F-111, FB-111, EF-111, Aardvark, Merlin, Raven, Sparkvark, and Pig

[Spellbinder99]

Well, personally, I want to do a 1/48th scale EF-111B that will basically combine the EF-111A, F-111B and EA-6B to create an EW aircraft that GD sells to the RAAF. Basically have the F-111B airframe with the EF-111A canoe fairing and fin tip pod with the EA-6B with ECM pods on the wings. Keep the short nose and arrestor hook and add a late service dark grey RAAF scheme.

I believe the RAAF looked at EF-111A's at one time and I believe the wings and undercarriage would be common to the F-111C?

Cheers

Tony

[Geoff_B]

Hmmn a pre-production conversion for the F-111B would be rather nice in 1/72, it would have to be designed around the Italeri F-111A as its the only current kit avialable at the moment. Maybe its another one for Anigrand to play with considering the changes required.

G  

[elmayerle]

I believe the RAAF looked at EF-111A's at one time and I believe the wings and undercarriage would be common to the F-111C?

The undercarriage might, but the EF-111A has the "short" wing of the "A" as opposed to the "long" wing shared by the F-111C and FB-111A/F111G.

[NARSES2]

I've always found the F111 slightly curious looking, but how about a land based maritime Strike version ? What would it have carried for that role way back then ?

Chris

[Lawman]

How about buying a 'PWC-1120', i.e. Pratt & Wittney Canada, made in Canada, or a GE F110, similarly made in Canada - who may not have such a problem with an F-16 competitor... It might be a way to get around US export problems, and allow the project to go ahead. Similarly the F-111 is then given either F110 engines, or the PWC1120, giving sterling service to both Australia and Israel. The aircraft is upgraded with a scaled up version of the ELTA EL/M-2032 multifunction radar, giving the F-111 a BVR capabilty.

The result is a combination of an advanced single engined lightweight fighter (Lavi), and heavy strike aircraft (F-111), giving the IDF a massive capability boost. The resulting Lavi also gains significant orders from Singapore, Chile, Thailand, Taiwan, and even New Zealand. New Zealand choose the Lavi to fill its Skyhawk replacement requirement, but find the aircraft handles well enough to allow a simple progression from its new Pilatus PC-9 trainers. The PC-9s are bought jointly with Australia, and allow New Zealand to field one fullsize fighter squadron, and one trainer squadron. With the new fighters, the Labour government is unable to retire them so quickly, and thus the airforce instead decides to keep its Lavis, but retire the trainers, relying instead on joint training in Australia.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Since the F-111 was plagued with engine problems early on, what if the air intakes were redesigned to look more like the intakes on the Tornado, F-14, or F-15? This redesign of the intakes might have allowed the F-111 to perform much better early on and avoid the negative publicity that was created by the TF30 engines.  Anyone consider doing something like this with the F-111?  

[gooberliberation]

Hmm... perhaps kitbash a F-14D and an F-111, You could also take advantage of using the Tomcat's radar and engines as well and get an F-111B+

Wouldn't solve the problems of the damn plane being overweight or oversized, but hell, build bigger carriers!

[Iranian F-14A]

How about a US Navy KF-111B tanker? Throw an HDU into the weapons bay and have between 4 to 6 external tanks.The Russians use their Su-24s as buddy tankers,so a dedicated tanker of the -111 I'm sure would work.

[Archibald]

Another idea to solve those intakes would be going to the MiG-29 way.
I mean, mask them with doors at take off, and bleed the air from grids located on top of the intakes.

Otherwise give your F-111 Mirage IV intakes, with a nice souris/ shock cone in the middle...  

[Thorvic]

Considering the Navy rejected the F-111B on its carrier qualities, what about fitting the B radar and weapon system in a A for the Norad interceptor role, most parts would be coomon with the USAF strike variant and the longer range radar and missiles gives a much better interceptor performance !.

G

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I was really impressed with that F-111JX WHIF and I sure wish we could find out who built that model as I would really like to see some more images of it besides the two that PhilP originally posted.  From this image you can see that there was some subtle modifications done to the intakes but the second image from the left front shows the original intake shape with a portion of the outer intake lip trimmed away to give it a raked appearance.  The individual that created this F-111 WHIF is truly blessed with genius, especially when you consider he was using the old Monogram (Aurora) kit for this project.  

[Jennings]

Guys -

I'm going to be doing a full-blown article on the F-111K in RAF service for a major magazine.  Need ideas on the backstory (was there ever a Tornado, for instance?), squadrons, markings, anniversary schemes, timelines, etc.  Please email me directly if you have suggestions .

Also, as I don't really keep up on 'modern' a/c markings much past Gulf War I, can anyone suggest a book (I'm thinking Model Alliance) or magazine article(s) that would bring me up to date on RAF markings (Tornados primarily).  I know a lot has changed in the past 15 years, but I've mostly ignored it.

jrh@pemtel.net

Thanks!

J

[elmayerle]

Just a thought, Jennings?  Would the F-111K be filling much the same role that the Phantom FGR.2 did?  In that case, I'd reckon you could use many of the same serials as well as adapt the various special schemes that the RAF flew them in over the years.

Just my $0.02.

[Thorvic]

Just a thought, Jennings?  Would the F-111K be filling much the same role that the Phantom FGR.2 did?  In that case, I'd reckon you could use many of the same serials as well as adapt the various special schemes that the RAF flew them in over the years.

Just my $0.02.

Sorry Evan the Merlin (F-111K) was pure deep strike/Recon, the Buccaneer is the aircraft that replaced the TSR2 and Merlin so its squadrons and schemes would be the more approproate role model. The AFVG was going to be the strike fighter to complement the F-111K, with tooms and jags acting as stopgap. The AFVG eventually evolved into the Tornado which in due course did replace the Toom, Bucc and Jag but not until the 80's.

The 50 F-111K serials are well known :-

Trainers:
XV884 TF-111K Ex 67-0151, XV885 TF-111K Ex 67-0152
XV886 TF-111K Ex 67-0153, XV887 TF-111K Ex 67-0155

Strike Aircraft:
XV902 F-111K Ex 67-0149, XV903 F-111K Ex 67-0150
XV904 F-111K Ex 67-0154, XV905 F-111K Ex 67-0156
XV906 F-111K Ex 67-0157, XV907 F-111K Ex 67-0158
XV908 F-111K Ex 68-0181, XV909 F-111K Ex 68-0182
XV910 F-111K Ex 68-0183, XV911 F-111K Ex 68-0184
XV912 F-111K Ex 68-0185, XV913 F-111K Ex 68-0186
XV914 F-111K Ex 68-0187, XV915 F-111K Ex 68-0188
XV916 F-111K Ex 68-0189, XV917 F-111K Ex 68-0190
XV918 F-111K Ex 68-0191, XV919 F-111K Ex 68-0192
XV920 F-111K Ex 68-0193, XV921 F-111K Ex 68-0194
XV922 F-111K Ex 68-0195, XV923 F-111K Ex 68-0196
XV924 F-111K Ex 68-0197, XV925 F-111K Ex 68-0198
XV926 F-111K Ex 68-0199, XV927 F-111K Ex 68-0200
XV928 F-111K Ex 68-0201, XV929 F-111K Ex 68-0202
XV930 F-111K Ex 68-0203, XV931 F-111K Ex 68-0204
XV932 F-111K Ex 68-0205, XV933 F-111K Ex 68-0206
XV934 F-111K Ex 68-0207, XV935 F-111K Ex 68-0208
XV936 F-111K Ex 68-0209, XV937 F-111K Ex 68-0210
XV938 F-111K Ex 68-0229, XV939 F-111K Ex 68-0230
XV940 F-111K Ex 68-0231, XV941 F-111K Ex 68-0232
XV942 F-111K Ex 68-0233, XV943 F-111K Ex 68-0234
XV944 F-111K Ex 68-0235, XV945 F-111K Ex 68-0236
XV946 F-111K Ex 68-0237, XV947 F-111K Ex 68-0238

Cheers

Geoff

[Jennings]

Okay, without getting into discussions of peripherally related things like the main tire pressure of Buccaneers, I'm fishing for some more help on the F-111K piece, which now needs to move ahead smartly.  Here's what I need from you RAF cogniscenti:

1.  Assuming the RAF bought the F-111K, what squadrons do you see having flown them, and in what order (ie: who got them first?)?  When did it go into service with the RAF?

2.  Did the RAF use the Merlin strictly as a bomber, or did it branch out and use it as a reconnaissance platform like the RAAF?  Or perhaps as a Wild Weasel or an ECM platform (think EF-111A)?

3.  What roles did it play other than those?  Maritime strike (replacing the Bucc?).  If so, what squadron(s) flew them, and from where?  What weapons?  Sea Eagle?  Eventually the Harpoon?  Penguin?

4.  Gulf War I??  Involved, not involved?  Colors??  Nose art?  Squadron(s)?  Weapons?

5.  Over its lifespan in the RAF, what physical (visible) airframe mods?  The 111 has plenty of internal room for electronics, so lots of pods and lumps probably aren't necessary, but still...

6.  To support the backstory:

 a.  Did the UK aircraft industry (BAE) end up building them, and if so, were any exported from the UK assembly line (eg: to Germany, Australia, other Commonwealth AF's)??  Did they have British engines (Spey??).

 b.  What aircraft did the Merlin replace, or prevent from coming into being, or at least being taken into RAF service in the first place?  Presumably the main one would be the Tornado.  What did the UK do for air defence after the Lightning retired?  Of course, the RAF had the F-104, but that's another story...

 c.  How many total (beyond those serials we know were actually assigned and cancelled) did the RAF have, in how many total squadrons?  Serial allocations beyond those known?

 d.  Is it still in service in 2007?  If not, what replaced it and when?

I need to move along with all deliberate speed on this...  Thanks in advance for any inputs!  Anything supported with links to or scans of squadron motifs/crests/artwork that I can steal will be MOST gratefully appreciated.  I have a good bit of info in my library, but I'll always take more.  My time to work on this through the busy holiday season that is barreling down the tracks toward us is strictly limited, so I have to make it all count!

Toodles...

J