Posted on 07/23/2010 9:00:36 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Pigs will soon fly for the last time for RAAF
Brendan Nicholson
THE "Flying Pigs"are taking part in their last major exercise before retirement after 37 years with the Royal Australian Air Force.
The long-range F-111 bomber was nicknamed for its ability to "hunt at night with its nose in the weeds" thanks to terrain-following radar that let it sweep in on targets at a low level.
The iconic swing-wing aircraft was ordered for the RAAF in the 1960s because they could carry nuclear weapons and had the range to bomb Jakarta at a time when Indonesia was seen as a serious threat. As it turned out, the Australian F-111s (there are 17 left in the RAAF) played a key strategic deterrent role but they never flew in wartime.
They are the RAAF's longest current serving aircraft and four of them from No 6 Squadron at RAAF Amberley, in Queensland, are taking part in exercise "Pitch Black" over the Northern Territory. The three-week, day and night, air combat exercise involves aircraft from Singapore, New Zealand and Thailand.
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While a series of crashes before development problems were ironed out blackened the aircraft's name in public eyes, No 6 squadron commander Micka Gray said the F-111 was an aircraft ahead of its time.
"It was one of the first twin-engine swing-wing aircraft and has enormous flexibility of range and endurance," Wing Commander Gray said.
"I am sure the end of 2010 will be an emotional time for many people when we say goodbye to the Pig. But for now we have F-111s to prepare, fly and fight."
The F-111s arrived at Amberley in 1973.
If you didn’t care what happened to me,
And I didn’t care for you
We would zig zag our way through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain
Wondering which of the buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing.
Best - Floyd - Album - Ever
Agreed. Gilmour just rips on the entire album.
Isn’t that an old (now shut down or abandoned) powerplant in London?
That’s the iconic Battersea Power Station.
It no longer operates as a power station, but it’s open. A museum? Can’t remember.
The General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" is 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. Developed in the 1960s and first entering service in 1967, the United States Air Force (USAF) variants were officially retired by 1998. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the sole remaining operator of the F-111.
The F-111's long-time nickname, then official name Aardvark literally means "earth pig" in Dutch/Afrikaans. Consequently in Australia, the F-111 is often known by the affectionate nickname . Consequently in Australia, the F-111 is often known by the affectionate nickname "Pig".
Battersea! That’s it. Saw it from the train on my last trip to London.
if pigs were on every flight we wouldn’t need body scanners at the airport
F-111’s were used in the raid on Libya, Reagan’s attempt to wipe Qadafi from the face of the earth. One plane, and its crew, were lost..
MacNamara’s Folly!
The US Navy was ordered to Carrier Qualify the Navy version of this pig. I was one of the curious (there were 23 of us on the platform!) Landing Signal Officer’s who witnessed that event. Hair raising, to say the least. Good thing we didn’t have to use our emergency exit chute — some of us would have had to jump overboard!
Over-weight and underpowered, the F-111 carqual was a high pucker factor event. At max trap weights, IIRC, the pilot had to use max (basic engine) power to get aboard.
AND, the JBDs could not be used during launch! Back pressure blew out the afterburners. Talk about wind over the deck!
The TPS pilots and LSOs aura of “great sticks” went way up in the PACFLT LSO community that afternoon!
HSAT, the F-111 served the USAF well, and its development lead to the F-14, arguably, the best fighter the Navy ever had.
R.I.P F-111. You should still be on active duty as the EF-111A.
Adored Pink Floyd.
I think that pic is from their Album ‘Animals’?
Though, age wise, I don’t belong to “Pink Floyd” era, I’ll always treasure: Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, and, of course, Wish You Were Here.
Legend!
Even with the improved engines and revised missions the F-111 was destined to be an Air Force bird. Good thing folks went back to the drawing board.
It was huge! I have no idea what the deck multiple on that beast was, but it dominated the Hangar Bay of the USS Coral Sea! No way the Navy was going to buy it!
I have talked to a couple of “Aardvark” drivers — until they got the TFR sorted out, it was a scary bird for the crew.
USAF got some good use out of it, but I don’t recall it being one of their favorites.
>>>”, then official name Aardvark literally means “earth pig” in Dutch/Afrikaans.”
They look like bees or mosquitos to me!
IIRC, that one plane and crew were lost because the strike had to fly around our “allies” in France. The brave and noble French wouldn’t allow the raid to fly directly to Libya over France. As was the case years later in Iraq, the French were likely protecting their own financial interests.
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