F-111

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Member for

19 years 6 months

Posts: 262

Question to my forum mates.

One of my favourite a/c is the Aardvark. I believe that it was retired too soon, I even believe that the EF-111 Raven still has a place in todays USAF.
Here is my question:
A) what is the maximum range clean with just 20mm cannon? both swept back and regular wing config?
B) what is the maximum range with ferry tanks only?
C) what is the maximum range with 500lb LGB.s tanks and sidewinder missle's? Is this a real or hypothetical load?
D) what is the maximum range with the load above, with TFS radar engaged dash speed low altitude ingress, and egress out of target area, climb back to crusing altitude?

Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated! Cheers, Robert.

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Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,344

No additional tanks - 4707 km.
Additional tank - 5100 km
The maximum theoretical range of 6,400 km (7 tanks)

The maximum combat load 8840 kg (26 x 750 pounds of bombs)
Normal combat load of 3630 kg

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

One of the great advantages the F-111 had, was being a side by side two seater.
This has to be a great advantage as regards communication between crew members.

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 4,951

EA-6B had this side by side seating in two sets. :)

I'm surprised the old long range jets really haven't been replaced by new long range jets.

It takes a lot of air tankers to get long range strike like the old F-111's and A-6's.

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

Not long after my parents moved to Norfolk, a chap moved in next to them who worked at Lakenheath.
He worked on maintaining the safety equipment in the F-111 crew capsule. He went up in the aircraft on a
couple of occasions.
He was saying that it really concentrates the mind when you are flying down a valley in Turkey, at 400kts,
600ft, and pilot is sitting with his hands on his knees.

Member for

13 years 4 months

Posts: 262

From all accounts I have heard, the -111 was a pretty big handful compared to the F-4 (where many folks transitioned from). Finicky TFR, lots of complex systems, and some pretty rapidly occurring catastrophic failures to contend with. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the pretty unforgiving environment they operated (very very high indicated airspeed, lots of airframe heat, very low altitude, etc).

Member for

10 years 9 months

Posts: 155

No additional tanks - 4707 km.
Additional tank - 5100 km
The maximum theoretical range of 6,400 km (7 tanks)

The maximum combat load 8840 kg (26 x 750 pounds of bombs)
Normal combat load of 3630 kg

No way. F-111 has a payload of 14 ton.. There is photo of an Australian F-111 carrying 8 x 6 = 48 bombs (Mk82 or alike), total of approx. 11 ton. :
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Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,344

It's a gimmick, but a reality modest ...

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