Years In Service: 1967-1996
Initial Flight: 1967
The F-111 was the first operational Air Force aircraft to have variable geometry or swing wings. The wings could be extended for take-off, landing, and slow-speed flight or swept back, as seen on our aircraft for high-speed flight. The word “aardvark” originated in the Afrikaans language, as a contraction of “earth-pig”, and this was the source of the F-111’s nickname of “Pig”, during its Australian service.
Manufacturing
Height: 17′ Wingspan: 63′ Length: 73′ 6″ Crew: 2 Thrust: 25,100 lbs. Armament: One 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, mix of 24 conventional or nuclear ordinance up to 35,500 lbs. Cruise speed: 685 mph Max Speed: 1,452 mph Ceiling: 65,945 ft.