This is the first part of the original footage of a clip I uploaded in 2009 which had some additional enhancements and music that didn't appeal to some. So this is just the background noise.
I didn't mind the other clip, but thanks for putting this up also. God I would give my left one to have a ride like that...incredible aircraft, sorely missed.
They had quite a few 'issues' that became increasingly problematic for the RAAF; particularly in the final years. Apart from that, I think it gets to the stage where an aircraft's systems can't be adapted to fight in a modern combat environment. Other than that, a very potent platform for delivering guided munitions right into your living room.
Great cockpit footage, miss the F111's, saw them for the last time at an air show at raaf base Williamtown near Newcastle. Amazing to watch when they dump and burn in the air,
Awesome plane . l remember where l used to live in east stkilda my bedroom was on top corner of building . At Grand Prix day f1 11 did fly by with a hornet . Where l lived was on the hill so planes did a low turn to start there approach to track . l could see the pilots they were so close . l was amazed the size of the F1 11 it made the hornett look like a model toy . What a plane .
I was a helicopter pilot at the 12 Apostles during that time and I took some pix of 2 Pigs coming through as we had a couple of days notice of the intentions. Great to see it from your prospective 👍
The recording was actually taken by the navigator (weapons systems officer) with my camcorder. My daughter was with 6 squadron at Amberley at the time. My offer to go up myself was politely declined.
@@Parawingdelta2 all good mate. I got a go in the Mirage Sim and later the Hornet Sim at Willy town. Good fun. Great work at getting the Nav to video the flight.
@@jumpercable20 The Royal Australian Air Force acquired their version about a year after that at RAAF Amberley in Queensland where my daughter was based thirty five years later (and flew in one). They had waited about ten years from the time of order to delivery and used Phantoms for some time as a stop gap between the English Electric Canberra bombers and receiving the F-111's. I'm guessing the role from Pease AFB was anti-shipping?
"Whispering Death" the Vietnamese used to call the F-111.. it was dead quiet coming at you, plenty noisy leaving. As opposed to an F-4 Phantom coming toward you.. it looked like a forest fire approaching. (why is the horizon black...?) There was never any doubt when F-4's were in the area.
My mate Wayne who is a pilot did Air league together back 1986 with a guy called Bill Pike he unfortunately got killed in a crash mind you in an f111 with pilot Mark Fallon!! May they both rest in peace 😢!!
I was invited up to the 6 Squadron crew room and noticed a few memorial photos of deceased aircrew. I don't recall noticing their names, but I did recognise one face who by coincidence I'd seen featured on a documentary called 'Pigs Can Fly' ('Pigs referring to the F-111). I could be wrong, but I seem to remember his nickname (possible call sign) being 'Tubby' or 'Fatty'. Rather unflattering I would think but that's how it works on occasions. The guy that put me through the Super Hornet simulator was a guy called Luke Warner temporarily assigned to 'Milskil' private training company. He was the navigator of the F-111 which did a wheels up landing at Amberley when one of the wheels of the main landing gear fell off in 2006.
The new Super Hornets which replaced the F-111s now based at Amberley have drawn some noise complaints from local residents too. I haven't personally heard a Mirage since 1968, so I don't recall how loud that was.
Wow this is incredible, I wonder how fast they are going . It always amazes me how pilots can get confident to fly at this height. I still think these aircraft should still be flying instead of buried in a tip.
Unfortunately the testing required to keep one in the air due to the swing wing simply was not economic. Also some clause in the purchase contract made some technology top secret so they had to be destroyed. I would love to see one still flying. I wonder if there are any in the boneyard in the US that Elon Musk or the like could resurrect.
There were a few farmed out to various organisations. The Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra in Queensland got one. The Caboolture Warplane and Flight Heritage Museum got the cockpit section of one. Not sure why they decided to bury some of them unless there was some unfortunate radioactive traces from the radar absorbed by the airframes.
It's a very impressive piece of equipment. Unfortunately, the flight readiness and availability was quite low towards the end. Personally, I think the F-4 Phantom would have been a better choice for the RAAF at the time. Having said that, it served well over many years and the upgrade with the 'Pave Tack' laser guidance system made it a very potent aircraft.
They actually buried 23 of them after they ceased service at RAAF Amberley in Queensland. Supposedly there was some issue with the safety of some of the materials (not sure if it was asbestos or radioactivity from the very powerful radar). Several others were assigned to various museums.
@@Parawingdelta2 yes.. I did read same story while ago.. Hugely wasteful exercise.. Typical government thinking.. Could have sold them to Pakistan to at least recover some coins
@@firefish21 As I understand it, the Australian government were bound by the purchase conditions laid out by the United States government. Part of the deal. My daughter was with 6 Squadron at Amberley right up until they were replaced by Super Hornets. There were times when not one aircraft was operationally serviceable.
They were returning to Amberley from Edinburgh in South Australia. I thought it looked like the Victorian coast. My daughter was with 6 SQDN right up to when they retired the F-111 and they had significant serviceability issues in the later years. The Super Hornet also provided more combat flexibility and multi-role capability.
Judging by the wing setting, I would imagine a relatively slow speed; probably indicated airspeed 250knots. Interestingly, the F-111 doesn't have the 'clock style' conventional airspeed indicator; it has a 'temperature gauge style' Machmeter.
I would only be guessing, but interestingly I had the opportunity to 'fly' 6 SQDN's F-111 simulator and noted that it didn't have the conventional air speed indicator. Instead it had a Machmeter with vertical gauge calibrations as opposed to the standard 'clock' type display . When I was in the simulator, I was looking for the ASI and couldn't see it. I didn't like to look like a fool and ask just in case it was right in front of me!
