General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was concieved originally as a replacement for the F-105 Thunderchief, though it was intended for both conventional and nuclear war and was far more capable. From the start (and despite its “F” fighter designation), the F-111 was intended to make pinpoint attacks in all weather, attacking high-value Soviet targets at very low level, then egressing at high speed in excess of Mach 2.
Nearly a year later the F-111A was committed to Vietnam under Project Combat Lancer, with disastrous results: three aircraft were lost in the space of a month, all to malfunctions. The aircraft had numerous bugs, the worst being defective wing box sections, which were the result of substandard equipment being installed at the behest of bribed inspectors. As a result of this, the F-111 earned the first of many names, including “McNamara’s Fantabulous Flop,” the “Supersonic Edsel,” and the one that would eventually stick, “Aardvark,” for its long nose and “love of the earth.”
Despite this, improvements were made and the F-111 returned to Vietnam for Operations Linebacker I and II, where it performed superbly, undertaking 4000 sorties in all weathers and at night, with the loss of only six aircraft over a seven-month period.
Later marks of the Aardvark were subsequently introduced in the 1970s in the form of the F-111D, E, and F models. Technical and engine problems plagued the D and it never saw combat, but both the F-111E and especially the F-111F saw extensive service. Their most famous use—and one of the few times F-111s were used in a mass raid—was Operation El Dorado Canyon in April 1986, when Aardvarks (in conjunction with US Navy airstrikes) struck Libya.
The Aardvark’s swan song was in the First Gulf War, where they again were used in pinpoint strikes and surprisingly in the antiarmor role: using LGBs the F-111s knocked out 1500 tanks, second only to the A-10. Though various reengine programs were proposed, the F-111 of all marks was phased out in favor of the F-15E Strike Eagle; it received the “official” nickname of Aardvark on its last day of service. It also served with the Royal Australian Air Force from the early 1970s until about 2012, when the last of the Aardvarks were withdrawn from service.
The F-111's swing-wing made it unique in USAF service, and this was one of Dad's first models, built off the 1/72 Hasegawa F-111E kit. He built it straight out of the box as a 20th TFW aircraft out of RAF Upper Heyford. It carries a variation of the Southeast Asia camouflage scheme--two shades of green and tan over black undersurfaces for night operations. The white tailcodes indicate the 1970s style colors. Ironically, by the time Dad built this model in 1976, the real 68-0045 had already crashed in 1971.
General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was concieved originally as a replacement for the F-105 Thunderchief, though it was intended for both conventional and nuclear war and was far more capable. From the start (and despite its “F” fighter designation), the F-111 was intended to make pinpoint attacks in all weather, attacking high-value Soviet targets at very low level, then egressing at high speed in excess of Mach 2.
Nearly a year later the F-111A was committed to Vietnam under Project Combat Lancer, with disastrous results: three aircraft were lost in the space of a month, all to malfunctions. The aircraft had numerous bugs, the worst being defective wing box sections, which were the result of substandard equipment being installed at the behest of bribed inspectors. As a result of this, the F-111 earned the first of many names, including “McNamara’s Fantabulous Flop,” the “Supersonic Edsel,” and the one that would eventually stick, “Aardvark,” for its long nose and “love of the earth.”
Despite this, improvements were made and the F-111 returned to Vietnam for Operations Linebacker I and II, where it performed superbly, undertaking 4000 sorties in all weathers and at night, with the loss of only six aircraft over a seven-month period.
Later marks of the Aardvark were subsequently introduced in the 1970s in the form of the F-111D, E, and F models. Technical and engine problems plagued the D and it never saw combat, but both the F-111E and especially the F-111F saw extensive service. Their most famous use—and one of the few times F-111s were used in a mass raid—was Operation El Dorado Canyon in April 1986, when Aardvarks (in conjunction with US Navy airstrikes) struck Libya.
The Aardvark’s swan song was in the First Gulf War, where they again were used in pinpoint strikes and surprisingly in the antiarmor role: using LGBs the F-111s knocked out 1500 tanks, second only to the A-10. Though various reengine programs were proposed, the F-111 of all marks was phased out in favor of the F-15E Strike Eagle; it received the “official” nickname of Aardvark on its last day of service. It also served with the Royal Australian Air Force from the early 1970s until about 2012, when the last of the Aardvarks were withdrawn from service.
The F-111's swing-wing made it unique in USAF service, and this was one of Dad's first models, built off the 1/72 Hasegawa F-111E kit. He built it straight out of the box as a 20th TFW aircraft out of RAF Upper Heyford. It carries a variation of the Southeast Asia camouflage scheme--two shades of green and tan over black undersurfaces for night operations. The white tailcodes indicate the 1970s style colors. Ironically, by the time Dad built this model in 1976, the real 68-0045 had already crashed in 1971.