This weeks F111 Retirement..

[juddy]

The retirement of the F-111 fleet marks a significant milestone in the history of Australian military aviation. The long range strike bombers have supported Australia’s national security by providing a potent strategic deterrent

F-111 A8-125 is taxied in for the final time by Air Combat Officer (Navigator), Wing Commander Michael Gray, Commanding Officer No. 6 Squadron, and No. 6 Squadron pilot, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Kloeden.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1590.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1591.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1592.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1593.jpg

A8-126 performs the last dump and burn in history on the final day of flying the F-111.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1594.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1595.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1596.jpg

[VladTepes]

those last 4 photos really epitomise what I will miss about the Pig. Great lines in flight AND a real crowd pleaser.

So sad that most will go to a metal recycler....

[juddy]

It would be nice to see one kept flying, with at least another 10 years airframe life on some of these and that very large wharehouse of spares, it should be done...

[VladTepes]

I mentioned this in another thread.
that's just the beginning of the associated costs.
training pilots for it / keeping currency on type.
maintenance costs
training mechanics / engineers in type.
actual flying costs when money shoudl be spent on hours for line aircraft.

etc etc and for what? a few firewrosk shows? Sadly not going to happen.

[juddy]

The uk did it with the Vulcan so it's possible
if the raaf put some support in it would be possible
even just for a few years, there's plenty of pilots
still out there who would fly it.

[VladTepes]

Yes we;; the RAF have more money for their historic flight as well as the political support for it.
Australia doesn;t think that way.. sadly.
I wish we still had some flying Mirages. Macchi's etc.

[JDNSW]

It is a pity to see them go - there is no real replacement. But the maintenance (labour) costs were getting too high, and this goes for keeping a historic one as well.

As far as Mirages go, my understanding was that they had all reached the end of their airframe fatigue life, having been used in low level operations for which they were not designed.

Don't know about Macchis.

John

[VladTepes]

Some relevant info re teh governments plans for the F111's.

QAM - Most FAQ (http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/f-111/most-faq.htm)

[3toes]

Yes we;; the RAF have more money for their historic flight as well as the political support for it.
Australia doesn;t think that way.. sadly.
I wish we still had some flying Mirages. Macchi's etc.

RAF Historic flight is centred around the Lancaster. It almost ceased to exist here under the last government as the wing spar needed replacement which required special funding. Without a significant public outcry it would have been grounded and the Spitfire and Hurricane sold off.

The Vulcan struggles each year to raise the £500k in donations it requires to cover maintenance. You only have to miss this target once and it will not fly again.

In 1990 Pakistan bought about 50 of the Mirage aircraft from the RAAF once they had been replaced by the Hornet. These airframes had plenty of life left in them and are still flying with the PAF recieving a major weapons / radar / systems upgrade under French guidance in 2000. They are due to be replaced late next decade by Chinese aircraft.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thats a good link Vlad,,

The Museum author makes some valid points,,

if the Gov can demilitarize a few destroyers and a few Tanks, and GIVE them away,, why not a few F-111's?

Why do non- gov agency's have to pay such a huge amount? is the gov scared of their planes ( I gather the NON G models ARE ours???) becoming some sort of paying tourist attraction?

I've downloaded the pdf and after a mild plagiarism will forward it off to Shine.

[VladTepes]

The G-models are (or were) nuclear capable and under the terms of the SALT treaty conditions they are to be scrapped.

Surely the US Gov't would allow them to, though, if only they would ask the question.

Not as if Al Qaeda is going to steal a static display F1-11 and bomb something is it !

[Blknight.aus]

I've just raided all the pic threads on the work forum...

Pics to be uploaded later.

[VladTepes]

OK Dave it's later NOW !

[Blknight.aus]

ok, so its later click for the full size image.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/774.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=5to1-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/775.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Afterburners-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/776.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=AMBF-111Retirement03_12_20105298-Edit.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/777.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=AMBF-111Retirement03_12_20105368-Edit.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/778.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=AndthentherewereSix-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/779.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=BurnwithVortex-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/780.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=BurnYourName-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/781.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Closer-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/782.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Encore-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/783.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=EndoftheRoad-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/784.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=F-111FinalFlight-SMC.jpg)
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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/787.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=FinalTaxi-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/788.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=FlexTime-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/789.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=GoldenChild-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/790.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Haze-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/791.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Knife-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/792.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=LastSteps-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/793.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=LastTakeoff-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/794.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Memorial-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/795.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=PhotoOppurtunity-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/796.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=PigTrails-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/797.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0212.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/798.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0254.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/799.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0294.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/800.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0508.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/801.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0516.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/802.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0594.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/803.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_0610.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/804.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0065.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/805.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0066.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/806.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0076.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/807.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0077.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/808.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0079.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/809.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0105.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/810.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0106.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/811.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0329.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/812.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0604.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/813.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0605.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/814.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0608A.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/815.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0812.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/816.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0820.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/817.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_0870.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/818.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_1225.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/819.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_1232.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/820.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_9687.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/821.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_9704.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/822.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RAAF_F-111_RF09_9988.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/823.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=RocketMan-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/824.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Shadow-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/825.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=SwingWing-SMC.jpg)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/826.jpg (http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/blknight_aus/f111/?action=view&current=Vortex-SMC.jpg)

Go on ask me to put them up full size, I dare ya.

[VladTepes]

Thanks for the pics Dave - good stuff but can you please put them up f....

no. Don't.

[Blknight.aus]

The good news is that I forgot to put the words "click for the fullsize image" on the post
the best news is when i did the pillage the last post was"more to come when I get back from leave jan 11."

[flagg]

The F111's are too hard and expensive to maintain - As much as I love them the whole deseal / reseal thing is the final nail in the coffin.

Temora Aviation Museum etc could simply not afford to finance them in a safe way.

( http://f111.dva.gov.au/ is interesting to read as well )

[Pedro_The_Swift]

funny thing is,,,
there has been a real F111 nosecone/cockpit assembly out front of the museum in Toowoomba for years and years, The day they retired them its gone!

[VladTepes]

YouTube - Australian F111 and the Hollies

[dhc4ever]

Unfortunately it would take a similar amount of money to keep a pig in the air as the vulcan.
Having not long ago finished spending 8 years working on them, I cant see it being a plausible endevour. It used to take a crew of around 50 assorted tradesmen a year to do the major servicing, Thats engines, airframes, metal workers, tank dogs, painters, engineers, logistics, electroplating and avionics. It was 8 to 10 weeks for the test team to do the final rigging, leak checks and functional tests to get it flying again. Most of this man power have been been given their marching orders and are spread to the 4 winds, not to mention the dismantling of the required logistics train, parts servicing etc.
All of the above skills and processes are volitile, once you turn it off, its gone. Even to keep one of the last serviced birds going would be possible but difficult for a short time, and about 60 man hrs work of 1 hr of flight, if nothing drastic goes wrong.
I always felt the F-111 was an engineering thesis that got put into production by mistake, it was an impressive bit of thought, planning and engineering espicially when you realise it was designed in the days of blue prints and slide rules, no computers. And as much as the pilots and navs loved flying it and it performed well, it was a complete bastard to work on, it was called the pig for a reason and it had little to do with arrdvarks.

Cheers