, 300hours of maintinence for 1 hour of flight. But because of its massive lift capability and the fact there are enough to run reguarly on routes requiring heavy lift it is still valuable, unlike the f-111.

[semtex84]

@KatsOlman There's talk in Australia of completely reworking our F-111's from the ground up with all new radar absorbent skin, fitting 2 F-16 engines giving it the ability to super-cruise and internal weapon bays with upgraded sensors.

I hope they do it!

[gizmokc]

I gotta say a couple of phrases that we had back in the day, "F-111's fly fast and low, ask any Libyan", and "Libya= Lakenheath Is Bombing Your Ass", anyone else remember those?

[jonesy97]

@gizmokc I was a little late for Libya, but I was a weapons loader from Lakenheath during Desert Storm. The pilots had an awesome flight suit patch that says Baghdad Bash. Let's Party! That pretty much says it all.

[daveywaveydave]

Is it just me or is the voice work in this clip done by noddy holder of slade? ...it really sounds like him. Love the F-111's though a swept wing beauty!

[skabanditscooterclub]

Its John Peel @daveywaveydave

[daveywaveydave]

@skabanditscooterclub Oh its peel, they both must sound very similar to me then, thanks for the reply

[MrHotguy777]

oh yeah worked on them and 2.5 oh yeah

[falcon2160]

Anybody out there ever heard of Takli RTAFB? I was stationed at 6280th USAF Hospital from 08/73 to 07/74. I used to sit out near the runway after sundown and watch 'em take off w/ afterburners on.

[BusterBunker]

"The F-111 is like sex, you don't know how great it is until you've actually tried it."

[jetmechx]

i was a engine mech on these from 89-94 got to take ef's to saudi as well. hated to see em go was sad day they closed UH. then to add salt to a cut went to DM and saw the same jets in the pima fields. Mu step dad worked as an electritian on em back in late 60's same tail numbers!

[jonesy97]

@jetmechx So you were out there with me, playing in Taif, huh?That would have killed me to see them out there at DM. Seeing all of them on Google Earth is bad enough. You remember Taif? I lived in shelter G-10. Weapons loader.

[strikeeagle0262]

I worked on the F model at the Heath b4 cross trained to the F15E. The aardvark was a bitch to work on, and broke hard. But when it had a mission, it did it superbly. More tank kills than any other jet in Desert Storm.

But damn those engines were a pain in the ass! How about them heatshields? You old crew dogs know what I'm talking about.

[brtshstel]

Wonderful airplane. it was a failure for the Navy, but both the Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force got some good service out of it.

[MrHotguy777]

I worked on the 111 in 1981 through 1984 at lakenheath so your facts are inaccurate!

[CVKent317]

Does the F-111 have the same G-limits as the F-105?

[theonly52]

my dad was in support at cannon in 93 and retired in 94. go 27th!!

[dave0616]

I worked there from 94-97!

[killingophelia]

Great video. I miss working on those planes at Heyford and then later at Cannon!

[DaringWhitehawk]

Do you know a Mr. Rodney Scott ? It is not fair of how Heyford is being treated, it should be a museum.

[jonesy97]

Yeah, I miss them, too. I was a bomb loader at Cannon and Lakenheath. Never thought I'd miss that jet, but I do.

[oxonboy]

A very familiar site over the Oxfordshire countryside in the 1980s.

[zabercrombie24]

Never will I understand,when are Air Force had such awsome aircraft like the F-111,EF-111,that we would moth ball them.Great aircraft that still could be flown today sitting it the desert of AZ.Everytime I watch these clips I get pissed!!!!

[JIMMYx2xTIMES]

Still in service in the Australian airforce but there due to be taken out of service next year. Best plane ever built

[XR6Charged]

Ye getting replaced by the Super Hornets + F-35 JSF.

[DaringWhitehawk]

The RAAF is using them till 2010, plus most of those planes in AZ. are repainted and end up in a museum.

[jamcrane3]

I feel the same way, but I know why they no longer fly. This airplane is incredibly mechanically complex, and hideously expensive to maintain.

The swing wings, the adjustable air intakes, the big fuel hogging engines,the rocket motors of the capsule, the multitude of weapon systems, all of these things made it the best and deadliest (for the enemy) airplane ever flown, but unbelievably labor and parts inventory expensive to maintain and fly.

But she was designed that way to be a silver bullet.

[djrowland323]

My dad flew the f-111, along with the f-18, GR4, and the bucaneer. He said the functional range compared to the rest was huge, it had a greater fuel capacity and engine efficiency. He thinks thats one of the reasons it suited the Raaf, because of its huge range and the size of Aus.

[BusterBunker]

I just built my academy f-111f and I love it, its so I dont have to go down to Wright patt afb museam to see it every day, The f-111 is the best plane ever built, the USAF should still fly it, I would love to go fly one with the RAAF, heck one of the safest flying records of all time. its the slickest looking plane of all time

[cyberspy034]

agreed, i love the plane too

[empire161]

Rofl the music sounds like that from a luxury car ad.

[RancidElf32]

this is one of my favorite planes they are still one of the fastest in the world i heard that they can't maintan top speed to long or the glass conopy will start to melt from air friction (that would suck)

[seethepositive]

the canopy does not melt. quit listening to crap.

[hainesy86]

Really good video, personally I think they are one of the most underrated airplanes in fighter history.

[mikaugo]

The Aussie air-force are the only ones still using them. They have developed patches to go over any cracks on the outer skin, making them look a bit worse for wear, but will keep them in service till 2020. One hit a pelican after takeoff about 2 days ago, bending the nose downward 90deg. Still landed it though, there tough as nails! An all time classic!

[f11rob]

yes but they will be replaced by a f-35 and a super hornet

[jthqrules]

no it wont it was never operational so it cant be replaced !

[IAEHANGER]

nice but its nothing compared to the TSR 2,

[icy2527]

Agree!!!! But TSR.2 lose by its government .

[andylamb666]

I spent my entire childhood watching these every day. I was underneath their route between Upper Heyford and Lakenheath and they passed over at about 2000 feet. Nice memories.

[myround0]

I worked with Jeff Boren at Upper Heyford

[PELICANOCHILENO]

Great plane. This is the kind of ofensive weapon that brings the adversary to the negotiation table. The Soviet Union could not produce enough quantity of planes in this category, nor an effective defense against it. Result: The cold war was over.

[ViciousCritique]

@PELICANOCHILENO  Mig-25 could catch F-111.

[no1adjuster]

This was a great aircraft. In my opinion, this was the most versatile aircraft ever made from fighting to recon. I grew up on these. Sad day when they went.

[DevanC105]

I still dont understand why they retired this beast

[PELICANOCHILENO]

One reason is the maintenance cost of hydraulics systems for the variable geometry wings. Same reason for the retirement of F-14's Tomcats; 40 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight is too expensive.

The other reason is explained in the video: negotiations to end the cold war. They retire an ofensive weapon that the old Warsov Pact block couldn't stop.

Only a missile with Mach 3 speed and last generation guidance could cath this bird, which they lacked.

[Grover130]

What a badass bomber - awesome

[peepeevagi]

I do so miss the Ardvark.

The mini Lancer as i'd use to call it.

You must admit, it greatly resembles a B1 lancer

[thehurricane1974]

great

[youreale]

De-commission of this aircraft was made mostly by cost factors. They could be refited with more advanced engines and avionics but the services who use it have today more effective alternatives.

[rockinroy555]

Even John Peel's dour tones can't make the 'Vaark dull.

Miss seeing them in the circuit at Heyford.

[whylie74]

my fav' featur is the "Fart of fire" fuel dump

[jonesy97]

I loaded bombs on F-111F's during the gulf war. God, I miss that plane! Thanks for the vid. It gave me chills to see the flightline of Lakenheath again!

[Anthrax92007]

I heard that the f111 is going to be de-commisioned from the RAAF pretty soon

[stokakrishnadas]

See Karlo Copp for interesting discussions about how the F111 could be upgraded with contemporary engines and avionics

[fender200]

I agree, and let's admit, they are far worse than that.

[NAVY76]

I hate the Labour Goverment there a group of dum ass's.

[cavalier080854]

TSR2 would have been better, on it's only supersonic test flight, with only one engine on reheat it out stripped it's observer English Electric Lightning which had both it's engines on reheat. It would have been cheaper and been rolled out sooner, but for the spineless Labour government.

[hitlafedd]

i live in brisbane :D F-111 are one of my favorite planes of all time.

[NAVY76]

hey if you wanna see F-111 in USE come down under to Australia the Royal Aystralian Air Force are still useing the great F-111 go to Brisbane and and go to Amberley Air Force base thats where thay all are base at I know there is about 27 out there but I think there is more out there so go and have a look. There great to watch fly around. Thay fly from Monday to Friday so yeah go and have a look.