So
There are many other land fill sites containing relics of previous military equipment. What is so different about this one.
I was at Amberly (NST) in 1955 we had about 6 Lincolns that were quarantined because they had been in an atomic cloud. There were also other Lincolns from the squadron that are probably used as land fill in the area somewhere.
Barry - from my perspective, I'll tell you. Within general public circles, the GD F-111 was super famous in modern times as it is remembered as the face of the RAAF to many. Even recruitment advertising tapped its allure and presented the machine as a "prize" that new recruits could aspire to flying.
It was also famous not necessarily for its capabilities per sé as a strike bomber (with are undoubted, and in many aspects unequalled), but for its spectacular air show appearances where it made the dump and burn a must-see experience. I think that it literally made many air shows over the last few decades. It was a drawcard of the first magnitude. I reckon the public related to this aircraft almost with passion. I'm certainly one that is sad to see it slide into ignominy.
If adherence to a US military contract demanding their ultimate burial was so critical due to their sensitive nuclear role, how were seven of these aircraft ever saved at all for museums? Was there something intrinsically different about these lucky few?
Its as if man has reached the peak of areospace manufacture and now going down hill,three out of the four best aircraft ever made are now gone forever-concord,shuttle,and F111,only one left 747.there is nothing that will ever come close to these.Pitty Australia could not get the F 22 raptor to replace the F111,instead of the ugly looking second grade rubbish we are getting (if we even ever get that)
It is a shame to see the 'Pig' treated this way, unfortunately this is the way for military equipment, at least they saved 7 for display. One of the boats I was on, HMAS Buccaneer was sunk as a target by NZ A-4's (ex RAN) in 1984, a rather inglorious end.
I was lucky enough to be a gunner on Patrol Boats and was subjected to a number of "anti ship strikes" by F-111's, to see one of these aircraft come in and attack you from the deck is one of the most mind numbing experiences, the noise, power and sheer shock of one of these things has to be seen to be believed, we, at least, knew they were coming, admittedly direction unknown, even then the surprise was complete, pity an enemy.....
It is a shame to see the 'Pig' treated this way, unfortunately this is the way for military equipment, at least they saved 7 for display. One of the boats I was on, HMAS Buccaneer was sunk as a target by NZ A-4's (ex RAN) in 1984, a rather inglorious end.
I was lucky enough to be a gunner on Patrol Boats and was subjected to a number of "anti ship strikes" by F-111's, to see one of these aircraft come in and attack you from the deck is one of the most mind numbing experiences, the noise, power and sheer shock of one of these things has to be seen to be believed, we, at least, knew they were coming, admittedly direction unknown, even then the surprise was complete, pity an enemy.....
Cheers
Digressing a little.
I remember Buccaneer and all the other attack class patrol boats as well as all the Fremantle class. Seeing F111's and Mirages doing bombing runs was entertaining.
I fitted the radio gear to every attack class and was involved in every refit in Cairns (except between 1976-78). I did the same for every Fremantle. We probably crossed paths at some time.
Before we commissioned the first Cairns built boat we took it out the Grafton Passage and were the control ship for a bombing run on the old Trinity Bay. I got stuck with the job of radio operator controlling the aircraft and releasing the signal with the final resting place of Trinity Bay
Barry
PS When doing sea trials and testing the Bofors we must have frightened a lot of shipping with our break up shot.
I was at Amberley ( as a young Aircraft Engineer ) when the first 12 arrived in 1973.... What a fanfare that was ... Officer Commanding held a parade ... lot of ' pomp' and ceremony.
No's 1 and 6 Squadron were assigned these beauties ... and 482 Squadron was the maintenance facility ... also at Amberley.
Today .. I enjoy flying these ' beauties ' and doing my own ' dump and burn ' .. albeit in Microsoft Flight Simulator X.
The scenery is FTX Australia and I am flying along the Qld coast line ... and of course ... the Dump and Burn.
Hope you like it .... it's a lot of fun ... can fly the F111 anywhere in the world.... day or night.
Flash
Last edited by FlashDrive; 29-03-2012 at 12:37 PM.
Reason: added pics
Does anyone remember the English contender (TSR2 I think it was) for the F111's role that was scrapped before it got to the build stage. It was in some ways superior but the might of the American armaments industry made sure it was canned before it could do them any harm. I had a friend who worked on it and gave me an insight on what it was projected to do.
LOL, BUS was real pain, if the bakerlite nose broke there was all hell to pay, complete strip down, we probably did cross paths at some stage.
Cheers
Nice picture. In the background is another old defence icon that has now gone to the detriment of Sydney to appease the Pollies and Greenies, I don't mean the type of "greenies" we were either. My other favourites were maintained there also. The Oberons. If you were an American Skipper in the war games you never messed with the Oberons.
Does anyone remember the English contender (TSR2 I think it was) for the F111's role that was scrapped before it got to the build stage. It was in some ways superior but the might of the American armaments industry made sure it was canned before it could do them any harm. I had a friend who worked on it and gave me an insight on what it was projected to do.
Barry
Yep ... I remember the TSR2 ... British prototype .. canned by the Ministry of Defense ..... enormous cost over runs was the final demise of it.
I always thought it looked a bit like the Concord ... similar appearance .
Its as if man has reached the peak of areospace manufacture and now going down hill,.....)
I remember the overhauling F111 G sensors. I could get them to .1G accuracy....well that was the spec but we used to get abound 1/2 that. These were about the size of a bake-bean can. I was proud of getting better than specs.
Then, with the new pavetack repair facility we were using pizeo G (acceleration) sensors that were sealed and much cheaper, smaller (around thumbnail size) and accurate to .01 of a G! Flap me! I couldn't believe it.
Newer aircraft can afford luxuries of poorer aerodynamics (compared to the F111) as they have higher power smaller engines and advanced flight controls.
An F18 losing all of the outer 1/3 wing, from the wing fold joint outwards) and still flew back ok. An F18 losing a flap...a major piece of wing surface used all the time in flight...and flew back ok...the marvels of modern systems.
This would never happen on an F111.
Still it was sad to see the demise of the old girl. Everyone who was involved with it remembers the pig fondly ....a class act as they say.
But times have moved ahead! Less class more capabilities!
A sign of the times. With so much conflict in the world today, it is inevitable that the beautiful and quaint peace-keeping machinery of a bygone era finds its way back into the soil from whence it came.
)
