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26th November 2011, 04:35 AM
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F-111 fans are outraged many of the iconic RAAF fighter jets have been dumped at a landfill site near Ipswich.
A RAAF spokesman confirmed to Ipswich News on Thursday that 23 of the planes had been dumped at the Swanbank landfill site.
The jets had been located at RAAF Base Amberley, near Ipswich, before being decommissioned late last year.
The F-111s have been replaced by the Super Hornets, with the final four being delivered from the US to Amberley with a spectacular flypast over southeast Queensland in October.
The US Government had placed tight restrictions on how the planes were be dismantled or preserved with several earmarked for museums around Australia.
Two are expected to be on show at RAAF Base Amberley at its Heritage Centre.
It's just the hulks of the planes (that were dumped),'' the RAAF spokesman said. ``They saved the ones they could.''
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully expressed his outrage about the dumping on his FacePPRuNe page.
Fifty years of Australian history down the drain as the RAAF dumps F-111s down disused Ipswich coal mine at Swanbank,'' he posted.
Related comments included: ``What a waste! You would think these would be saved for a museum or at least if they were being thrown they should be offered for public interests.''
Another wrote: If the RAAF didn't want them, I am wondering if ICC (Ipswich City Council) were happy to take them and all the costs associated with restoration and display.''
Meanwhile, Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has encouraged organisations to apply for one of seven F-111s left to be loaned to museums and other historical organisations.
He said Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare had released a Request for Offer for the jets.
This is a fantastic opportunity for local historical organisations to be able to display these iconic aircraft which protected our skies for nearly four decades'' Mr Neumann said.
The Australian Government is loaning the aircraft so as many Australians as possible have access to this piece of our aviation history.
The loans will be subject to a number of conditions to ensure the safe preservation of the aircraft, which are outlined in the Request for Offer.''
The RAAF spokesman said a service for all involved with the F-111s, including the families of airmen lost in crashes, will be held at the memorial garden near the front gate of RAAF Base Amberley at 9am on Friday, December 2.
For more on the offer, which closed on March 28, visit www.tenders.gov.au with reference DMOASD/Other175/2011.
RAAF Base Amberley F-111 fighter jets end up on Swanbank landfill site near Ipswich | News, events and sport for Ipswich | Courier Mail (http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/ipswich/raaf-base-amberley-f-111-fighter-jets-end-up-on-swanbank-landfill-site-near-ipswich/story-fn8m0yo2-1226204896564)
F-111 fans are outraged many of the iconic RAAF fighter jets have been dumped at a landfill site near Ipswich.
A RAAF spokesman confirmed to Ipswich News on Thursday that 23 of the planes had been dumped at the Swanbank landfill site.
The jets had been located at RAAF Base Amberley, near Ipswich, before being decommissioned late last year.
The F-111s have been replaced by the Super Hornets, with the final four being delivered from the US to Amberley with a spectacular flypast over southeast Queensland in October.
The US Government had placed tight restrictions on how the planes were be dismantled or preserved with several earmarked for museums around Australia.
Two are expected to be on show at RAAF Base Amberley at its Heritage Centre.
It's just the hulks of the planes (that were dumped),'' the RAAF spokesman said. ``They saved the ones they could.''
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully expressed his outrage about the dumping on his FacePPRuNe page.
Fifty years of Australian history down the drain as the RAAF dumps F-111s down disused Ipswich coal mine at Swanbank,'' he posted.
Related comments included: ``What a waste! You would think these would be saved for a museum or at least if they were being thrown they should be offered for public interests.''
Another wrote: If the RAAF didn't want them, I am wondering if ICC (Ipswich City Council) were happy to take them and all the costs associated with restoration and display.''
Meanwhile, Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has encouraged organisations to apply for one of seven F-111s left to be loaned to museums and other historical organisations.
He said Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare had released a Request for Offer for the jets.
This is a fantastic opportunity for local historical organisations to be able to display these iconic aircraft which protected our skies for nearly four decades'' Mr Neumann said.
The Australian Government is loaning the aircraft so as many Australians as possible have access to this piece of our aviation history.
The loans will be subject to a number of conditions to ensure the safe preservation of the aircraft, which are outlined in the Request for Offer.''
The RAAF spokesman said a service for all involved with the F-111s, including the families of airmen lost in crashes, will be held at the memorial garden near the front gate of RAAF Base Amberley at 9am on Friday, December 2.
For more on the offer, which closed on March 28, visit www.tenders.gov.au with reference DMOASD/Other175/2011.
RAAF Base Amberley F-111 fighter jets end up on Swanbank landfill site near Ipswich | News, events and sport for Ipswich | Courier Mail (http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/ipswich/raaf-base-amberley-f-111-fighter-jets-end-up-on-swanbank-landfill-site-near-ipswich/story-fn8m0yo2-1226204896564)