RAAF farewell's the F-111

TarJak · 12-03-10, 05:13 AM

http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/fin...201-18g9t.html

37 years of service.

Sailor Steve · 12-03-10, 11:38 AM

Dang. I remember building Revell's model of the Aardvark, in RAAF Vietnam-era camoflage, back in 1968.

Jimbuna · 12-03-10, 12:09 PM

Not to dissimilar to the Harrier situation over here you could say....end of an era.

TLAM Strike · 12-03-10, 12:44 PM

Truly a great Aircraft. Some don't know but their was a carrier based variant of the F-111 that was passed over in favor of the F-14 Tomcat by the Navy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Not to dissimilar to the Harrier situation over here you could say....end of an era.

Not really... the 'Vark was actually useful, unlike the Harrier...

Harrier = Air Cover over your own carrier.
Aadvark = Bombing people on the next continent.

12-03-10, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Truly a great Aircraft. Some don't know but their was a carrier based variant of the F-111 that was passed over in favor of the F-14 Tomcat by the Navy.

Not really... the 'Vark was actually useful, unlike the Harrier...

Harrier = Air Cover over your own carrier.
Aadvark = Bombing people on the next continent.

The F-111 here had the tail hooks for carrier landings ,there was a couple of times where they set up the arrester cables on the main runway at Amberly to stop them when there was a problem.

TLAM Strike · 12-03-10, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darius359au

The F-111 here had the tail hooks for carrier landings ,there was a couple of times where they set up the arrester cables on the main runway at Amberly to stop them when there was a problem.

Taking off would be a problem (unless they fitted it with a JATO- its been done with planes bigger than the 'Vark), gear isn't configured for it and its not been painted with special paint that resists salt water.

Probably the hook was for landing if the wings jammed in the delta configuration.

krashkart · 12-03-10, 09:15 PM

The original design was to be carrier-based before it was deemed too heavy. Then it was put into attack and EW roles. One of my favorite combat jets. I'd be sad to see it go from the Aussie's care, but home plate lost her Spark 'Varks to the boneyards some time in the 90's. Been somewhat empty since. Never once got to see one fly.

Platapus · 12-03-10, 11:27 PM

I am still trying to get past "farewell's"

Turning a noun into a verb by adding a possessive?

bookworm_020 · 12-03-10, 11:41 PM

Always remember seeing a dump and burn at the Richmond Airshow in the 80's. Was banned is the US, but was the "Pig"s party trick here.

Also remember them screaming over our house with full afterburner to attack Butterworth airbase in Malaysia when my parents worked for the RAAF in the early 80's. Something you never forget!

krashkart · 12-04-10, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Always remember seeing a dump and burn at the Richmond Airshow in the 80's. Was banned is the US, but was the "Pig"s party trick here.

Also remember them screaming over our house with full afterburner to attack Butterworth airbase in Malaysia when my parents worked for the RAAF in the early 80's. Something you never forget!

You bastard!

TarJak · 12-04-10, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am still trying to get past "farewell's"

Turning a noun into a verb by adding a possessive?

Never cared much for that grammar stuff, me.

TarJak · 12-04-10, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Always remember seeing a dump and burn at the Richmond Airshow in the 80's. Was banned is the US, but was the "Pig"s party trick here.

Also remember them screaming over our house with full afterburner to attack Butterworth airbase in Malaysia when my parents worked for the RAAF in the early 80's. Something you never forget!

Quote:

Originally Posted by krashkart

You bastard!

Seen the dump and burn a couple of times. I remember the 1988 bicentennial celebration over the harbour bridge and opera house right on dusk. Really a sight to see.

This one's from Brisbane but it gives a good idea of what it looked like:

krashkart · 12-04-10, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

Seen the dump and burn a couple of times. I remember the 1988 bicentennial celebration over the harbour bridge and opera house right on dusk. Really a sight to see.

This one's from Brisbane but it gives a good idea of what it looked like:

Thank you so much.

TarJak · 12-04-10, 02:37 AM

NP. This ones a bit better I think:

Jimbuna · 12-04-10, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not really... the 'Vark was actually useful, unlike the Harrier...

Harrier = Air Cover over your own carrier.
Aadvark = Bombing people on the next continent.

Nope...I was talking in the context of what each aircraft meant to both respective countries as well as the stirling service they gave

In fact the Harrier gave a lot more in terms of usage during times of conflict....Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

12-03-10, 05:13 AM	#1
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	RAAF farewell's the F-111 http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/fin...201-18g9t.html 37 years of service.

12-03-10, 11:38 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Dang. I remember building Revell's model of the Aardvark, in RAAF Vietnam-era camoflage, back in 1968. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-03-10, 12:09 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,501 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Not to dissimilar to the Harrier situation over here you could say....end of an era. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-03-10, 11:27 PM	#8
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I am still trying to get past "farewell's" Turning a noun into a verb by adding a possessive? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

12-03-10, 11:41 PM	#9
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Always remember seeing a dump and burn at the Richmond Airshow in the 80's. Was banned is the US, but was the "Pig"s party trick here. Also remember them screaming over our house with full afterburner to attack Butterworth airbase in Malaysia when my parents worked for the RAAF in the early 80's. Something you never forget! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

12-03-10, 09:15 PM	#7
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	The original design was to be carrier-based before it was deemed too heavy. Then it was put into attack and EW roles. One of my favorite combat jets. I'd be sad to see it go from the Aussie's care, but home plate lost her Spark 'Varks to the boneyards some time in the 90's. Been somewhat empty since. Never once got to see one fly.

12-04-10, 02:37 AM	#14
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	NP. This ones a bit better I think: