fighter/bomber
$8.2 million
two
2- 25,100 lbs ea.
75' 8"
63' 0"
32' 0"
47,480 lbs.
98,980 lbs.
1- 20 mm
31,500 lbs.
685 mph
1,850 mph
26,000 fpm
60,000 feet
3,000 miles
12/21/64
1967
F-111 Aardvark aircraft were conceived by their builders, General Dynamics, as fighters for use by both the U.S.A.F. and the U.S.N. While the aircraft was being developed, a number of problems were discovered with the navalized aircraft, which the U.S. Navy felt would be too time consuming and costly to overcome.
Thereafter development of the aircraft proceeded solely to U. S. Air Force specifications.
The resultant aircraft, which first flew in December of 1964, became the world's fastest strategic bomber. It was the first production aircraft to employ variable geometry wings. The aircraft employed the first all-weather ground following radar system. It was proven in combat in Desert Storm, Libya and Vietnam.
F-111 Aardvark aircraft flew many of the initial sorties of Desert Storm. In addition to bombing missions, specially equipped EF-111A Raven aircraft flew electronics counter measure (ECM) missions, primarily as radar jammers. Using precision guided ordnance, F-111 Aardvark bombers took out reinforced bunkers by day and enemy armor by night.
The F-111 Aardvark has a wide flight envelope, using its swing wings for relatively slow speeds when extended, to high supersonic speeds when the wings are folded back.
Much of the F-111 Aardvark fuselage interior and the wings are devoted to holding a total of 34,494 lbs. of internal fuel. That, plus an additional 16,416 lbs. of fuel carried in external tanks gives it a long range without refueling.
A unique feature of the F-111 Aardvark is its ejection pod. The aircraft crew are seated within a module which is propelled in its entirety from the aircraft, parachuting to the ground, in the event of an ejection.
Additional F-111 Aardvark missions roles included the support of ground forces, reconnaissance and strategic bombing.
Although the F-111 Aardvark was retired from the USAF in 1996, it continued to operate in the Australian Air Force until 2010.
Of a total of 563 F-111 Aardvark aircraft produced, 77
were lost while totaling over a million hours of flight. That makes them
the safest "Century Series" aircraft produced, and one of the
aircraft with the best safety records in the history of the U.S.A.F.
F-111 Aardvark built by Franz Walti.
Pictured above and in the first picture below is the rc F-111 Aardvark built by Franz Walti from a kit for sale by Jet-Tech. It has a wingspan of 100.5" open, and a length of 118". Power comes from a single 35 lb. thrust turbine engine.
In the second picture below is the F-111 Aardvark slope soarer from Phil Cooke plans. It is 1:20 scale with a 42.5" wingspan and operates on two channels.
The bottom picture is of the great looking F-111 Aardvark built by Frank Selby. It features swing wings, has an open wingspan of 100" and weighs about 52 lbs. Power comes from a pair of PST 1300 turbines.
Airborne Plans Service has plans for a sport scale F-111 Aardvark. It has a fixed open wingspan of 55". Recommended power is a .46 - 2c engine in the nose.
We have heard about some individual projects for the F-111 Aardvark in RC Groups. One was a swing wing pusher prop foam park flyer. The other was a ducted fan project.
If you have a favorite F-111 Aardvark that you would like to recommend, please tell us.
General Dynamics F-111
