F 2328 General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark Aircraft

From the archives of the San Diego Air and Space Museum www.sandiegoairandspace.org/re... Please do not use for commercial purposes without permission.

[@AvengerII]

The original F-111 production ran from 1961 to 1976. 539 planes of 6 distinct models were built for the USAF; 24 C-models were produced for Australia. An additional 8 planes with carrier models, the F-111B prototypes, were constructed for the Navy. After production ended, at least 84 planes were modified into different models. Four F-111A's were modified into C-models to replace 4 planes lost in RAAF service. After the 76 FB-111A's built for SAC were retired from strategic bomber service when B-1 deliveries finished, 34 of those planes were converted into a tactical version designed F-111G. At least 13 F-111G's were bought by the RAAF to serve as trainers to reduce the wear on their active F-111C fleet. Four of the RAAF F-111C's were modified into RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft. The most radical modifications were done on 42 F-111A's to turn them into electronic warfare/jammer planes designed EF-111A Raven. The Raven was the last American F-111 model retired which occurred in 1998. Of all the USAF F-111s constructed, the EF-111 has the fewest number preserved. Only four EF-111's were preserved as museum planes. The rarest F-111 variant is the B-model which has one sole airframe in storage at NAWS China Lake. There have been plans for years to restore and eventually put the last surviving F-111B on display.

[@DARTHBLUNT713]

Such a beautiful Jet

[@allgood6760]

Awesome plane.. I seen them at Kiwi airshows... 👍🇳🇿

[@marktierney2986]

Great old Documentary.

[@thetreblerebel]

I wonder how much that Datex milling machine cost back then $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@bestamerica]

' come on america... america can make it many more rebuilding F-111 / F-111sa jetplanes with better fast speeding up, more mile ranges, great update systems

[@anotherdave5107]

new MK-II avionics provide increased accuracy and reliability on the D model. LOL!!!

[@AvengerII]

"D" for "didn't work!"

[@Ian-lx1iz]

Hahahahaha! USAF can't even get their intro music to sync on their progress report. 'kin 'ilarious!

[@gerald4133]

Great plane, sad to see it go. It had so many roles.