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Template:RFMF You can't locate this page under F-111 Raven. You can't locate this page under F-111 Aardvark. You can't locate this page under F-111 Pig. None of those names are universal or widely accepted. All of them have some application. By all means create redirects from those other locations which refer to a little-used name which did not become official until after the aircraft was retired by the USAF; a name that was applied to a handful of Grumman converted electronic warfare versions; or the never-official but most common name. Tannin

I changed the article minorly to note that the aircraft's name "Aardvark" is not its official name, (in fact just a nickname used in the past by its crews, referring to its long snout). Why was this reverted to make it seem as if its name is what the plane is universally and officially known as? This is wrong, IMO. Explain, please. Graham 22:55, 3 Mar 2004 (UTC)

The Aardvark name became official at the retirement ceremony of the type on 27 July 1996 according to among others. It never bore that name officially in its USAF service life. —Morven 23:19, 3 Mar 2004 (UTC)

I was stationed at Mt. Home AFB during 1979-1983, and worked in the weapons systems, and phased inspection sections (366 EMS). I also worked on the 4 aircraft sold to the Australian Government. Lastly, I did assisted with some of the conversions for the EF-111 program. Another nickname of the aircraft, and the off flightline cafeteria at Mountain Home AFB was "whispering death".

I can't recall any popular names for the F-111 here in Australia, but it was (and is) certainly well-regarded. Perhaps a bit long in the tooth now, but still one impressive aircraft! --Surgeonsmate 00:09, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

Interceptor?

I think this place qualifies as an intercepter. (well, as well as it fits into any other category) It should be marked as such.

24.110.60.225 06:41, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

Is there any offical source for the claim that the EF-111 manuvered a Mirage F-1 into the ground? I'm a former EF-111A EWO who was (sadly) on the staff during the Gulf War. But I have to think that if an "offical" kill had been somehow credited to an EF-111 crew then we would have been aware of it at the time.

F111 Operational History

While the nuclear-oriented F-111 was not ever used in action its stablemates all saw action at one time or another. The earlier versions earned the nick-name Whispering Death when completing raids that other US aircraft could not. Sadly several were lost due to unknown causes. Later on in the 1980s, the F111s and EF111s from Lakenheath and Upper Heyford, UK, provided the USAF component of Operation Eldorado Canyon against Libya. In the 1990s, these and other F111s saw further action in the Middle East during the Desert Storm operations against Iraq. The Australian F111s have so far not seen military action. They may, however, have taken part in support patrols over the ocean from time to time. Losses of F111s have reached double figures over the plane's career. Though it is believed none have been shot down by enemy aircraft; in SE Asia there were losses which in some cases believed to be due to ground fire. There are few novels which include F111s. A notable exception is Dale Brown's Chains of Command.

"From 1968 to 1973, the F111 was grounded several months because of excess losses of aircraft. By 1969, there had been 15 F111s downed by malfunction or enemy fire. The major malfunctions involved engine problems and problems with the terrain following radar (TFR) 8 of the F111s downed during the war were flown by crews that were captured or declared missing". .

Conversely, during operation Desert Storm an EF-111 was responsible for one of the first kills of the conflict as a maneuvering Raven caused a pursuing Iraqi Mirage to crash into the ground.

On a personal note, I live not far from Upper Heyford and frequently saw these fine machines flying over and at the USAF Open House Days. I remember the UH F111 and EF111 which crashed nearby. I was driving home from Oxford when I saw the Hummers and Helo's racing to the flaming wreckage of the Raven. Earlier, in 1986 I had seen the F111Fs trailing their tankers as they headed to Tripoli.

There is a website dedicated to Upper Heyford: http://www.raf-upper-heyford.org/Mishaps.html which also details crashes - 11 in total (though a newspaper report on that site claims 13). It starts with an F111 in Scotland while on low level training (1973). Other crashes include an F-111E which crashed on 11th January 1973 not far from where I live in North Crawley. It caused quite a stir because the escape pod smashed into someone's greenhouse.

Other losses include one in Cumberland, one in the North Sea, and also in Llangadfan, Wales. One crashed at RAF Fairford, , one in Blandford, Dorset. In 1990 on Feb 5th aircraft 68-0001, or "Balls 1" as it was more commonly referred to, crashed on the Wainfleet Range off Lincolnshire, UK, when its wingtip hit water. Both crew were killed. The last F-111E to be lost from Upper Heyford was Tail Number 68-052, on 17th September, 1992, ironically on the UH Base Perimeter.

Upper Heyford suffered two losses of the EF-111 Raven. First, EF-111A Tail Number 66-0023, crashed on 14th February, 1991, while on deployment in Saudi Arabia, the crew were killed. Apparently, it crashed during combat maneuvering while being mistakenly targeted by F-15. On a better note the last plane to be lost from UH - EF-111A TN 66-0056 crashed near the former RAF Bomber Command Finmere airfield on 2nd April 1992 (29th TFW, 42nd ECS) due to fuel duct failure; the crew's escape pod ejected properly and they were OK. However, the plane crashed on a car park causing a huge fire. Another few yards shorter and it would have smashed through the roof of the largest building for miles occupied by dozens of people working for the Dalgety company. It seems the crew had to leave the aircraft so they had no control over where it crashed. The plane had left the base only a short while earlier and so was fully fuelled though it carried no weapons.

Another couple of points. Mentioned in the main text is a nickname 'Pig'. I am not sure of this, as far as I know the F111 was sometimes known as the 'Earthpig' which is another reference to its mission, appearance and Aardvark is Afrikaans for "Earth Pig". Second, the F111 may have originally been designed for the US Navy as an interceptor but when that service rejected the plane it was left to the USAF to take it up. Their designations are sometimes confusing but I doubt you could describe any of the USAF (or Australian) versions as anything other than a bomber or strike aircraft. Some recce is also carried out and Sidewinders have been carried but only for self-defence.

The EF-111 Ravens now reside among other classic types in the dusty rows of Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) formerly known as Military Aircraft and Storage Disposition Center (MASDC). AMARC is located in the Davis-Monthan AFB out in the Arizona desert.

As to its capabilities see: Future Of Airborne Tactical Jamming at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/AMW.htm

Nobody knows for sure just how fast the 'Vark could go. Its speed was limited by the windscreen which was made out of acrylic to save weight. At high speeds friction-generated heat becomes the limiting factor, and there's a warning light and 300 sec countdown if the temp sensor becomes unhappy. Officially the limit is mach 2.2 at altitude, and at sea level the sound barrier gets torn to shreds. Most missions were flown transonic though to maximise airframe life.

F/B-111

I seem to recall seeing something on TV a few years ago that called it the F/B-111. Was I confusing it with something else? The Matt Feldman Experience! 16:14, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

FB-111A was one of the F-111 variants. What's your question? - Emt147 02:58, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

AGNTSA

I'm not going to edit war. But does anyone spot the problem with this statement? And I'm referring to the content, not the grammar.

The key missing requirement that had been decisive in every prior air war, but was thought to be obsolete by the missle age, was maneuverability in a dogfight.

--Mmx1 17:48, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

I'd sort out the grammar first and see if a contentious phrase is still there at the end. GraemeLeggett 10:21, 30 June 2006 (UTC)