- 3 days ago
For educational purposes
Great Planes looks into the stories behind the most influential, innovative and intriguing machines that ever took flight.
The story of the fighter that became a bomber, the F-111 set new standards of design, but had to wrestle with adapting high technology.
Great Planes looks into the stories behind the most influential, innovative and intriguing machines that ever took flight.
The story of the fighter that became a bomber, the F-111 set new standards of design, but had to wrestle with adapting high technology.
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LearningTranscript
00:00The Wonders of Evil
00:29The Wonders of Aviation
00:30Take to the Skies
00:32On the Discovery Channel's
00:33Wings
00:34Listen to the war stories
00:42Of a struggle for a dream in the sky
00:44Join in the triumph
00:46Of an aircraft that worked hard
00:48To earn its stripes
00:49And became a true soldier
00:50On Great Plains
00:52The F-111
00:59It's evening at Nellis Air Force Base
01:08In Nevada
01:08And a single F-111
01:11Of the United States Tactical Air Command
01:13Prepares to take off
01:14Okay, canopy's closed, the latch
01:29Watch, check my phone
01:31Okay, 1-8-5, the latch
01:33All our mounts
01:35Of the Peter Farby
01:36All our mounts
01:38Okay
01:39And that's it
01:40Watch, get the channel 3 there, there
01:44Rock, shuttle 2
01:45Nellis Tower, Falcon 1
01:47Number 1, 0-2-9
01:49Falcon 1, cleared for takeoff
01:51From 0-3 left
01:52Wind 0-1-0
01:53At 8 knots
01:54Watch, tower, I'm staying cleared
01:56On and off
01:56RIn Dr.
02:13It's going to be great
02:14On and off
02:14That, uh...
02:15I don't think
02:16There's a new standout
02:18H-8-8-1
02:19R-C-L
02:21You can't
02:22Say, fly this way
02:23The crew, both highly experienced, each with over 1,000 hours of flying
02:53time, go through the pre-flight ritual necessary to lift 80,000 pounds of high technology
02:59in the air and onwards to twice the speed of sound.
03:04To these airmen it's just a matter of controls, instrument checks and radio communication,
03:11predictable, orderly and routine.
03:19But the evolution of the F-111 was rarely predictable and never routine.
03:33This aircraft's origins go back to the late 1950s, at which time the US Air Force was divided
03:39into several major air commands.
03:42But those most involved with combat aircraft were strategic air command charged with the
03:48Intercontinental Heavy Bombing role, Air Defence Command, responsible for aerial protection,
03:54and the Tactical Air Command, or TAC as it was known, responsible for ground attack and interdiction
03:59tasks.
04:02By 1958, Tactical Air Command was employing F-105 Thunder Chiefs built by Republic Aviation,
04:18a company which had produced aircraft for the ground attack role since World War II.
04:25The
04:44The 105 with its internal bomb bay and high speed represented a major step forward in tactical
05:00fighters. It was a thoroughly specialized aircraft designed to fill one role and fill it well. It
05:08went on to serve particularly well in the early part of the air war over Vietnam. However,
05:13the FUD, as it became known, did have some inherent failings.
05:34It had a limited range which encouraged it to be flown at altitude, thus making it vulnerable
05:41to enemy radar aimed missiles.
05:43OK.
05:44There you go.
05:45There you go.
05:46There you go.
05:47At 12 o'clock at 1 o'clock.
05:48Have a look down in there, aren't you?
05:49Yeah.
05:50And...
05:51Max, take it down.
05:52Take it down.
05:53Go.
05:54Go.
05:55Go.
05:56Go.
05:57Go.
05:58Go.
05:59Roger.
06:00Roger.
06:01Take it down.
06:02We've got a launch.
06:03I see them coming off the pad at 12 o'clock.
06:04I think we're all right with the time then.
06:06OK.
06:07Be twice.
06:08Listen.
06:09Get out of here to the top left.
06:13The Thunder Chief was also restricted to daytime bombing, often needing fighter cover.
06:18Another constraint was that it required long conventional runways.
06:22Knowing the long lead time to develop modern warplanes, as the 105 was entering service,
06:44TAC was already forming requirements for a replacement, the TFX project.
06:49TFX specifications were encouraged by advances in new materials and manufacturing techniques.
07:08Solid state electronic technology.
07:11Turbo fan engines utilizing afterburners for extra power.
07:34But most exciting of all, information received from NASA confirmed that new approaches to
07:40using a variable swing wing were practical and would give far greater flexibility to aircraft
07:46performance.
07:49The Navy, too, was contemplating a new aircraft to be used as a fleet defense fighter.
07:54But while the F-4 Phantom was to be an exception, for reasons it specialized needs, the two services
08:01always developed their own aircraft.
08:07A trend that possibly would have continued were it not for the appointment in 1961 of Secretary
08:13for Defense McNamara.
08:15Robert McNamara was nothing if not a pragmatist.
08:18A former Vice President of the Ford Motor Company, he arrived at the Pentagon determined
08:23to dispose of bureaucratic duplication and waste, only to be confronted with the Air Force's TFX
08:29and the Navy's fighter aircraft requirements.
08:32Despite strong objections from both Air Force and Navy staff, McNamara insisted on a policy of commonality
08:40and submissions were called for from the industry for one basic design suitable for use in both services.
08:47In January 1962, after several competitions, the Pentagon reduced the field to two possible alternatives.
08:54Boeing's 818 model, while favored by both services, did not have a sufficiently high commonality content
09:02and would have employed engines that at the time were still on the drawing board.
09:06The other alternative was a joint venture, from General Dynamics as the principal contractor
09:12supported by the Grumman Corporation.
09:14Their design did offer a very high level of common ingredients for both services.
09:19In fact, the only major components to differ were the undercarriage, the wing length, and the nose.
09:32These are mock-ups of the two different nose designs.
09:37And in diagram form, firstly, the Navy's B design, followed by the Air Force A model.
09:48Overall, the General Dynamics design impressed McNamara the most.
09:52And their adherence to his commonality guidelines contributed to an initial order being placed in November 1962
09:59for 18 Air Force and 5 Navy planes.
10:0525 months after the contract was signed, the first F-111, an Air Force version, took to the air.
10:12Typically, the F-111's design embraced many features, some used for the very first time on any aircraft anywhere.
10:21One of these was a crew capsule that could be jettisoned in an emergency
10:25as a complete unit clear of the main fuselage by the use of rockets.
10:29This could be done at any speed, at any altitude, or even from below water.
10:34And after it has landed or surfaced, the capsule could act as a survival shelter.
10:41The F-111 was the first aircraft to go into full production utilizing after-burning turbofan engines.
10:57The TF-30 gave considerable economy and thus greater range.
11:07And the after-burners were available for take-off and extra speed.
11:13Still more range was built into the general dynamics design by utilizing every possible area available for fuel storage.
11:29Even without external wing tanks, the plane had a range of over 2,500 nautical miles.
11:35But with flight refuelling or external tanks, targets anywhere were within its range.
11:49When no external fuel was carried, all of the wing points were free to lift an enormous array of ordnates,
11:55and this on top of the considerable internal bomb bay load.
12:18Wings will return in a moment.
12:20And now we return to wings.
12:37One-elevens can carry almost any weapon in the U.S. Air Force arsenal,
12:41from the M61 Vulcan cannon to a free-falling nuclear bomb.
12:50One of the original requirements of the TF-X project
12:52One of the original requirements of the TFX project was that the design
13:20should allow for landing on short makeshift runways.
13:24And to enable such a heavy plane to do this, General Dynamics designed the high flotation
13:29variable terrain landing gear.
13:40Another feature originally unique to the 111 was its terrain following radar.
13:45This system allows the pilot to select an operating height above ground of as little
13:49as 200 feet.
13:52When the control is set, the aircraft will respond to its forward terrain scanning radar
13:57and adjust its height automatically.
13:59There is also a manual mode allowing the pilot to use the same radar gathered information
14:05reproduced on a cockpit instrument display.
14:07Thus, it is possible for the aircraft to fly at night and in all weather and still remain
14:13low enough to avoid possible radar detection.
14:20But the 111 will most certainly be remembered above all as the first production aircraft to
14:44employ variable sweep wings.
14:48The history of the swing wing really goes back to the Second World War, when Messerschmitt
14:53produced several designs and actually built the P1101.
14:57It never flew.
14:59But much of the design was used in the American Bell X5 built after the war.
15:10This model flew successfully, as did the Grumman Jaguar, but neither plane was developed.
15:17For high speed flight, the 111's wing could be swept back to form a delta configuration.
15:24An intermediate position was often used for economical midrange flight, and a full forward position was available for takeoff, landing and low
15:30speed flight.
15:31The plane could literally be redesigned in flight to suit the role it was to perform.
15:39For high speed flight, the 111's wing could be swept back to form a delta configuration.
15:45An intermediate position was often used for economic midrange flight, and a full forward position was available for takeoff, landing and low speed flying.
15:55The plane could literally be redesigned in flight to suit the role it was to perform.
16:02Not only had the Fort Worth team to design a wing that could adjust its angle, but also within
16:30that surface, flaps, slats and fuel, together with their operating mechanisms, had to be accommodated.
16:39To enable the Ford slats to function, this glove would open, and it also acted as an earphone.
17:00The development of the Air Force's A model continued, and good progress was made as all the new technology was put through its paces.
17:19The development of the Air Force's A model continued, and good progress was made as all the new technology was put through its paces.
17:26However, Grumman, who were charged with the development of the Navy's B version, were having less success with their prototypes.
17:38Given McNamara's commitment to commonality, the Navy had little choice but to accept the B version of the F-111, or at least the prototypes.
17:54Given McNamara's commitment to commonality, the Navy had little choice but to accept the B version of the F-111, or at least the prototypes.
18:02The first of the prototypes used much the same parts as the A model.
18:09However, for successful carrier use, lighter planes were required.
18:14Two hideously expensive weight reduction programs did not reduce the B model by the required 20,000 parts.
18:23And along the line, the resultant modifications had radically reduced the commonality factor.
18:39Whilst the B model was undoubtedly a beautiful aircraft, it was never destined to sea service.
18:45And in July 1968, the Navy's total 111 program was abandoned.
18:51And Grumman was allowed to continue on with its successful F-14 Tomcat.
18:57Harvest Reaper was the test program for bringing the aircraft to combat readiness.
19:16And by early 68, after eight months of testing, a decision was made to subject the F-111 to actual combat conditions,
19:23then offered by the air war in Vietnam.
19:34Six aircraft from the 474 Tactical Fighter Wing were deployed from Nellis Air Force Base to Thailand.
19:42The F-111As operated from the Royal Thai Air Force Base at Tokli,
19:47under a combat testing and evaluation program known as Combat Lancer.
20:00From this location, they were well within easy access of targets in Vietnam.
20:17Unfortunately, the results were not all good.
20:37Within two weeks, two planes were lost without trace.
20:40Less than a month later, another 111 went down.
20:44But this time, the crew ejected and the wreckage was found and examined.
20:59The losses received bad publicity and were wrongly attributed in some news reports to ground fire,
21:05when the problems were really of a technical nature.
21:08After 55 missions had been flown, the operation ended and the remaining aircraft returned to Nellis.
21:19The losses in Vietnam were traced to a failure in the mechanism of the plane's massive horizontal stabilizer.
21:36Then, in December 69, a Nellis-based 111 lost a wing, resulting in a fatal crash.
21:49All flying 111s were grounded while the program was placed under intense scrutiny.
22:09The wing problem, traced to a failure in the wing pivot box, was not the only ammunition for its critics.
22:15The expense of development in the Navy B version, considerable cost overruns and the losses in Vietnam,
22:24had all caused the General Dynamics wonder plane to suffer at the hands of press and political opponents alike.
22:30In defense of the 111 project, it must be said that in trailblazing so much new technology,
22:37it was inevitable that major problems would be encountered.
22:42However, the Air Force and the company had confidence in the design, and a modification program began.
22:49Wings will return after these messages.
22:56And now, we return to wings.
23:01By the time the modification program was complete, the 111 stood a near-perfect airplane.
23:08TAC used four different strike versions of the F-111.
23:13Externally, they are almost identical, but they varied considerably in cost due to the electronics packages used.
23:20Apart from TAC, the Strategic Air Command, looking for a replacement to offset the loss of its older B-52s and the B-58 hustlers,
23:29employed 76 F-111s as strategic bombers.
23:42SAC versions had a longer wing and a strengthened undercarriage,
23:45but were generally much the same as their tactical air command cousins.
23:57Thus, the 111, once designated a fighter,
24:00now flies alongside later B-52s as part of the US nuclear deterrent force.
24:27.
24:34.
24:38.
24:54Although Britain had once indicated its intention to purchase 111s, the only other country to
25:08actually do so was Australia.
25:23The Royal Australian Air Force, in a brave move, ordered 24 F-111s straight off the drawing
25:29board.
25:35Unfortunately, due to the modification program, they were either in storage or being modified
25:40over a long period of time, and thus were delivered late, at greater cost.
25:49However, the Australian F-111Cs, with their longer wings and strengthened undercarriage,
25:54similar to the sack bomber model, are now considered a wise choice, and perform their
25:59role will.
26:11The Royal Australian Air Force
26:20The Royal Australian Air Force
26:22The Royal Australian Air Force
26:33The Royal Australian Air Force
26:44The impact on Australian pilots of their first flight in a 111 is typified by this airman's
27:13reaction.
27:14That flight was pretty exciting as you imagine the takeoff in my heart and my lungs and in
27:20my throat and a big quip out of my spine but it was really exciting.
27:25I can't compare to the after burners and away it went and it just took off and it was a fantastic film.
27:37But by now the merits of the 111 as a pilots plane were well known by all who flew them.
27:43Over 300 hours in the aircraft and I found out that it's quite a fantastic machine and
27:50it does most of the work for you.
27:52The low level bond delivery capability is outstanding.
27:56You'd be beneath their radar coverage and sneak in and hit your target before they ever knew
28:00you were there.
28:01It's got a lot of goodies.
28:02It's sort of a Cadillac of the airplanes, the fighters so called.
28:06I can see the cracks between railroad cars on the radar.
28:10Its resolution is that good.
28:11It's a brand new system pressing the state of the art in about four or five new areas.
28:17There's no airplane we have in the inventory that has anywhere near light capability.
28:22It's designed to deliver a big load under extremely adverse circumstances almost anywhere in the world.
28:29Four years after their first experience of combat, the F-111 was to return to Vietnam.
28:40It was to take part in the maximum effort line backer operation.
28:44To demonstrate its operational readiness, within 33 hours of leaving their home base at Nellis,
28:51they were in action against targets near Hanoi.
29:07This time, the results were very different.
29:10Flying alone or in pairs, planes of TACS 474 wing notched up 4,000 successful sorties in six months.
29:19OK, you've got to fly them on the left and the right.
29:22OK, cage coming up.
29:24Can't go back to stand line.
29:27And I'll check out the autopilot here.
29:30Go ahead, I need the altitude hold and heading down and engage the autopilot.
29:36Working good.
29:38OK, we're coming up on our entry point in about five miles.
29:41We'll be turning right to a heading of 101.
29:44OK, coming right here.
29:46I'll go out and back and bypass on the radar altimeter.
29:49Put the left channel and TF, and we'll put the right channel over to the situation.
29:55OK.
29:56Ready to start on down back.
29:58Roger.
29:59OK.
30:00Auto TF.
30:01Start down.
30:02OK.
30:03I'm picking up ground returns now.
30:04Looks like the attitude indicator looks good.
30:05Coming on down to East Coast.
30:06Ground returns coming in, and the radar never clicked in at 5,000.
30:07Roger.
30:08We should level up about 500.
30:09Looking down to 1,000 here now.
30:10Coming up.
30:11700, 600.
30:12And it's leveling off real fine.
30:13550.
30:14OK.
30:15It looks good.
30:16OK.
30:17I've got a ridge coming up at the 5,000.
30:18OK.
30:19I've got a ridge coming up at the 5,000.
30:20OK.
30:21I've got a ridge coming up at the 5,000.
30:22On the scope and it's dead again.
30:23Going to 550.
30:24OK.
30:25Looks like it's about 3 miles on my e-scope now.
30:26Right.
30:27OK.
30:28We should be passing in about 10 seconds.
30:29OK.
30:30OK.
30:31We should be passing in about 10 seconds.
30:32OK.
30:33OK.
30:34We should be passing in about 10 seconds.
30:35OK.
30:36OK.
30:37We should be passing in about 10 seconds.
30:38OK.
30:39OK.
30:40I'm looking down to 1,000 here now.
30:41Coming up.
30:42700, 600.
30:43And it's leveling off real fine.
30:44550.
30:45OK.
30:46It looks good.
30:47OK.
30:48It looks good.
30:49I've got a ridge coming up at the 5 miles on the scope,
30:50and it's dead again.
30:51OK.
30:52I'm going to target.
30:53And we're in target, and I'm picking up returns.
30:54It looks good.
30:55Crossairs are falling.
30:56Good.
30:57Got the camera.
30:58Got the camera.
30:59OK.
31:04OK.
31:05OK.
31:06I'm going to target.
31:07And we're in target, and I'm picking up returns.
31:08It looks good.
31:09Crossairs are falling.
31:10Good.
31:11Got the camera.
31:12OK.
31:13OK.
31:14Sorry.
31:15OK.
31:16OK.
31:17OK.
31:18OK.
31:19OK.
31:20In the whole operation, only six aircraft were lost, giving the 111 the best survival
31:42ratio of any combat aircraft in that theatre.
31:46By the time they returned, criticism of the 111 was silenced forever.
31:56Later support for the wisdom of a variable-wing strike bomber came from the Soviet Union by
32:01way of imitation with its Su-24 fencer, very much a look-alike to the 111.
32:15Two major modifications have dramatically increased the 111's potential.
32:21One was undertaken by Grumman, GD's original partner responsible for the Navy's B model.
32:27Now with the EF-111 Raven project, they were to enjoy considerably more success.
32:46The Raven is literally an earlier model 111 stripped down to its basic components and
32:51completely rebuilt as a vehicle to carry electronic countermeasures.
32:56In these aircraft, the second crew member is an electronic weapons operator who uses the
33:01complicated electronic countermeasures to disrupt enemy radar, thus providing a curtain for other
33:08attacking aircraft.
33:17The Raven can be used in three basic ways.
33:20Firstly, in a stand-off jamming role providing protection for other aircraft from a distance.
33:26Secondly, as close air support going in at low level to give ground attack aircraft electronic
33:31cover.
33:32And finally, EF-111's deep penetration of hostile airspace, along with an attacking force to jam
33:41enemy radar.
34:02Wings will return in a moment.
34:09And now we return to Wings.
34:14Another major modification fitted to the F-111F is PaveTac, a self-contained stand-off weapons
34:21delivery system using an infrared TV camera coupled to a laser rangefinder designator to
34:28place guided bombs or missiles on target.
34:32PaveTac components are fitted at locations throughout the aircraft.
34:51A major component is the PaveTac pod, which is fitted on a rotating cradle in the bomb bay
34:59and is retracted into the bay when not in use.
35:04The PaveTac pod is equipped with electro-optical sensors, infrared TV camera and laser in a movable
35:12pod head to provide complete lower hemispherical coverage.
35:23The target is tracked on radar and steering corrections are made.
35:28And at approximately three miles, the target is identified on the TV display and the infrared
35:34imagery is switched on.
35:36This photo-like video permits tracking of the target more accurately.
35:40The laser-guided bomb is released and the aircraft turns away to avoid the defended target and bomb blast.
35:49The forward-looking infrared continues to track the target and point the laser.
35:55Five seconds before impact, the laser is activated to guide the weapon.
36:00Here you are looking at an actual AGM Maverick missile launch.
36:09The missile crosshairs are being placed on the target by the weapons systems officer.
36:18The missile is now locked on.
36:20When it is launched, the TV video will disappear and the PaveTac infrared video will be used
36:35to aim, track and determine the effectiveness of the weapon.
36:39In 1972, F-111s were also based on AGM Maverick missile launch.
37:06In 1972, F-111s were also based in Britain, where they form part of the United States contribution
37:12to NATO.
37:14This is a D model of 27 TAC wing.
37:17And if you look closely, you will see the double C on the tail, noting that this plane
37:22was previously stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
37:27Here it is being winched into its hardened aircraft shelter.
37:41Now, EF Ravens are also based in Britain.
38:00These crews are going through a briefing and pre-flight for one of many training missions.
38:06When not participating in exercises, there are always F-111 aircraft on standby.
38:11Whether it is a D, a D, a H-C, or a W-A.
38:23And when not participating in exercises, there are always F-111 aircraft on a defensive screen.
38:23There are always F-111 aircraft on a East Coast of the Sea.
38:24But, there is an AMA-F-111 aircraft on the airplane.
38:25So I want to see the other shoreline item on a standard President's side in the airspot.
38:26Therefore, the next will be formed in the airspot.
38:27Yeah.
38:27That is an AMA-F-11 aircraft on the airspot.
38:29And then the airspot.
38:30And we will see how it is currently on the airspot.
38:30The airspot.
38:30And we will see you should be able to move in against the airspot.
38:32That is the first and the airspot.
38:37isn't going anywhere.
38:38On April 14, 1986, F-111s of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing
38:51left RAF Lake and Heath not for an exercise
38:54but as part of the American strike mission against Libya.
39:08It was decided that to achieve maximum impact five terrorist-associated military targets should be hit.
39:16They were shown on the right two targets near Benghazi and on the left three close to Tripoli.
39:23Two carriers just off the Libyan coast would use F-14s and F-18s for fighter protection and to attack enemy radar.
39:38A-6s and A-7s would combine as a bomber and electronic countermeasure force
39:48and an E-2C would control the entire operation
39:52which would also require F-111s based in Britain to attack the targets in Tripoli.
39:58The most direct route for the 111s was over France or Spain
40:03but permission was denied by both countries.
40:06The alternative was to take the long way around flying to the Mediterranean via Gibraltar.
40:12This would require considerable in-flight refuelling.
40:16All told, no less than 28 tankers would be needed to service the attack force of 18 F-111s and three Ravens.
40:25The tankers leaving from their bases at Mildon Hall and Fairford were the first to go.
40:31In the early evening they would wait for the F-111s from Lakenheath and Brabens from Upper Hayford to Rondeved.
40:39At this point the extra aircraft provided as a safeguard against malfunction returned to base,
40:49leaving the remaining 18 F-111s with their Raven escorts to continue on into the long night ahead.
40:57Twice a week, the F-111s, in the early morning, the F-111s were the first to go.
41:06escorts to continue on into the long night ahead.
41:26Twice over the Atlantic and twice over the Mediterranean, tankers refuelled the 111s
41:31on the way to their targets.
41:36At about 1.45 a.m. local time, the force dropped to about 300 feet and broke into three groups,
41:43each with its electronic escorts.
41:45One group went inland over Libya to enable it to attack Tripoli from the south.
41:51Ten minutes later, the bombers lowered their paved tack pods and began to scan for their targets.
41:58By 2 a.m., they found them.
42:06Here, an aircraft identifies its target, a military compound which is next to the tent
42:18of the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi.
42:21You can actually see the tent posts through the dark of the night.
42:25Within minutes, Libyan ground defences, though denied the use of their radar, opened up with anti-aircraft fire,
42:40and the night air was alive with tracers and decoy flares from the 111s.
42:59It was possibly a hit from ground fire that brought down the only aircraft lost in the raid.
43:08It crashed into the sea somewhere close to this point.
43:11There were no survivors.
43:13Whilst another group was attacking a port facility, this group attacked the military section of Tripoli Airport.
43:30You can see nine bombs, 60 feet apart, about to hit Russian-built transports.
43:36The picture flips as the plane passes over its targets.
43:39The film is shown here again, with the picture turned right side up.
43:47In just 11 minutes, the raid was completed,
43:51and the 111s returned to their waiting tankers to be refuelled twice on the return trip.
43:57But a malfunction in one aircraft caused it to land at Rota in Spain, shown here as a white spot.
44:03Fifteen hours after they'd taken off, the 111s landed back at their bases in the UK.
44:15Despite the loss of one aircraft, the raid was considered a major success for the US combined forces.
44:21The 8th Project
44:34The 8th Project
44:35The 8th Project
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