The appearance of the multi-role F-111 can be called a turning point in the development of the aerospace industry, as it was the first combat aircraft with a swept wing.
F-111 Aardvark, an innovative supersonic multi-role aircraft , served in the US Air Force for almost thirty years, and the Royal Australian Air Force – forty years.
Focus translated an article about this car, authored by Harrison Cass, columnist of the American magazine National Interest.
- From 'appearing in 1964, the F-111 was distinguished by innovative technologies such as a swept wing design, afterburners on turboprop engines and terrain guidance systems.
- Despite early setbacks during the Vietnam War, he earned the nickname “Death Whisperer” for his effectiveness in combat. The US retired the F-111 in 1996, while Australia retained them until 2010. The aircraft's legacy lives on despite its inglorious burial due to asbestos hazards.
F-111 Aardvark: The Innovative Aircraft That Changed Military Aviation
The F-111 was a ground-breaking aircraft. Nicknamed the “Aardvark” for its long nose and terrain guidance capability, the F-111 was a supersonic medium-range multirole bomber that served in the United States Air Force for nearly three decades (and four decades in the Royal Australian Air Force).
The F-111, which first took off in 1964, featured a number of new technologies.
F-111 Aardvark: History
The F-111 Aardvark was originally designed as an A variant for the US Air Force and in option B for the US Navy.
Option B was canceled before production began, but option A went into production, becoming the familiar long-nosed Aardvark. It presented new technologies for that time, which later became fundamental in aircraft design. The appearance of the F-111 can be called a turning point in the development of the aerospace industry.
The F-111 was the first swept-wing aircraft in history. Arrow-shaped wing – it is a wing that can be moved back and forth in flight to change the shape of the aircraft. Thus, a swept-wing aircraft takes advantage of both straight (low-speed maneuverability) and swept (supersonic speeds) wing positions as needed.
The Aardvark's wings could be swept from 16 to 72, 5 degrees. Although the F-111 featured the first swept wing in history, this design feature is most closely associated with the F-14 Tomcat, which transcended the aerospace realm and became a pop culture icon by appearing in the highest-grossing film of 1986: “Top Gun”.
The sweep wing technology itself has never become mainstream in aerospace design, although several notable military aircraft, including the Su-17, MiG 23, Tu-22M, Su-24, Tu-160, B-1 Lancer and Panavia Tornado, are equipped with this feature .
In addition to the arrow-shaped wings, the F-111 also had afterburners on turboprop engines and a terrain guidance system – all these elements are widespread today. Aardvark was also equipped with an escape pod for ejecting a crew of two.
Despite the many applied new technologies, the capabilities of the F-111 are largely reminiscent of its contemporary, the A-6. Like the A-6 Intruder, the F-111 was operated by a crew of two seated side by side. The F-111 was designed to work in all weather conditions, break through enemy defenses, navigate the terrain and deliver ammunition. Sure, the A-6 was a bit slow and brooding, while the F-111 could throw back its wings, turn on the afterburner, and go supersonic.
F-111 Goes to War
First Deployment The F-111 failed: a hidden problem was discovered in the design of the aircraft.
First delivered to the US Air Force in 1967, the F-111 made its debut in March 1968, when the Vietnam War was just beginning. By the end of March, two F-111s had been lost. The cause of the disasters remained a mystery, as the wreckage was never found. Then, in April, a third F-111 crashed. The use of the aircraft in combat operations was discontinued. The third accident was finally correctly diagnosed: the horizontal stabilizer hydraulic valve stem caused the aircraft to roll uncontrollably.
During the inspection of the remaining aircraft, another 42 aircraft were found to have the same design flaw. It is likely that this defect led to the deaths of the first two F-111s in March. The fleet of F-111 aircraft was not restored until 1971.
Due to the effective delivery of ammunition to the target during operations Linebacker and Linebacker II, the North Vietnamese nicknamed the Aardvark the “Whisperer of Death”.
Retirement
The US Air Force retired its F-111 fleet in 1996. However, the Australian RAAF kept the Aardvark in service until 2010.
About a dozen Australian Aardvarks are kept in museums, but 23 aircraft had to be buried. Asbestos was used in the Aardvark fuselage, so it was safer and cheaper to just bury the old planes. Such was the inglorious end of the technological pioneer.
The F-111 was the first swept-wing aircraft in history
About the author
Harrison Cass – a journalist who writes about defense and national security. He has more than 1,000 articles on topics related to international problems. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist and professional hockey player, Harrison served as a trainee pilot in the US Air Force but was medically discharged. He earned a bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College, a juris doctor degree from the University of Oregon, and a master's degree from New York University. Harrison is listening to the band Dokken.