General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark "Liberator II"
The FB-111A was intended as an interim aircraft between the B-52 and the Advanced Manned Bomber (which turned out to be the B-1B), and a replacement for the B-58 Hustler. It was something of a Frankenstein's monster, in that it used the airframe of the F-111A, the longer wings of the cancelled F-111B, and the newer Triple Plow II intakes, engines, and avionics suite of the F-111D. This suite was in turn even further upgraded with improved radar, navigation systems (including a primitive GPS), and bomb delivery system that allowed for fully automatic bomb runs even in poor weather. The landing gear was also strengthened to allow for a much higher maximum weight and warload; though the FB-111A could carry even more bombs than the tactical F-111 models, it carried AGM-69 SRAM standoff nuclear missiles in SAC service.
Once the B-1B Lancer was fully mission-capable, the FB-111s were no longer needed by SAC, and in 1989 they were redesignated F-111G and handed over to Tactical Air Command. There they served until sold to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1996 as attrition replacements for the RAAF's F-111K fleet; as such, they were among the last Aardvark variants retired, beginning in 2009.
FB-111A 68-0287 was delivered to the USAF around 1970, and like many FB-111s, spent its entire career with the 509th Bomb Wing (Medium) at Pease AFB, New Hampshire. When the 509th reequipped with B-2A Spirits, 68-0287 was deemed to be too high time to become a F-111G, and instead was grounded; it became a GFB-111A ground instruction trainer, and was moved to Lowry AFB, Colorado. When Lowry closed not long afterwards, 68-0287 became part of the new Wings Over to Rockies Museum collection.
I didn't check the tailcode on this aircraft, because if I had, I would not have misidentified this as a standard F-111--68-0287 has no tailcodes, which the FB-111A force did not have. It carries the later gunship gray camouflage used by the F-111 force at the end of the Aardvark's career. It carries nose art on the fuselage of the Tasmanian Devil with a Paveway bomb and the name "Liberator II," but the nose art has faded somewhat and is hard to see.
My friend Darren photobombed this picture, but that's all right--he hauled my carcass around about 6000 total miles this summer, so he has the right to get into any shot he wants.
General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark "Liberator II"
The FB-111A was intended as an interim aircraft between the B-52 and the Advanced Manned Bomber (which turned out to be the B-1B), and a replacement for the B-58 Hustler. It was something of a Frankenstein's monster, in that it used the airframe of the F-111A, the longer wings of the cancelled F-111B, and the newer Triple Plow II intakes, engines, and avionics suite of the F-111D. This suite was in turn even further upgraded with improved radar, navigation systems (including a primitive GPS), and bomb delivery system that allowed for fully automatic bomb runs even in poor weather. The landing gear was also strengthened to allow for a much higher maximum weight and warload; though the FB-111A could carry even more bombs than the tactical F-111 models, it carried AGM-69 SRAM standoff nuclear missiles in SAC service.
Once the B-1B Lancer was fully mission-capable, the FB-111s were no longer needed by SAC, and in 1989 they were redesignated F-111G and handed over to Tactical Air Command. There they served until sold to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1996 as attrition replacements for the RAAF's F-111K fleet; as such, they were among the last Aardvark variants retired, beginning in 2009.
FB-111A 68-0287 was delivered to the USAF around 1970, and like many FB-111s, spent its entire career with the 509th Bomb Wing (Medium) at Pease AFB, New Hampshire. When the 509th reequipped with B-2A Spirits, 68-0287 was deemed to be too high time to become a F-111G, and instead was grounded; it became a GFB-111A ground instruction trainer, and was moved to Lowry AFB, Colorado. When Lowry closed not long afterwards, 68-0287 became part of the new Wings Over to Rockies Museum collection.
I didn't check the tailcode on this aircraft, because if I had, I would not have misidentified this as a standard F-111--68-0287 has no tailcodes, which the FB-111A force did not have. It carries the later gunship gray camouflage used by the F-111 force at the end of the Aardvark's career. It carries nose art on the fuselage of the Tasmanian Devil with a Paveway bomb and the name "Liberator II," but the nose art has faded somewhat and is hard to see.
My friend Darren photobombed this picture, but that's all right--he hauled my carcass around about 6000 total miles this summer, so he has the right to get into any shot he wants.