General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark "Ready Teddy"
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.
This FB-111A is 68-0245, delivered to the 509th Bomb Wing at Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1970. It would serve with the 509th and the 380th BW at Plattsburgh AFB, New York; the latter wing is where it got its nose art and name, "Ready Teddy." It was retired in 1991 and donated to the March Air Museum.
68-0245 looks to have been recently repainted, and wears the variation of Europe One camouflage carried by the FB-111 force at the end of its career (referred to as "Dark Vark" by its crews). I didn't even realize this aircraft had nose art; I completely missed it. That's what I get for being in a hurry...
General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark "Ready Teddy"
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.
This FB-111A is 68-0245, delivered to the 509th Bomb Wing at Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1970. It would serve with the 509th and the 380th BW at Plattsburgh AFB, New York; the latter wing is where it got its nose art and name, "Ready Teddy." It was retired in 1991 and donated to the March Air Museum.
68-0245 looks to have been recently repainted, and wears the variation of Europe One camouflage carried by the FB-111 force at the end of its career (referred to as "Dark Vark" by its crews). I didn't even realize this aircraft had nose art; I completely missed it. That's what I get for being in a hurry...