F-111 Aardvark
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F-111 Aardvark

General Dynamics' Variable-Swept-Wing Attack Aircraft




Author:John Gourley
Language:English text
Format:Hardback
Dimensions:9" x 9"
Pages:128
Photos:267 color and b/w photos
Publisher:Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN:9780764361289



The General Dynamics F-111 was one of aviation history's most promising planes when it came out in the early 1960s. Despite a rocky service career, political changes in how the military acquired its weaponry, and the addition of too much new technology, the plane provided a credible frontline deterrent in the Cold War era and was used to great effect in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Many of the challenges faced by putting the F-111 - with all of its new systems - into service are now accepted as a normal outfit in modern fighter aircraft. Although the Navy did not accept the F-111B model, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat development program was significantly assisted by prior radar and missile system testing on the F-111B airframe. The F-111 was a hugely powerful aircraft and carried devastating weaponry, but was phased out by the USAF in the mid-90s, largely due to crippling maintenance costs. The aircraft remained in Australian service until 2010.