The F-111k

[rickshaw]

Just came across, purely by chance, an indepth explanation of the RAAF's decision to purchase the F-111C Pig.   It includes details on Page 52 of the F-111K.   If you were using standard F-111A wings to represent the F-111K, it appears you're in error.  This work claims the F-111K was to be fitted operationally with longer F-111B or F-111C wings.   

[sandiego89]

Thank you for sharing, I have been interested in the RAAF consideration of the B-47 and the Vigilante so this is a great source.

[kitnut617]

I've read that somewhere else, probably in an Air-Britain article. The two that were started though, had the short wings. At least that's what the photos of the two show ----

[Captain Canada]

Cool. Thanks for sharing that !

[rickshaw]

I've read that somewhere else, probably in an Air-Britain article. The two that were started though, had the short wings. At least that's what the photos of the two show ----

Apparently the specification changed after the first two were started.  The longer wings allowed greater range/payload to be carried, which for the RAAF was essential (to reach southern China from Butterworth).  Even so, we nearly had the short wings as well and the lightweight landing gear, the heavier/longer gear was only chosen when it was realised that the RAAF's strips were too short for lightweight/shorter gear.

[PR19_Kit]

There's as many sides to the RAF F-111K's wing length issue as there are stars in the sky....................

[Devilfish]

Building a K right now. I chose the short wing version, but I do have an FB in the stash too, should I decide to do another....


Hang on......They were meant to be fitted with Speys???

This article claims that two aircraft were finished and taken on by the USAF as FB-111s.  Firstly, the well known photo of the 2 K's being built, shows they have short wings. Secondly, they were TF-111s, meaning they were trainers, with dual controls, so I assume not fully operational? Third, I have read many times that they weren't completed, or taken on by the USAF, mainly because they were so different to their aircraft.

I'm not sure I take much out of that article as being fact....

[kitnut617]

Building a K right now. I chose the short wing version, but I do have an FB in the stash too, should I decide to do another....


Hang on......They were meant to be fitted with Speys???

This article claims that two aircraft were finished and taken on by the USAF as FB-111s.  Firstly, the well known photo of the 2 K's being built, shows they have short wings. Secondly, they were TF-111s, meaning they were trainers, with dual controls, so I assume not fully operational? Third, I have read many times that they weren't completed, or taken on by the USAF, mainly because they were so different to their aircraft.

I'm not sure I take much out of that article as being fact....

In an Air-Britain Aeromilitaria  article, it showed a couple of photos of the K's where they had been moved to after the contract was cancelled and awaiting what was to happen to them. One was a TF-111, and both of them were in some sort of build state. One had one wing on it (short one), the other was just the fuselage. The article said that these two were broken up and parts that were compatible with the USAF FB-111 were taken and used on the regular USAF F-111 production line.  From what I can remember of the details in the article, things like the wing box (with the hinges) and the u/c assembly were of the re-enforced type and reused on the FB-111 production line.

[Devilfish]

Building a K right now. I chose the short wing version, but I do have an FB in the stash too, should I decide to do another....


Hang on......They were meant to be fitted with Speys???

This article claims that two aircraft were finished and taken on by the USAF as FB-111s.  Firstly, the well known photo of the 2 K's being built, shows they have short wings. Secondly, they were TF-111s, meaning they were trainers, with dual controls, so I assume not fully operational? Third, I have read many times that they weren't completed, or taken on by the USAF, mainly because they were so different to their aircraft.


I'm not sure I take much out of that article as being fact....

In an Air-Britain Aeromilitaria  article, it showed a couple of photos of the K's where they had been moved to after the contract was cancelled and awaiting what was to happen to them. One was a TF-111, and both of them were in some sort of build state. One had one wing on it (short one), the other was just the fuselage. The article said that these two were broken up and parts that were compatible with the USAF FB-111 were taken and used on the regular USAF F-111 production line.  From what I can remember of the details in the article, things like the wing box (with the hinges) and the u/c assembly were of the re-enforced type and reused on the FB-111 production line.

A photo like that is on another thread on here, possibly my Merlin GR.3 thread. It can be clearly seen that the one with wings has short ones. I can't believe that the K was to have Speys, as the idea was to get them into service as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Well, I'm building my new one with short wings and TF-30s!

[Chris Payne]

A couple of interesting pics found on the internet.

[PR19_Kit]

IIRC those two are the ONLY known pics of the Ks.

And at that resolution they CLEARLY show that the Ks didn't have the extended FB-111 wings.

[kitnut617]

Those two pics are what was shown in the Air-Britain article, they're showing where the airframes were placed after being removed from the assembly line and they're awaiting the UK Governments decision to what was going to happen to them. It's worth a note that K2 was to be a trainer ---

[rickshaw]

IIRC those two are the ONLY known pics of the Ks.

And at that resolution they CLEARLY show that the Ks didn't have the extended FB-111 wings.

That came as a latter decision apparently, Kit.  The K was to have the C's wings eventually.