The F-111 Aardvark was the first American swing-wing aircraft. It was developed and produced by General Dynamics to replace the F-105 Thunderchief. Therefore, one of the main requirements was for the manufacturer to design an aircraft capable of supersonic speeds and a high payload capacity at the same time. The new fighter-bomber rolled out on October 15, 1964, during a special ceremony attended by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark would fly for the first time eight weeks later, on December 21, 1964. During the first test flight, there was a malfunction with the power plant and the two Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines had to be overseen and improved to overcome the difficulties. After many test flights and technical corrections, the USAF received its first batch of F-111 aircraft in July 1967, officially entering service in October of the same year. Over the next couple of years, different variants would be produced; the F-111B, F-111C, F-111D, and F-111E. This aircraft was also used by the Australian Air Force and the UK RAF.
Technical Characteristics
The Aardvark was a two-seat, two-engine supersonic aircraft. Its wings were mounted high on the fuselage structure by means of a steel torsion box, which had pivots at each end. The variable sweep angles were 16 degrees, when set at maximum span, and 72.5 degrees at minimum span. With the wing at forward sweep, the root leading edge section moved into a fixed 'glove' to keep a smooth contour. When the wings were fully swept back, the root trailing edge disappeared into the fuselage through a slotted flexible seal. The front section of fuselage includes an ejectable crew capsule instead of ejectable individual seats.
Combat Operations
The F-111 Aardvark first saw combat action in March 1968, taking off from a US military base located north of Bangkok, Thailand. It carried out sorties over North Vietnam to evaluate the aircraft in anger. After eleven days of combat missions, the first aircraft was lost. By 1972, their efficiency had improved sharply as the Aardvark performed low-level bombing raids against the North Vietnamese Army.
Specifications (F-111D)
Type: Fighter-Bomber
Crew: 2
Length: 22.37 m
Wingspan: 19.20 m (at 16 degrees); 9.74 m (at 72.5 degrees).
Wing Area: 46.75 / 58.50 sq. meters
Height: 5.22 m
Power Plant: two Pratt & Whitney JTF10-A-36 TF-30-P-9 turbofan engines with afterburner.
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.5 (2,654 km/h) at 11,000 m.
Combat Radius: 1,600 km
Armament: 19,500 kg payload, which included bombs of all types, missiles, and rockets.
Below, the F-111 Aardvark in the 1970s, with its wings fully extended.
Front view of the aircraft.
The Aardvark displaying its armament.
