General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark - Let's Libya rock !

The General Dynamics F-111 is a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also fills the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance and electronic warfare in its various versions. It was the first production aircraft to employ variable geometry wings. Developed in the 1960s and first entering service in 1967, the United States Air Force (USAF) variants were officially retired by 1998. The remaining operator of the F-111 is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The first production F-111s were delivered on 18 July 1967 to the 428th, 429th and 430th Tactical Fighter Squadrons of the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing based at first out of Cannon AFB, New Mexico, which relocated in 1968 to Nellis AFB.

After early testing a detachment of six aircraft were sent in March 1968 to Southeast Asia for Combat Lancer testing in real combat conditions in Vietnam. In little over a month, three aircraft were lost and the combat tests were halted. It turned out that all three had been lost through malfunction (primarily with the terrain-following radar), not by enemy action. This caused a storm of political recrimination, with U.S. senators denouncing Secretary of Defense McNamara's judgment in procuring the aircraft. It was not until July 1971 that the 474 TFW was fully operational.

September 1972 saw the F-111 back in Southeast Asia, participating in the final month of Operation Linebacker and later the Operation Linebacker II aerial offensive against the North. F-111 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 F-4 Phantom IIs. The worth of the new aircraft was beginning to show, and over 4,000 combat F-111A missions were flown over Vietnam with only six combat losses.

On 14 April 1986, 18 F-111s and approximately 25 Navy aircraft executed Operation El Dorado Canyon by conducting air strikes against Libya. The 18 F-111s belonging to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing flew what turned out to be the longest fighter combat mission in history. The round-trip flight between RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom and Libya of 6,400 miles (10,300 km) spanned 13 hours.

In Operation Desert Storm, F-111Fs completed 3.2 successful strike missions for every unsuccessful one, making it 47% more capable than the next leading strike aircraft. The small 66-plane F-111F force was credited with 1,500 kills of Iraqi tanks and other mechanized vehicles. The F-111F was the only Desert Storm aircraft to deliver the GBU-15 and the 5,000-pound laser-guided, penetrating GBU-28.

In 2006, four F-111s based at RAAF Amberley were used to sink the North Korean freighter Pong Su in Jervis Bay in joint RAAF and RAN military exercise.

The F-111 was in service with the USAF from 1967 through 1998. The Strategic Air Command had FB-111s in service from 1969 through 1990.

A total of 562 F-111s were built.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• USA
• USAF
• ليبيا‎
• Gaddafi
• Panavia
• Tornado
• F-15
• F-16
• F-104

[joltinjack]

CyberArmy007:

This is a great video.

Yes, once the bugs got worked out of the F-111, the fighter-bomber was a workhorse in Vietnam. I liked the pilot and bombardier sitting side by side. These planes were highly effective in April of 1986 against Libya.

Unfortunately, Momar Qadaffi's (sp?) step-daughter had to die in this tremendous air raid. He was in a desert tent, and she was in the "Condo".

I gave you 5 stars, and a "favorite". That's a good one there. Good stuff!

[cyberarmy007]

Thanks for your nice comment! US airplanes are the best around the world. Frequently copied but never equalled!

[1z1q]

Good Job Cyberarmy.. Jeeez, ask and you shall recieve.. I have always loved the F-111 and it's capabilities.. talk about "huggin' the deck", the F-111 is fast at ground level and can outrun most anything at altitude.. Plus you put togethor a vid of the most famous Ardvark action ever. good job dude, and keep em' coming buddy.

[cyberarmy007]

Thanks, you're all right.

[MarlaSingerX]

5 stars and favorited. Thanks for sending this to me!

[MysteryViewer]

@DBLcable Spent a few hours in those locations, too. CC on 111s @ RAF Lakenheath 494 AMU and McClellan AFB 431 TES.

[DBLcable]

@joltinjack Not to be picky but the guy in the right-seat was never called the "bombadier". He was the WSO....Weapons System Operator. F-4 backseaters were GIBs (guy in back) and F-14s had RIOs (radar intercept officer)

[DBLcable]

How many of you crew chiefs took a nap on the main gear door? It was contoured perfect to your back. Even better was the intakes. When we did post flight on swing shift the engines were still warm and it was great to sit in there on a cold night. Nellis AFB 474TFW 429TFS 73-77 A/C 67-077

[jam5bryce]

I served at Cannon AFB with the F-111D model. At the time, the F-111 was the only true meduim range (all weather/all terrain) tactical-fighter bomber in the U.S inventory. We lost two good crews because the terrain-following radar snafu's, but overall the aircraft was great & did its job very well. I spent some good years with the 522nd Fighter Squadron (Fighting Fireballs) and the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing!

[joltinjack]

@chug26 - Did I ever say "it was cool to kill people?" Did you not see my regret that a little girl got killed in Q's Condo, while he "bravely" went out in the desert and slept in a tent? Most of these pilots know what they're getting into when they sign up for flight school and training. These guys are pretty gung-ho to say the least. Most of the planes in the Libya raid bombed warehouses, communication towers, and planes that were grounded on the runway.

[chug26]

@joltinjack you think its cool to kill ppl these pilots flew hte mission cuz they were told too i doubt they wanted too

[916edward]

I was with the 431 TES Mcclellan AFB we tested and deliver the GBU-28 Bunker Buster bomb within 2 weeks during the Desert Storm campaign this bomb pretty much ended the 1st gulf war 67-186 an F-111F was 1 of only 2 aircraft able to carrier this 4,700 ib beast of a bomb

[DBLcable]

I was in 474 TFW 429 TFS at Nellis 73-77. Crew Chief on 67-077. We had a lot of down time when the compressor seal problem came up. We had a bird that caught fire at EOR. The crash crew put it out quick. When we opened the starboard engine door there was a hole in the side of the engine and a comp blade was corkscrewed into the bottom of the saddle tank above the engine with fuel pouring out on top of the hot motor. That's when engine shop figured out the problem.

[firewop]

i was in crash fire rescue at the heath i remember seeing the go and comeback my wife lost her cousin in the raid

[Dremwolf]

@tazie45 I was a Crew Chief on 67-108 at Mtn Home AFB in the mid to late 80's. With the terrain following radar and the aircrafts speed is what gave her the nickname Whispering Death. By the time the enemy heard the aircraft it was too late to run as it had already passed overhead and the ordnance had been dropped. God I loved working on that bird.