The General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" is a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also fills the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare in its various versions. Developed in the 1960s and first entering service in 1967, the United States Air Force (USAF) variants were officially retired by 1998. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the sole remaining operator of the F-111.

After early testing a detachment of six aircraft were sent in March 1968 to Southeast Asia for Combat Lancer testing in real combat conditions in Vietnam. In little over a month, three aircraft were lost and the combat tests were halted. It turned out that all three had been lost through malfunction (primarily with the terrain-following radar), not by enemy action. This caused a storm of political recrimination, with U.S. senators denouncing Secretary of Defense McNamara's judgment in procuring the aircraft. It was not until July 1971 that the 474 TFW was fully operational.

The F-111 was in service with the USAF from 1967 through 1998. The Strategic Air Command had FB-111s in service from 1969 through 1990. At a ceremony marking the F-111's USAF retirement, on 27 July 1996, it was officially named Aardvark, its long-standing unofficial nickname. Aardvark literally means "earth pig" in Dutch/Afrikaans, consequently, in Australia, the F-111 is often known by the affectionate nickname "Pig". The USAF retired the EF-111 variant in 1998.

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and weapons system operator)
Length: 73 ft 6 in (22.4 m)
    * Wingspan:
          o Spread: 63 ft (19.2 m)
          o Swept: 32 ft (9.75 m)
    * Height: 17.13 ft (5.22 m)
    * Wing area:
          o Spread: 657.4 ft² (61.07 m²)
          o Swept: 525 ft² (48.77 m²)
    * Airfoil: NACA 64-210.68 root, NACA 64-209.80 tip
    * Empty weight: 47,200 lb (21,400 kg)
    * Loaded weight: 82,800 lb (37,600 kg)
    * Max takeoff weight: 100,000 lb (45,300 kg)
    * Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 turbofans
          o Dry thrust: 17,900 lbf (79.6 kN) each
          o Thrust with afterburner: 25,100 lbf (112 kN) each
    * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186
    * Drag area: 9.36 ft² (0.87 m²)
    * Aspect ratio: spread: 7.56, swept: 1.95

Performance

    * Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph, 2,655 km/h)
    * Combat radius: 1,330 mi (1,160 nmi, 2,140 km)
    * Ferry range: 4,200 mi (3,700 nmi, 6,760 km)
    * Service ceiling: 66,000 ft (20,100 m)
    * Rate of climb: 25,890 ft/min (131.5 m/s)
    * Wing loading:
          o Spread: 126.0 lb/ft² (615.2 kg/m²)
          o Swept: 158 lb/ft² (771 kg/m²)
    * Thrust/weight: 0.61
    * Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.8

Armament

    * Guns: 1× M61 Vulcan 20 mm (0.787 in) gatling cannon (seldom fitted)
    * Hardpoints: 9 in total (8× under-wing, 1× under-fuselage between engines)
    * Armament capacity: 31,500 lb (14,300 kg) ordnance mounted externally on hardpoints and internally in fuselage weapons bay

See digital art of the F-111 Aardvark on the Gallery page.