The Ardvark was my favorite modern day fighter/bomber from the cold war era. My favorite bomber is the B1-b Lancer. Hmm, go figure they are both swept wing design.
F35, beautifully manufactured airframe. But as it has only small weapons bay, it has to use wing pylons for a decent weapons load and that looses its stealth capability. The ASEA radar is an effective radar, it allows one to see targerts hidden behide mountains butttt, it is isnt terrain following as we had with the F111.. If you want to have credbile power projection you need rnage, and all weather deep penetration low altitude yes, that mens F111 or Strike eagle... think Stealth eagle...
The F111 remains the finest, long range, deep penetration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and now he’s succeeded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and can only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesn’t want us able to strike China and North Korea Labor doesn’t want us to regional power projection
@7nordic True but the super hornet was designed as a fighter and actually has four fifths of the F-111C's speed and has a higher cruise speed. The Super Hornet carries far more advanced avionics and weapons than the F-111C. After the Super Hornet we will recieve F-35As which will be used by the USAF in the ground-attack role and replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II. But that leaves us Aussies with not strategic strike platform...
The F111 is, remains the finest, long range, deep peentration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and nw hes suceded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and cna only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesnt want us able to take on the Asian communist nations of China and North Korea... An F111 can strike China
The F111 is, remains the finest, long range, deep peentration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and nw hes suceded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and cna only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesnt want us able to take on the Asian communist nations of China nd North Korea... An F111 can strike China
It flies x2 the speed of sound drop bombs on a pin we never see anything like this.
Yes it was made in the late 1960s but there is no other aircraft that can do what this has done. I just hope they keep 2 for airshows corz thay are worth to watch.
I may add the RAAF used the pig in a top gun type comp in the 90s and won
Only pilots should decide if this is shit or not. Don't come here, kids, to comment things like ' this is some old crap'. You never flew it, or will fly it. I guess you are angry because you can't pilot this maravel. May this flying god rest in peace.
The F-111 is nothing short of a f**king Beast...most awesome thing i have ever watched fly...after 30+ years of seeing them fly around Brisbane and Ipswich I still cannot look away until the are out of sight
I want one , are the RAAF gona sell them at auction ? . my mates will freek if i get one in my garage . Im gonna need a big fucken trailer to tow it home ! I hope the V8 cherokee can cope !!!!!!!
Super Hornets are replacing them im affraid while we wait for the JSF or F-35 sad to see her go. Was awesome tonight in Brisbane they were at RIver Fire
Please someone correct me if im wrong but the US navy flys just super hornets now for carrier protection. They retired the F-14's a couple of years ago 2 or 3?
i read somewhere that after introduction of the F-22 and money spent on them they made a squadron or so F-35 which they use but UK and France canceled their plane purchases and US found F-18's and 14's still perfectly well for carrier missions so they canceled the production.
well i believe your mistaken they don't fly the F-14 any more and I don't think they have canceled the JSF program. I don't mean to be rude either but i think this is the wrong video to be discussing this.
I was about to post a comment to the effect that I'm glad the Aussies are replacing these with F/A-18E/Fs and F-35s, because I thought F-111s were damn ugly.
But having actually seeing a video of them, they're not half bad...
No they don't serve any aerodynamic purpose,they open purely to allow the wing leading edge slats to deploy,when the wings sweep back and/or the slats are retracted they remain closed.
a very capable aircraft . . . . i think they are about to be phased out of RAAF . . . dunno whats gonna replace em . . its surely not gonna be f22s . . maybe the f35s
the f-111c ardvark made me want to be in the RAAF but im sad i will never get to fly it. its so butiful, so powerful, but sadly so old that it has to go. i think we should keep 1 or 2 for air shows and that sort of thing. =(
I laugh every time I watch some of this footage when I see JJ looking up the tail pipe. No avionics up there mate!!!! LOL. It will be a sad day when the last of the old girls take to the sky. I know a tear will be rolling down my cheek. I would love to be there.
Despite the Pig being an old jet, she is still absolutely awe inspiring and beutifull. No other aircraft in the world can match her. It will be a sad day when the F111 makes her last flight with the RAAF. She leaves behind an image that big, fast and powerfull jets once ruled the sky. To those of you who choose to put the Pig down I have one thing to say, GET STUFFED!!!
I worked on FB-111s at Plattsburgh NY 1984-85 (bomb loader).
I really gained respect for them when we took 4 birds to Maple Flag at Canadian Forces Base, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada in May 1985. They kicked butt!!!
The F-111B was the naval variant of the 'Vark. The only problem is that, while the F-111 is a great strike aircraft it's not the best choice for a fleet defense fighter, thus the F-14, which was designed to fire the same AIM-54 Phoenix AAM intended for the F-111. The F-14 also uses the same afterburning turbofan engines as the F-111.
when this plane gets decomissoned they should sell to NZ and buy f-22's with the money or by some f-35s or even f-16's 16.5 mil each, there old but fk are they sexy!!! there are so much betta aircraft out there but still the f-111 is awesome! and if u say its crap u an idiot,
yeah loved this plane, I think it has served australia well, intially i was ignorant and used to think it was rubbish but now i have understanding of australia's strategic environment it is a jet that fills the role we need. It has long range, fast and can play the role as a bomber. Perfect for a country like Australia.
was a bit too expensive to maintain. The "swept wings" ability for example cost a lot to maintain because there were heaps of mechanical parts and things in there. None the less it was a good jet...
it was not lack of preformance rathere it was so feared by russians it was a sticking point in the nuk. disarmerment talks they wanted them out of the UK. and we gave in to them and mothballed them, its replacment in the us inventory is the B1B . as for speed // F22 MACH 1.72 // F18 MACH 1.8 // B1B MACH 1.25 // AND THE F111 MACH 2.5 // F111 IN ASSF MACH 2.8+ GO PIG GO .. note most are still in 1 pice sitting in mothballs whating for the next big war
I'll miss these beautiful aircraft. Feels like I grew up watching and being impressed by them, and I had a link to them as my uncle worked on one of their updates. A great aircraft that still wows the crowds more than any other :)
Hi Benny, I remember the excitement in 1973that the F-111s had finally arrived! They're still an amazing piece of aeronautical engineering. We have, by our own efforts, kept them more than serviceable for the last decade & more. It will be hard to say farewell to the Pig, especially as the replacement is more of a short-range fighter than a long-range & bloody fast fighter/bomber. And what do we really need bearing in mind our place in our particular region? Maybe they got it right in 1963
I agree MarJSau. I have a friend who was an RAAF Hornet pilot. He said that when they went hunting 111's, they had a hell of a time. If the Pig went low and gunned it, they simply couldn't catch it by going after them low. They had to stay high and hope the 111's come up for air some time soon without losing them.
Because the F-111 is much better than the F-14. In every way mate. When a 111 goes low and fast, nothing can keep up with it. Tomcats are alo very expensive and very unreliable.
Incorrect. F-111 maximum speed is Mach 2.5 (2,655km/h) and the F-14 is Mach 2.34 (2,485km/h). However, both speeds are suffient to get the job done so 180km/h or so is bugger all in my book. Other attributes of combat effectiveness are just as, if not more important combined, than max air speed. TFR (terrain following radar), range and overall performance put the F-111 out in front in my book. Their reliability and cost to maintain is also better than the Tomcat.
It is a strike A/C (bomber) it can and sometimes does carry air to air but it would not last 30secs against a fighter, it's defence against fighters is to get low and get fast...
It was originally sketched as a fighter/bomber, but ended too heavy and too big for modern air to air combat. So it's really just a bomber. One of the best ever built actually.
Hey Nimakuntalung. Don't place too much faith in the currency of Wikipedia. Aus Govt is looking seriously at the Super Hornet 'stop-gap' solution. We may end up keeping the mighty Pigs flying until the mid 2010's or later, as we had previously intended
I agree mate. I'd still rather cancel the super oreder and pay the couple of hundred million fine. Looks like we're pushing for the F-22 as well. Now we're making some bloody sense. I'm not a big fan of the F-35 yet either.
Still unmatched. Looking like us Aussies are going to extend the "Pig" till 2020. I hope so. We can touch anyone in the region without them knowing it until it was too late.
My dad used to work on these planes when I was a kid and he would take me over to the air force base. Being a little kid and seeing something so big and powerful was amazing. It deffinitly left and impact.
i believe the under carriage stems from original order for the pig to be navy and air-force based therefore the gear was designed for carrier based landings,later the navy withdrew from the program leaving only land based pigs,hope they fly in aus sky`s for many more years.
what an exceptional airframe sleek fast beautiful and deadly the russians where more afraid of these coming in with two ALBM's than probably any other bomber
I grew up close to one of the bases in the UK that the F111's flew out of and this footage was a great reminder of not just the aircraft themselves but the fun times I shared socially with those guys who worked and flew them. Good days never to be forgotten.
The RAAF do not need to upgade thier 111's as they do it constantly and we will be sorry when they are retired from service. long live the PIG.........
what a pretty monster, my dad use to be captain of an Ardvark F-111 based in the UK in the 80's, i sad in one when i was a kid. said its the best jet ever build, powerfull elegant and super deadly.
Rubbish, the TSR 2 was its equivalent, would have come into service sooner and been cheaper, but was cancelled by a spineless Labour government as too expensive. The F111 also had massive cost overspend as the Aussies found out, and regreted.
I think you've been watching too much Top Gun. The F-14 was one of the US Navys biggest anf most expensive blunders. They were so committed, with no other alternative. The F-111 is far from a piece of shit. But, we all have our own opinions. Some are just a little more educated opinions than others.
Far far superior at what? The only thing the Tomcat was good at was as a platform for launching multiple AIM-54 Pheonix missiles. It was unreliable, expensive to maintain, very heavy and bled WAY too much energy on turns. It handled terribly compared to smaller fighter aircraft as well. But I respect your opinion and the time you spent serving so lets just agree to disagree on this one mate.
Who said it was popular? Only the Us Navy and Iran had them. No-one else wanted them. I haven't said the Tomcat was crap. Just not the best thing in the air of it's era.
Well popular in the US is what I ment...yeah I guess your right. It had its time and it served well in that time but it was replaced by newer and better things. Wait, are you a pilot in the RAAF?
sweet. I'm almost 16 and I'm in the Australian Airforce cadets at the moment. As soon as I finish school I'm going to apply for the airforce as a fighter pilot, cant wait =D. How do you register to become a fighter pilot though? Do you just go to the recruiting place and say what you want to do or is there more to that?
probally have to go to university and get a degree and then register they will do testing on you and when thats finished you are in or you fail and ur not if you want to become a fighter pilot really bad i would start looking into it as soon as possible
yeah I'm in the AAFC at the moment and I'm doing all the subjects that they like you to do...their just not too clear on what exact qualifications you need on the defence jobs website
you can go to recruiting and then you can either go for direct entry (go straight to pilot without going through ADFA) or you sit your officer selcetion board, pass flight screening and aircrew selection then goto adfa get a degree go for pilot as well as havig a backup
you have to ring defence force recruiting or go to the defence jobs website. i suggest ring them up because I applied online and the application never got through. when you call them they will ask you what you want to do in the RAAF. HAVE 3 CHOICES READY! I personally chose fighter pilot, aircraft technician, and armament fitter / engineer. they will organise a YOU day (can't remember what it means. then you will have your fitness and medical about 2 weeks after that.
yeah i think that is fine, i personally chose to spread mine out a bit but thats just me. pretty much anything to do with the sircraft for me lol. so all in all that should be fine. you could also say: 1. pilot (general cargo or fighter), 2. whatever you choose, 3. whatever you choose. but ur choice.
say you chose fighter pilot as your first preference, would they put you through a bit of training first to see if you are elegable for it and then just go on from there?
No after point cook you can put your preference in for what you want but at the end of the day its the instructors and others who post you given your results in training etc. And ps dont refer to it as a cargo plane pilot etc, call the planes by name, C-130 Herc, C-17 etc. It'll tell the recruiter you know what you want.
In some areas yes. In others, NO. Nothing can keep up with an F-111 with TFR engaged skimming the earth travelling faster than the speed of sound. It also delivers it's ordinance with poinpoint accuracy. The F-15 was designed to be an air superiority fighter. Brilliant at that, yes. Now being replaced by Rapror. But F-111 with upgraded sytems such as the Aussie ones are pretty untouchable.
the F-111 isnt superior...its good (ignor when i said its a piece of shit, i was in a bad mood) but its not the BEST jet ever made, if it was it wouldnt be being replaced by the new super hornets
The Ardvark was my favorite modern day fighter/bomber from the cold war era. My favorite bomber is the B1-b Lancer. Hmm, go figure they are both swept wing design.
Demogrunt 1 week ago
When do they officially retire from the RAAF?
rabbitcancer 3 months ago
@rabbitcancer 12 months ago
cubosensaj 2 months ago
Absolutely beautiful! The music truly brings out the joy of flight
superchris1243 7 months ago
build a better f-15
brown9708 10 months ago
Yo DORSEY, isn't that pig beautiful??? When I was working on them, I thought I hated 'em. They were so sweet.
Bark
barkstheman 11 months ago
Awesome jet.
RedSunCZE 1 year ago
F35, beautifully manufactured airframe. But as it has only small weapons bay, it has to use wing pylons for a decent weapons load and that looses its stealth capability. The ASEA radar is an effective radar, it allows one to see targerts hidden behide mountains butttt, it is isnt terrain following as we had with the F111.. If you want to have credbile power projection you need rnage, and all weather deep penetration low altitude yes, that mens F111 or Strike eagle... think Stealth eagle...
7nordic 1 year ago
The F111 remains the finest, long range, deep penetration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and now he’s succeeded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and can only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesn’t want us able to strike China and North Korea Labor doesn’t want us to regional power projection
7nordic 1 year ago
@7nordic True but the super hornet was designed as a fighter and actually has four fifths of the F-111C's speed and has a higher cruise speed. The Super Hornet carries far more advanced avionics and weapons than the F-111C. After the Super Hornet we will recieve F-35As which will be used by the USAF in the ground-attack role and replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II. But that leaves us Aussies with not strategic strike platform...
sketchupto3drad 1 year ago
The F111 is, remains the finest, long range, deep peentration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and nw hes suceded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and cna only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesnt want us able to take on the Asian communist nations of China and North Korea... An F111 can strike China
7nordic 1 year ago
The F111 is, remains the finest, long range, deep peentration all weather precision strike platform in the western inventory.. Paul Dibb wanted to get rid of them and nw hes suceded.. The F18 Super Hornet cant go a third of the range, cant carry a quarter of the payload and cna only go one third of the speed of the F111 so why get rid of her... answer Labor doesnt want us able to take on the Asian communist nations of China nd North Korea... An F111 can strike China
7nordic 1 year ago
@rocksalt001 if we could maintain we could use them for another 50 years but were out of spare parts so its sad to see them gorne
gothekittycats 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It flies x2 the speed of sound drop bombs on a pin we never see anything like this.
Yes it was made in the late 1960s but there is no other aircraft that can do what this has done. I just hope they keep 2 for airshows corz thay are worth to watch.
I may add the RAAF used the pig in a top gun type comp in the 90s and won
hawk20078 1 year ago
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hawk20078 1 year ago
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hawk20078 1 year ago
Only pilots should decide if this is shit or not. Don't come here, kids, to comment things like ' this is some old crap'. You never flew it, or will fly it. I guess you are angry because you can't pilot this maravel. May this flying god rest in peace.
spanish111japan 1 year ago 2
Last air show display to be at Williamtown 18/19 sep 2010
StewpDog 1 year ago
Going to be missed. Beautiful Aircraft. Congrats and comis to all who have worked on her.
StewpDog 1 year ago
That plane is a garbage made in late 1960s, it wouldn't last long in the war.
TributeToTesla 1 year ago
AWSOME VIDEO.
Skybolter 1 year ago
Fantastic vid of the best combat aircraft we have.
Thanks to the people of 1 Squadron.
R.I.P. the Pigs.
custompipes1 1 year ago
The F-111 is nothing short of a f**king Beast...most awesome thing i have ever watched fly...after 30+ years of seeing them fly around Brisbane and Ipswich I still cannot look away until the are out of sight
joee75 1 year ago
haha right now 2:0 DFB vs Socceros^^
greetings from germany my aussie friends.
95predator 1 year ago
I want one , are the RAAF gona sell them at auction ? . my mates will freek if i get one in my garage . Im gonna need a big fucken trailer to tow it home ! I hope the V8 cherokee can cope !!!!!!!
gigaboat 1 year ago
there too old and too shit.
axenm21 1 year ago
@axenm21 ...as opposed to what...the F22 Raptor...?? think before you speak
joee75 1 year ago
australia is so bomb
clunecrazie8 1 year ago
Good Bye RAAF F111's we will miss u in the years to come Good Bye
fsx737200 2 years ago 2
lol i worked with a couple of guys that crewed the f-11's
MultiOppai 2 years ago
I still work on em..not for much longer..G models already prepped for destruction..C models this year (2010)
goop352 2 years ago
The RAAF still has them in service with modern upgrades
mygt 2 years ago
inst this the last year we're having them in service?
eXphoid 2 years ago
F-111's were a great multi role fighter. lets hope that the F/A 18 will replace it well.
Farewell F-111's have fun at nellis
tyap08 2 years ago
F/A 18 Hornets not going to replace it in the raaf they will still use them
4tw4tw4tw 2 years ago
Super Hornets are replacing them im affraid while we wait for the JSF or F-35 sad to see her go. Was awesome tonight in Brisbane they were at RIver Fire
Wilson10164 2 years ago
ye i saw it on tv it was awsome but its sad to see them fly for the last time
4tw4tw4tw 2 years ago
i think they canceled the production of F-35's...
at least the US says Harriers and F-14's still complete their service. Also Predator drones...
no need for any more of them
Thefallenraptor 2 years ago
US doesn't fly F-14's any more...
Wilson10164 2 years ago
what? since when...
damn i saw some carrier on the news the other day and it was full of F-14's and 18's
Thefallenraptor 2 years ago
Please someone correct me if im wrong but the US navy flys just super hornets now for carrier protection. They retired the F-14's a couple of years ago 2 or 3?
Wilson10164 2 years ago
i read somewhere that after introduction of the F-22 and money spent on them they made a squadron or so F-35 which they use but UK and France canceled their plane purchases and US found F-18's and 14's still perfectly well for carrier missions so they canceled the production.
Thefallenraptor 2 years ago
well i believe your mistaken they don't fly the F-14 any more and I don't think they have canceled the JSF program. I don't mean to be rude either but i think this is the wrong video to be discussing this.
Wilson10164 2 years ago
They retired the 14's almost like a decade now after they brought in Super Hornets
cjgan80 2 years ago
they retired the F -14 in 2006 so three years
Wilson10164 2 years ago
ur right
goop352 2 years ago
It would have been old footage, the US retired the F-14 in 2006.
xero993 2 years ago
Caralho, este vídeo é de tirar o folego, eu amo este avião!!!!
Danm, this video is crazy, I love this airplane, thanks!
Abraços.
Hugs
Fabiobiker1 2 years ago
I was about to post a comment to the effect that I'm glad the Aussies are replacing these with F/A-18E/Fs and F-35s, because I thought F-111s were damn ugly.
But having actually seeing a video of them, they're not half bad...
Kytescall 2 years ago
haha! its jjjediiii hampster!! (2:47ish)
Jonnypunk00 2 years ago
nice video! Nice plane! :)
tomfag1 2 years ago
Aussie F111's we'll miss you !
Thanks for your service to our great country !
barraxr8 2 years ago
What are the moving part at the front of the wing along the fuselage? Are they canards?
Battery9876 3 years ago
I think you're looking at the cockpit canopies in the open position.
terrymiff 2 years ago
These are the Wing root extensions which open when the wings are in the minimum sweep position and the forward slats extended for take off/landing
neilz1309 2 years ago
they're used to increase lift or what?
do they have the same use as the tomcat mustaches?
Battery9876 2 years ago
No they don't serve any aerodynamic purpose,they open purely to allow the wing leading edge slats to deploy,when the wings sweep back and/or the slats are retracted they remain closed.
neilz1309 2 years ago
ok.. mystery solved :)
Thank you.
Battery9876 2 years ago
a very capable aircraft . . . . i think they are about to be phased out of RAAF . . . dunno whats gonna replace em . . its surely not gonna be f22s . . maybe the f35s
srsairbags 3 years ago
Well, that sure as hell made me want to fly a 'vark.
flyboyII 3 years ago
the f-111c ardvark made me want to be in the RAAF but im sad i will never get to fly it. its so butiful, so powerful, but sadly so old that it has to go. i think we should keep 1 or 2 for air shows and that sort of thing. =(
dingus153 3 years ago
I laugh every time I watch some of this footage when I see JJ looking up the tail pipe. No avionics up there mate!!!! LOL. It will be a sad day when the last of the old girls take to the sky. I know a tear will be rolling down my cheek. I would love to be there.
mafiand 3 years ago 2
Despite the Pig being an old jet, she is still absolutely awe inspiring and beutifull. No other aircraft in the world can match her. It will be a sad day when the F111 makes her last flight with the RAAF. She leaves behind an image that big, fast and powerfull jets once ruled the sky. To those of you who choose to put the Pig down I have one thing to say, GET STUFFED!!!
doogle1978 3 years ago 2
Amen, brother! I left the USAF and the F-111 in '92. Never thought I would, but I miss that beautiful jet.
jonesy97 3 years ago
I know what you mean!
I worked on FB-111s at Plattsburgh NY 1984-85 (bomb loader).
I really gained respect for them when we took 4 birds to Maple Flag at Canadian Forces Base, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada in May 1985. They kicked butt!!!
me1u24321 3 years ago
It's Very Old! It retired From Usaf 11 Years ago. Nothing Special. because there are already too many aircrafts better than this.
rezikooo53 3 years ago
Can you name one?
hdmccart 3 years ago
F-22, Mig-31, and F-35 :) F-14 and messerschmith 1944 Lool
rezikooo53 3 years ago
I think you're confusing capabilities.
hdmccart 3 years ago
The F-111 is optimal for Australian uses. Will be hard to replace, though am looking forward to some Super Hornets and F-35's.
ToiletGreece 3 years ago
I still prefer F-14 Design.
I think F-14 is the pioneer of all jet made nowadays.
for example, its cool sliding wing applied into this F-111.
I dunno if im wrong but thats what I think. :)
adidharmaa 3 years ago
You are wrong F111 had the swing wings first but was too heavy for the navy and thus came the F-14
oskeet411 3 years ago 8
Yeah thought so too. F111 is heaps old.
struttyy 3 years ago
but the F-111 is beating F-22 in war games.. its like the fastest bloody fighter or soemthing... lol
LAcrackerr 3 years ago
The F-111B was the naval variant of the 'Vark. The only problem is that, while the F-111 is a great strike aircraft it's not the best choice for a fleet defense fighter, thus the F-14, which was designed to fire the same AIM-54 Phoenix AAM intended for the F-111. The F-14 also uses the same afterburning turbofan engines as the F-111.
pjones08 3 years ago
when this plane gets decomissoned they should sell to NZ and buy f-22's with the money or by some f-35s or even f-16's 16.5 mil each, there old but fk are they sexy!!! there are so much betta aircraft out there but still the f-111 is awesome! and if u say its crap u an idiot,
dragonalliance0 3 years ago
They can't be sold to anyone the airframes have reached their life (total hours) limit.
gnarkillkicksass 3 years ago 2
this plane is crap......we need to start makin our own shit....everything we have is imported....
keil911 3 years ago
why is it shit ? and does this replace the F18 ?
muddwell 3 years ago
NO the f111 is really old But has been upgraded and is still the fastest and has the longest range in the asia pacific
and is going to be fully replaced by the f35-jsf with in 10 years olso with help from the super hornet
stewy9090 3 years ago
This machine can still defend Australia well in to the future
Aussie Airmen rule the earth!!
dsshearer 3 years ago
the most awsome aircraft ever
supremepizza1 3 years ago 2
Absolutely the best promo vid for the RAAF I have ever seen,this had to be made in the raaf.thanx ps,luv the pigs,thankx for amberley 2008
babuzzard 3 years ago
Amberley air show 08 was fantastic.
danielbaud 3 years ago
totally agree, Hornets were the best though i think
CFAN123 3 years ago
@babuzzard KILLER vid. Worked 111's at Cannon NM. Back then, I hated them, or thought I did.........but I LOVE(d) them.
Miss my buds from Cannon! 1997, Switched from F-111's to EF-111's, after we sent all of our's to the boneyard :( What's up DORSEY???????
barkstheman 11 months ago
The F-35 will, dunno about the Hornet.
theredraven 3 years ago
The Super hornet is to temporaraly fill the place of the F - 111's untill we get the F - 35's
Markdilsey 3 years ago
Gents,
This is the best damn vark video I ever seen! Flew the F mod during the storm in 1991 and have been missing my bird ever since.
Snop 493rd TFS Lakenheath
Snop69 3 years ago 9
@Snop69 Andy Pellequin RAAF 1200 knots indicated 200 ft death valley california in the 70s no shit
covingtonium 1 year ago
yeah loved this plane, I think it has served australia well, intially i was ignorant and used to think it was rubbish but now i have understanding of australia's strategic environment it is a jet that fills the role we need. It has long range, fast and can play the role as a bomber. Perfect for a country like Australia.
Nesian79 3 years ago
why was it replaced?
torque234 3 years ago
I think because there was no Soviet Union to fight.
10Cnote 3 years ago
was a bit too expensive to maintain. The "swept wings" ability for example cost a lot to maintain because there were heaps of mechanical parts and things in there. None the less it was a good jet...
51Sarge51 3 years ago
it was not lack of preformance rathere it was so feared by russians it was a sticking point in the nuk. disarmerment talks they wanted them out of the UK. and we gave in to them and mothballed them, its replacment in the us inventory is the B1B . as for speed // F22 MACH 1.72 // F18 MACH 1.8 // B1B MACH 1.25 // AND THE F111 MACH 2.5 // F111 IN ASSF MACH 2.8+ GO PIG GO .. note most are still in 1 pice sitting in mothballs whating for the next big war
HEINZUNIMOG 3 years ago
The F-22 can actually do 2.25.
theredraven 3 years ago
and who said pigs can,t fly!!!!!!!!!
zem1313 3 years ago
hahaha
51Sarge51 3 years ago
I'll miss these beautiful aircraft. Feels like I grew up watching and being impressed by them, and I had a link to them as my uncle worked on one of their updates. A great aircraft that still wows the crowds more than any other :)
BennyTheWoo 3 years ago
Hi Benny, I remember the excitement in 1973that the F-111s had finally arrived! They're still an amazing piece of aeronautical engineering. We have, by our own efforts, kept them more than serviceable for the last decade & more. It will be hard to say farewell to the Pig, especially as the replacement is more of a short-range fighter than a long-range & bloody fast fighter/bomber. And what do we really need bearing in mind our place in our particular region? Maybe they got it right in 1963
MarkJSau 3 years ago
I agree MarJSau. I have a friend who was an RAAF Hornet pilot. He said that when they went hunting 111's, they had a hell of a time. If the Pig went low and gunned it, they simply couldn't catch it by going after them low. They had to stay high and hope the 111's come up for air some time soon without losing them.
smeary10 3 years ago
I don't mind the F-111's but I like the new F-18F's better.
benjrox 3 years ago
The F-18E/F has alot less range, and is slower. It also carries less bombs than the F-111. The Austrailian F-111 should go out until 2025.
NightForce1 3 years ago 2
my favourite aircraft..
coaltrain4 3 years ago
why did we get the F-111 when the US got the F-14 Tomcat? Thats bullshit
51Sarge51 3 years ago
Because the F-111 is much better than the F-14. In every way mate. When a 111 goes low and fast, nothing can keep up with it. Tomcats are alo very expensive and very unreliable.
smeary10 3 years ago
fair enough... it isnt better in every way though, the F-14 is faster than the F-111. F-14 is Mach 2.35, F-111 is Mach 2.
51Sarge51 3 years ago
Incorrect. F-111 maximum speed is Mach 2.5 (2,655km/h) and the F-14 is Mach 2.34 (2,485km/h). However, both speeds are suffient to get the job done so 180km/h or so is bugger all in my book. Other attributes of combat effectiveness are just as, if not more important combined, than max air speed. TFR (terrain following radar), range and overall performance put the F-111 out in front in my book. Their reliability and cost to maintain is also better than the Tomcat.
smeary10 3 years ago
lol did you hear about that pelican that owned that F-111? (bent the nose cone or something)...damn that was nasty
51Sarge51 3 years ago
It is a strike A/C (bomber) it can and sometimes does carry air to air but it would not last 30secs against a fighter, it's defence against fighters is to get low and get fast...
dan2483 3 years ago
This is one of my favorite airplanes but I am always confused on its role. is it a fighter bomber?
kaiserwilhelm 3 years ago
It was originally sketched as a fighter/bomber, but ended too heavy and too big for modern air to air combat. So it's really just a bomber. One of the best ever built actually.
smeary10 3 years ago
its a shame that they are only taking the last lot of pigs pilots and no more after this one. LONG LIVE THE PIG!
darkerphantom 4 years ago
Worked on F-111's for 16 years and still maintaining the Ejection System today.
troikken 4 years ago
Hey Nimakuntalung. Don't place too much faith in the currency of Wikipedia. Aus Govt is looking seriously at the Super Hornet 'stop-gap' solution. We may end up keeping the mighty Pigs flying until the mid 2010's or later, as we had previously intended
MarkJSau 4 years ago
I got the privelage of working on these in 1972 at Cannon AFB, Clovis NM.
rkinsaul 4 years ago
Remind me so much of my childhood. Going to Upper Heyford Airbase with my dad to see these beautiful craft in action. Amazing. :-)
discodown68 4 years ago
I agree mate. I'd still rather cancel the super oreder and pay the couple of hundred million fine. Looks like we're pushing for the F-22 as well. Now we're making some bloody sense. I'm not a big fan of the F-35 yet either.
smeary10 4 years ago
Still unmatched. Looking like us Aussies are going to extend the "Pig" till 2020. I hope so. We can touch anyone in the region without them knowing it until it was too late.
smeary10 4 years ago
same i see them every day and now with the C-17 we (Australia)have, they will be sadly missed; GO 1SQN and 6SQN
002199 4 years ago
My dad used to work on these planes when I was a kid and he would take me over to the air force base. Being a little kid and seeing something so big and powerful was amazing. It deffinitly left and impact.
tat2sncadillacs 4 years ago
Could someone explain the strange landing gear....
jcabb1 4 years ago
The wheels are the same size as the C-130 and the landing gear door doubles as a speed brake. Not sure if that answers your question.
smeary10 4 years ago
i believe the under carriage stems from original order for the pig to be navy and air-force based therefore the gear was designed for carrier based landings,later the navy withdrew from the program leaving only land based pigs,hope they fly in aus sky`s for many more years.
babuzzard 4 years ago
That makes sense coz it looks robust, rather than the strut configuration.
jcabb1 4 years ago
aynı sikime benziyo amısan koyam
delinevzo 4 years ago
what an exceptional airframe sleek fast beautiful and deadly the russians where more afraid of these coming in with two ALBM's than probably any other bomber
1z1q 4 years ago
flew the f-111a
366 tfw, mhafb
the year: 1981
torrlewis 4 years ago
I grew up close to one of the bases in the UK that the F111's flew out of and this footage was a great reminder of not just the aircraft themselves but the fun times I shared socially with those guys who worked and flew them. Good days never to be forgotten.
bleep323 4 years ago
I was at RAF Lakenheath for 11 years. Definitaly good times.
asp1962 4 years ago
I was Born at Mountian Home AFB Idaho 1988 when the F-111s were there
Shuvza 4 years ago
this aircraft is agile and vicious...
wonderful, thanks for Royal Australian Air Force
Cynicalistic123321 4 years ago 3
The RAAF do not need to upgade thier 111's as they do it constantly and we will be sorry when they are retired from service. long live the PIG.........
a8127 4 years ago 2
Seen F111's flying along side Tornados in Yorkshire UK.
zucoy21z89 4 years ago
Wonderful aircraft, but very boring promotional video.
admiralnomad 4 years ago
is it just me or did that military dog handler (1.25) look like a hobo wandering the base..
9944556 4 years ago
lol, does look a bit like that.
danielbaud 4 years ago
what a pretty monster, my dad use to be captain of an Ardvark F-111 based in the UK in the 80's, i sad in one when i was a kid. said its the best jet ever build, powerfull elegant and super deadly.
krimson106 4 years ago
coolest aircraft in the shy! Amen to that
briantwashere 4 years ago
Ask Kadafi how good f-111's are.
Nazgul001 4 years ago 2
haha they were the days..
9944556 4 years ago
RAAF effing rules!
Grimreeper102 4 years ago
the raaf shouldnt retire it it is still the longet fastest strike aircraft in the asia pacifc. all it needs is upgrades
uremumsmybitch 4 years ago
sweetttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt sick dudes
Tgoodwin93 4 years ago
yhhhh dude
Tgoodwin93 4 years ago
great video, hip hip hip urrrrra for RAAF!
jahmjah 4 years ago
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!! Go Mates!
angmhalp 4 years ago
Rubbish, the TSR 2 was its equivalent, would have come into service sooner and been cheaper, but was cancelled by a spineless Labour government as too expensive. The F111 also had massive cost overspend as the Aussies found out, and regreted.
cavalier080854 4 years ago
i hate the F-111...piece of shit
51Sarge51 3 years ago
I think you've been watching too much Top Gun. The F-14 was one of the US Navys biggest anf most expensive blunders. They were so committed, with no other alternative. The F-111 is far from a piece of shit. But, we all have our own opinions. Some are just a little more educated opinions than others.
smeary10 3 years ago
no no im not comparing it to any other plane...i just dont like it...i have my reasons...
51Sarge51 3 years ago
The Navy's biggest blunder was getting rid of the Tomcat and replacing it with the Super Hornet. I worked on both and the F-14 was far, far superior.
lookinok 3 years ago
Far far superior at what? The only thing the Tomcat was good at was as a platform for launching multiple AIM-54 Pheonix missiles. It was unreliable, expensive to maintain, very heavy and bled WAY too much energy on turns. It handled terribly compared to smaller fighter aircraft as well. But I respect your opinion and the time you spent serving so lets just agree to disagree on this one mate.
smeary10 3 years ago
why was it so popular then if it was crap?
51Sarge51 3 years ago
Who said it was popular? Only the Us Navy and Iran had them. No-one else wanted them. I haven't said the Tomcat was crap. Just not the best thing in the air of it's era.
smeary10 3 years ago
Well popular in the US is what I ment...yeah I guess your right. It had its time and it served well in that time but it was replaced by newer and better things. Wait, are you a pilot in the RAAF?
51Sarge51 3 years ago
Ready to stand and fight next to you brother.
smeary10 3 years ago
sweet. I'm almost 16 and I'm in the Australian Airforce cadets at the moment. As soon as I finish school I'm going to apply for the airforce as a fighter pilot, cant wait =D. How do you register to become a fighter pilot though? Do you just go to the recruiting place and say what you want to do or is there more to that?
51Sarge51 3 years ago
probally have to go to university and get a degree and then register they will do testing on you and when thats finished you are in or you fail and ur not if you want to become a fighter pilot really bad i would start looking into it as soon as possible
EW0Canuk 3 years ago
yeah I'm in the AAFC at the moment and I'm doing all the subjects that they like you to do...their just not too clear on what exact qualifications you need on the defence jobs website
51Sarge51 3 years ago
you can go to recruiting and then you can either go for direct entry (go straight to pilot without going through ADFA) or you sit your officer selcetion board, pass flight screening and aircrew selection then goto adfa get a degree go for pilot as well as havig a backup
darkerphantom 3 years ago
you have to ring defence force recruiting or go to the defence jobs website. i suggest ring them up because I applied online and the application never got through. when you call them they will ask you what you want to do in the RAAF. HAVE 3 CHOICES READY! I personally chose fighter pilot, aircraft technician, and armament fitter / engineer. they will organise a YOU day (can't remember what it means. then you will have your fitness and medical about 2 weeks after that.
gerbil123456789 3 years ago
ah sweet thanks. So would I be able to say: choice 1. Fighter pilot, choice 2. cargo plane pilot, choice 3 *something else I have to think of*?
51Sarge51 3 years ago
yeah i think that is fine, i personally chose to spread mine out a bit but thats just me. pretty much anything to do with the sircraft for me lol. so all in all that should be fine. you could also say: 1. pilot (general cargo or fighter), 2. whatever you choose, 3. whatever you choose. but ur choice.
gerbil123456789 3 years ago
say you chose fighter pilot as your first preference, would they put you through a bit of training first to see if you are elegable for it and then just go on from there?
51Sarge51 3 years ago
No after point cook you can put your preference in for what you want but at the end of the day its the instructors and others who post you given your results in training etc. And ps dont refer to it as a cargo plane pilot etc, call the planes by name, C-130 Herc, C-17 etc. It'll tell the recruiter you know what you want.
gnarkillkicksass 3 years ago
ah k cheers
51Sarge51 3 years ago
1. Speed.
2. Range!!
3. Payload.
4. Cool factor :)
grtorrest 3 years ago
I'll give you point 4. And you can thank movies such as Top Gun and The Final Countdown for those.
smeary10 3 years ago
You wont be calling it a piece of shit when you're dead cos it bombed your house ahahha LOL.
Shipdocks 3 years ago
lmao...well in general its alright, it gets the job done and thats all that counts...F-15E flogs the nuts off it though =)
51Sarge51 3 years ago
In some areas yes. In others, NO. Nothing can keep up with an F-111 with TFR engaged skimming the earth travelling faster than the speed of sound. It also delivers it's ordinance with poinpoint accuracy. The F-15 was designed to be an air superiority fighter. Brilliant at that, yes. Now being replaced by Rapror. But F-111 with upgraded sytems such as the Aussie ones are pretty untouchable.
smeary10 3 years ago
the F-111 isnt superior...its good (ignor when i said its a piece of shit, i was in a bad mood) but its not the BEST jet ever made, if it was it wouldnt be being replaced by the new super hornets
51Sarge51 3 years ago