Thread: video of F111 bouncing

Thanks - seen it on telly - great stuff! - but while we're here I have a question if anyone out here knows - our F111s have a hook! I thought hooks were for carrier based aircraft - yes I know there was a brief F111 trialled for the US Navy but that was moons ago....or is the hook just par for the course???

GQ

Yes the Jet will be repaired, and there are a couple of reasons for them having a hook. One of them is for the precise reason you would have seen on Tues. It is common practice taking the hook as part of training. Usually with wheels down though.

Yes.. sorry I saw another angle and they had a rope out for him! Thats how it stopped so quickly! It's not very obvious from the angles on the video.

Our F-18s have a hook too. And a lot of the military bases have arrestor gear, useful in emergencies!

The F-111B model was designed at the same time as the F-111A. the B model was supposed to be used in the job that the F-14 did untill it was replaced by the F-18E/F Super Hornet. Parkly the hook is a hangover from that project (which was killed off because it was too heavy). I believe the design of the undercarriage was also a hangover from that.

While flying models I was doing some glider towing (me ont he tow plane) and one afternoon I hooked up the fence.... LOL.

The aeroplane I was flying just stopped dead in the air, and fell 5 or so feet onto the ground in a bellyflop situation.

Remarkably there was no damage so I presume the fence must have shoot a bit dissapating the energy. It wasn't a big plane.. but reasonable... probably 2.5kg doing 60k or so.

Anyway, at the time I couldn't believe how it stopped If you'd been in it you would have had to look around the cabin for your eyeballs

The F111 was designed as a Navy aircraft but was never accepted into Navy service - as a fighter it was a dud - hence its better use as a bomber in the airforces - hence the hooks are still there as they are for the hornet which is also a Navy aircraft - note the heavy landing gear in both aircraft which also highlights their Navy origins - land based aircraft don't need heavy undercarriages - didn't help this F111 though

Originally Posted by garrycol

The F111 was designed as a Navy aircraft but was never accepted into Navy service - as a fighter it was a dud - hence its better use as a bomber in the airforces

Hence why it is a F-111 (or F/B-111) rather than a B-111 or A-111