Common questions

Are any F-111 still flying?

Are any F-111 still flying?

Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, the F-111 entered service in 1967 with the United States Air Force (USAF). The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also ordered the type and began operating the F-111C variant in 1973….General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.

F-111 Aardvark
Retired USAF: F-111F, 1996; EF-111A, 1998 RAAF: F-111C, 2010
Status Retired

Was the F-111 A good aircraft?

The F-111 was a multipurpose tactical fighter bomber capable of supersonic speeds. The aircraft was one of the more controversial aircraft ever to fly, yet it achieved one of the safest operational records of any aircraft in USAF history and became a highly effective all-weather interdiction aircraft.

What plane was the Aardvark?

F-111s
This allowed F-111s to fly as low as two hundred feet above the surface and make precise adjustments at high speed without crashing—even when flying at night, or in bad weather conditions. The F-111’s talent for hunting in darkness, nose close to the ground, was what earned it the appellation “Aardvark.”

What is the fastest fighter jet in the world today?

MiG-25
The fastest fighter still in service today is the Soviet-built MiG-25. Mikoyan designed this fighter to be a pure interceptor aircraft. As a result, the Foxbat can sustain a cruising speed of Mach 2.8 and kick it into overdrive with a top speed of 3.2 — not a bad technology for an aircraft that first took off in 1964.

What is the name of the General Dynamics EF-111A Raven?

The General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven is an electronic warfare aircraft designed to replace the B-66 Destroyer in the United States Air Force. Its crews and maintainers often called it the “Spark-Vark”, a play on the F-111’s “Aardvark” nickname.

When did the Grumman EF-111 come into service?

The EF-111 entered service in 1983 and served until its retirement in 1998. In the late 1960s, the U.S. Air Force sought to replace its aging EB-66 and EB-57 electronic warfare aircraft. The Air Force studied the use of Navy EA-6B Prowlers during 1967–1968.

What’s the name of the Grumman F-111 Raven?

The General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven is an electronic-warfare aircraft designed to replace the B-66 Destroyer in the United States Air Force. Its crews and maintainers often called it the “Spark-Vark”, a play on the F-111’s “Aardvark” nickname.

What kind of technology does the F-111 have?

The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production aircraft, including variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight. Its design influenced later variable-sweep wing aircraft, and some of its advanced features have since become commonplace.