Interview with John Craig on the F-111 Aardvark

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John Craig is an ex RAF Buccaneer and Tornado gr1 navigator, in this interview he chats about his time flying the F-111 on an exchange tour with the RAAF. He tells us his story on his time in Australia with some great stories.
As well as the F-111 he chats about his time on the Buccaneer and Tornado GR1.
Thumbnail photo -cc original photographer
Enjoy
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[@KRGruner]

Very nice interview. I would have loved to do the RAAF exchange tour when I was flying F-111s. We did have an Australian exchange pilot at Mountain Home AFB, as well as one each RAF pilot and navigator (who came from the Buccaneer and went on to the Tornado afterwards). Good times!

[@TheDarwiniser]

I used to see these F111s fly over my house, as a child. Never forget it, stand there, the rumble in the distance, then the silent appearance of the jet followed by a screaming roar as it flashed overhead.

[@MikeDesertHunterHale]

One of the most BEAUTIFUL aircraft ever made!

[@Aircrewinterview]

I agree.

[@MrKevinmorrissey]

Fantastic. As an Aussie, I can't help but love the Pig. Great upload

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers, Kevin. I think it would be a crime not to like it!

[@TechGaming45]

We had a choice in the MoD. Buy F-111s or have a navy...

[@darrens7040]

now they're buried in bits at Amberley here in Queensland with a few set up as static displays around the place so very sad now we have the very noisy F18s buzzing us all the time miss the F111s

[@LRRPFco52]

Be grateful for what you have. I miss the days of my childhood with regular overflights of extremely loud fighters. Now all I get are AH-64s and UH-60s with quiet commercial aviation, and I'm happy to have the Apaches and Crashhawks. I never got tired of loud jets, especially F-4Es and F-4Gs, F-16s, F-111s, F-106s, B-1Bs, F-15s, and even the SR-71, which broke the windows of my school (which was fantastic).

[@suisseecosse2086]

Well done, great interview. Was ATC flying Scholarship 2240 (Upper Deeside Squadron) ATC and remember flying with you John in Aberdeen UAS. Ian Sutherland, Switzerland

[@thefrecklepuny]

Very informative! Always had a soft spot for the F-111as well as other older all weather types such as the A-6E.

[@Aircrewinterview]

thefrecklepuny glad you enjoyed it. Both lovely aircraft.

[@manofchaitea6904]

Same here, my first Airshow when I was a kid, my brother in law took too. He was in the Airforce at the time, first plane I go to watch was the F111, its the one that stuck with me even after seeing the F16 and F15. Not long after I went to a Navy airshow with my stepfather and got to see the F14. Sadly I was only able to see the F111 one time in an Airshow, it was retired not to long after that.

[@thetreblerebel]

The Aussie Aardvark pilots are awesome too. The Raven/Aardvark was such a difficult plane to fly. Hats off mate!

[@danielbray5877]

I grew up near Amberly Australia. I got excited every time I saw them streaking over. The sound was awsome. Heart breaking to see them buried at the local dump and now at the bottom of a landfill.

[@JimHoward]

I was a USAF WSO/EWO and flew the F-4G and EF-111A. I really enjoyed this interview, it brought back a lot of good memories to me. I will say I was a little gobsmacked when John said the F-111 was a simple airplane! Coming from the F-4E/G I was overwhelmed at first with how much more complex the F-111 was just to fly around in compared to the F-4. The F-4 was like a Harley Davidson motorcycle, while the F-111 was like the Space Shuttle by comparison in terms of the number and complexity of the systems. One difference I noted was that when I was an F-4 student I started flying with student pilots after 3 or 4 rides in the basic course, whereas I never flew with a student pilot in either the F-111 or EF-111 conversion courses. A historical note, USAF F-111Fs and F-111Ds always had digital avionics, and the whole fleet was getting essentially the same digital comm/nav system as the F-16 when they decided to retire them early. This was one of the best conducted aircrew interviews I ever saw, thanks!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Hi Jim. Really glad to hear you enjoyed it and it brought back good memories. Sounds like you had a great career. Keep an eye out on December 11 as our full interview with former USAF F-111 Pilot, Jeff Guinn will be up.

[@lmyt1505]

Jim Howard desert storm?? Did you ever fly into combat and if you did where and when?

[@LRRPFco52]

It would be great to have Jim on for Aircrew Interview!

[@jerryallison5624]

F model MT Home Avionics Tech

[@rogerbeckner6419]

@@jerryallison5624 A model F-111 Crew Chief MHAFB, 82-84. 70-100 was my bird.

[@user-wu1xf1id1f]

Fantastic interview, I was so disappointed at the Avalon Airshow in 2010 when they cancelled the final F111 flight because of a bit of wind. The Pig can fly through a hurricane, one of the only Jets that can.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks you

[@36w3s.talbot4]

What a excellent interview. I was at Barnes Airport this past August 2017 for the airshow with the thunderbirds. They have done a excellent job upgrading the base. it now is a F-15C base.

[@Aircrewinterview]

+Scott T glad you enjoyed it!

[@tomnewham1269]

I have to say I found this video quite interesting especially his time in the F 1-11.

[@robw3027]

Great video- many thanks.

[@davidcachia1854]

Great interview as usual!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers David :)

[@TakeDeadAim]

10:20; "If they're not looking at you they can't help you"...replace "help" with "catch"! Loved my time flying "down under" with the USN. Oh...the Aussies had the BEST JP5 as well. Crystal clear preflight fuel samples were the norm!

[@derekfeldman1710]

Got to play around on a 111 in Tech school I was F-16 load toad but they had a 111 in the hanger still and we got to do some loads on it after we finished everything in our schedule it was a neat AC.

[@ToonandBBfan]

The F-111 was a terrific airplane

[@charlesrummell4164]

P.o ml

[@tedjob21]

As a Tomcat maintainer, I HATED the TF-30!!

[@Muskoheim]

You are doing good work. I don't mean good in terms of entertainment or production value (which I think ARE both good). I mean that sharing the stories that these folks have is important. Thank you Aircrew Interview!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much! I appreciate your support.

[@carsonhaught9934]

Fascinating as usual. Many thanks. Especially intrigued hearing his take on F111 vs Tornado and other swing-wingers vs fixed wing... Maybe MoD procurement bods should talk to air- and ground-crew more for next gen machines?!!!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Roystone Szweda Cheers :)

[@tedjob21]

The Tomcat had 3 modes for wingsweep, auto, manual and emergency. Auto the ADC programmed the wings, manual, the pilot used a switch on the throttle and emergency was using the handle.

[@phillipneal9289]

Keep up the good work Another winner

[@Dumpstertronoriginal]

Brilliant thanks!!!

[@jnbfrancisco]

I was an instrument\autopilot tech and instructor on the F111 from 1970 to 1980 at Cannon AFB, Chanute AFB and Mt Home AFB. I would have stayed in the USAF if I hadn't been forced to become an instructor in 1974. I loved to fix the F111 and loved this airplane. I became a tech rep for Sikorsky H53s and H60 from 1980 to 2012. I was a tech rep on the Australian Army H60s in 2005. I would have loved to have been a tech rep on the Australians F111s. Loved working with the Australians in Townsville. Would like to hear from anyone I worked with on the F111 or H60s.

[@DerHossMeister]

They need a Gen 5 version of the FB-111 to bridge the gap from the multi-role fighters to the strategic bombers. The US, Britain, Australia and I'm sure other allies would benefit from an option such as this.

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Deal. Let's get the Brits and Germans to make it.

[@manofchaitea6904]

With stealth, swing wings and powered by 2 PW F119's..

[@n8d0g]

Great interview! I love listening to this while i cook, do you think you could possible make these into a podcast/audio only? Would be great to listen to in the car.

[@Aircrewinterview]

n8d0g that's great to hear! Yes we are currently creating a podcast for them all, as soon as they are up we will keep you you updated.

[@thomasrussell3924]

Excellent. Very interesting. Would love a follow up asking about side by side vs tandem crew, and his recollections of Pave Tack in F-111.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Thomas. You never know, we may meet again and I will put it to him.

[@AvengerII]

I think we resolved that question in the US... Tandem seating is better from a standpoint of aerodynamics. They've NEVER put a fighter (interceptor-type, dogfighter) into service with side-by-side seating as far as I know... All side-by-side seating planes have been bombers (A-6, F-111, and all the large strategic bombers). With a side-by-side seating, you're going to have a larger cross-section of plane that the air has to flow over. That creates greater drag. A narrower cross-section is better, it's more efficient. If your plane is the size of a B-52, then it's not going to matter so much because it's HUGE and it's going to be a very big piece of REAL ESTATE no matter how you look at it. For a fighter-sized plane (F-14 or smaller), though, tandem is better for the performance of the plane. Perhaps with side-by-side seating you can avoid having to use an internal radio for the crew to talk with each other. I really don't know what the noise issue in the plane is. With tandem, I think an internal radio for communications is almost mandatory.

[@ironroad18]

AvengerII The Douglas Skynight was a tandem seat Korea war era night fighter/interceptor for the US Navy and Marine Corps. It was later used as a radar trainer, platform for the early Aim-7 Sparrow, and then electronic warfare aircraft. The Skynight achieved a kill in Korea. It was big and round like the A-6, mainly to house its radar. Also, the F-111 was initially designed as a multirole aircraft to full fill a long range interceptor role for the US Navy as ordered by then Sec Def Robert McNamara.

[@carsonhaught9934]

Maybe dictated by dimensions of the radar dish - interesting cockpits on some Soviet fighter-bombers...

[@tomair80]

Awesome!

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Interesting hearing his thoughts on tornado and Tsr2 had we gone for F111 would that have been end of British built a/c for the RAF?

[@richardvernon317]

Nope it wouldn't have been. The RAF Buy of the F-111K was a limited buy of 50 aircraft to meet part of the original operational requirement for the TSR2 which was to replace the Canberra. The repacement for the V-bombers were Blue Streak IRBM, Skybolt ALBM and then Polaris. The Phantom was to be an interim type to make make up the numbers and to move across to a Air to Air Role when the planned Anglo French VG project came into service. After AFVG was canned, the Jaguar was upgraded from just being a Trainer to fill the Role and Tornado development was started. The Vulcans were then used as a Tactical Nuclear Strike aircraft to fill the F-111K gap, along with the Buccaneers.

[@tedjob21]

Great interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you.

[@KEVWARD63]

He would have flown nuclear training missions in RAF Germany , a sobering thought !! Great interview !!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@remrettgorden2566]

Sounds like a very nice guy given some RAF characters I met.

[@realMaverickBuckley]

Weird , I've only ever heard good stuff from other Aviators regarding the RAF dudes.

[@chrishewitt4220]

ATC 1295 SQN Peterhead, I was a member to!

[@deedsmillar6056]

lol, i guess a hurt back is also a great compliment, or did it just have poorly designed seats?

[@briancooper2112]

Cool!

[@bestamerica]

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

[@jamieshields9521]

There was rumoured RAAF were going make F111 more stealthy in design with raven tail. Image the better radar fitted these jets could have been flying to 2030’s but F18G was cheaper option n only know realising the full capabilities.

[@gregtca1]

Interesting , but what about all the guys on the ground who got very very sick , with the refueling , paints etc .

[@KB4QAA]

GH: There was nothing different about the supplies for the F-111 from any other jet. Nothing particularly toxic or dangerous.

[@mjguerin63]

Fortunate enough to see Pigs performing on a number of occasions.

[@jrrrrr5662]

Could you please refrain from naming Australian F-111s as 'Aardvarks': RAAF never referred to it as such ('Pig' was the nickname, and more formally it was 'F-111'). 'Aardvark' was applied by the USAF only as they retired the F-111 - their action is a pretty miserable 'parting shot', really, and was never applied in Australia. If they didn't have the conviction to name it 'Aardvark' from the start, it hardly seems a serious or meritorious appellation. You'll notice Mr Clark never said 'Aardvark', to my listening. Otherwise, good work thank-you.

[@manofchaitea6904]

For a pig, shes pretty slim lined.

[@manuwilson4695]

Pathetic documentary. No footage whatsoever of any Australian f111s, let alone him flying in them! 🙄

[@garyfairley9807]

I’m guessing that the 73 positive commenters have a much better grasp of the concept of “interview” than you, huh? I’m also guessing that all your books have pictures in them. 🙄

[@manuwilson4695]

@@garyfairley9807 Look at all the other pilot interviews in this series, then come back with your opinions. 🤷‍♂️

[@Aircrewinterview]

Exactly, Gary!

[@manuwilson4695]

@@Aircrewinterview ...blowing your own trumpet 🎺 🙄

[@Aircrewinterview]

@@manuwilson4695 nope not at all mate. We just interview aircrew and add pictures and videos when we can. Most of the time copyright free video is hard to get unless the guest has it which is rare unfortunately, but when they do I add it in. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin your experience buddy as I appreciate you taking the time to watch