The F-111 project was first known as the TFX, conceived in the early 1960s. First flight was on 21 December 1964. The US Navy version, the F-111B was cancelled in 1968 for being too heavy for CVN aircraft carrier use and not having sufficient defensive capability. Out of this expensive debacle came development of the successful Grumman F-14 Tomcat, also a swing-wing tactical strike aircraft.

The USAF doggedly pursued development of the F-111 Aardvark, which actually became an official USAF name in it's retirement in 1996. It was the first operational aircraft to feature swing wings and turbofans with afterburners. In clean configuration the F-111 could go supersonic cruise WITHOUT using afterburner additional thrust. It had a small internal bomb bay, cockpit escape capsule, terrain-following radar and a LOT of problems initially with the swing wing mechanism complexity and the engine air inlets.

USAF operational versions were the General Dynamics F-111A, the F-111E with revised air inlets, the F-111D with digital avionics, the F-111F with more powerful turbofans and improved analog avionics, and the FB-111 with longer swept wingspan, stronger undercarriage and nuclear bomb capability. In the early 1990s the FB-111s had their nuclear ability removed and were redesignated as F-111Gs with subsequent digital avionics upgrade. The Gulf War over Iraq F-111F version with upgraded digital avionics and Pave Tack laser designator was retired in 1996. The EF-111 Raven electronic warfare version, by now a General Dynamics/Grumman contracted effort was retired in 1998, so the ungainly F-111 actually had a long USAF history with varied missions.

Australia used 22 F-111Cs, of which four were modified as RF-111C recon aircraft. The F-111C combines the engines and avionics of the F-111A with the FB-111's improvements, less nuclear. Australia further bought 15 ex-USAF F-111Gs, with deliveries commencing 1993.

F-111C specs

Power: two P&W TF30-P-103 turbofans with afterburning 18,500 lb st each

Max Speed: Mach 2.4 (1,337 kts) at altitude

Cruise speed: long range; 420 kts

Range with internal fuel: 3,215 nautical miles

Weight max takeoff: 110,000 lbs

Accommodation: Pilot & Navigator side by side

Wing span max extended: 70'0", fully swept; 31'11"

Length: 73'6" (one big mother!)

Height: 17'1"

Wing area max extended: 550 sq ft

Armament: GBU-12/-10 LGBs, AGM-84s, TV-guided GBU-15s, AGM-142s, conventional bombs, and AIM-9 heat-seeking missiles.

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F-111F specs

Power: two P&W TF30-P-100 Turbofans 25,200 lb st each

Max speed: Mach 1.2 (910 mph at sea level), 1,646 mph clean at altitude.

Action radius: over 1,365 miles

Service ceiling: 60,000 ft

Wing span extended: 63 ft

Length: 73'6"

Height: 17'

Wing area max extended: 525 sq ft.

Weight empty: 47,300 lbs, loaded: 99,792 lbs

Accommodation: Pilot and Navigator side by side

Armament: maximum of 31,302 lb of ordnance, including bombs, missiles or gun pods. Normal tactical load: 2 or 4 precision-guided weapons and AIM-9M Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles. AVQ-26 Pave Tack laser-designator turret under fuselage with Paveway III bombs.