The F-111 is one of those planes that was supposed to do everything for everyone. A fleet interceptor for the Navy and a strike aircraft for the USAF. It became neither. The Navy didn't want it as it was too big, and the USAF wanted a bomber, not a strike aircraft! 

The resulting aircraft eventually became a very good (though large) strike aircraft, bomber and electronic jammer. Those USAF crews who flew the plane really liked it. Those who fixed it, wished it would go away! It was large, complicated, and full of systems that had never been successfully done on an aircraft. Swing wings, for instance. The perfect thing for carrier birds as it allowed a slow enough landing speed. Fortunately, Grumman had worked on these for the XF10F and had them down well, though there were early problems with wing box fatigue and cracking.

Low level terrain following radar systems allowed the aircraft to be set to fly at a specific height above the terrain without the pilot worrying about running into things. Worked well. In fact too well as it followed every little bump and channel, beating up the crew with all of the bouncing and jolting around. Software fixes smoothed things out so the ride wasn't so rough.

Early operations in Vietnam proved a disaster as three of the six aircraft sent over were lost. Eventually, it did get developed into a fine aircraft. The only other operator of the type is the Australians and their F-111C. They have been the winners in the early retirement of the F-111 after Desert Storm and have a large stockpile of available parts and replacement airframes sitting in the Desert at Davis-Mothnan!

This sheet covers two specially painted aircraft. 

The first is the Bicentennial bird from the 389th TFS/366 TFW that was at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. This is an F-111F and in the normal camouflage for the plane.

The other is for the test aircraft at McClellan AFB. Any modifications planned for the F-111 fleet was tested on this plane first. Frankly, I'm not really sure which variant it is. The serial is 70155, so I am thinking that it may be an F-111A. Anyway, the paint scheme is really striking. 

When the IPMS National Convention was held in Sacramento, the commemorative decal sheet from that event had this plane on it.

Either scheme will look great on your F-111. 

Review copy courtesy of my long suffering credit card!

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