Please identify

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Here's a pic a friend took - any guesses on what it is and how the photo (it is real) was taken?



Regards,

Greg

[Ed S]

It looks like the donkey end of an Aardvark.  But I've got no idea how he got this one.

Ed

[Hawkeye]

Probably during an engine run up , you can see the sewer drain grates in the background. The tail skid appears to be down too. An F-111 is the only thing I can think of with bypass type nozzles. This picture shows the nozzle bypass slots and the tail skid down as well.

[upnorth]

Definitely the burners of an F-111.

My first guess would be that it was taken on the ground during a night engine run. The aircraft seems stationary and the angle of the shot indicates the camera was located under the aircraft, though not actually mounted on the airframe.

I suspect the camera was set up just aft of the main landing gear to document the engine run from that angle.

[GTX]

Well, you are mostly correct.  Yes it is a full power F-111 engine test run at night at RAAF Amberley.  My mate was actually sitting/lying under the aircraft and took the picture manually!!!  I wonder how many people can say they've sat under an F-111 with engines at max power?

Regards,

Greg

[Hawkeye]

I can! EF-111 Raven. It was a Mountain Home bird that sucked a bird during a low level...I helped the team that came into Malmstrom to change out the motor. What a pig to work on.

[frank2056]

I didn't know that The Comedian from "The Watchmen" worked for the USAF!