Flying pigs are done, says RAAF Ian McPhedran, defence writer 17apr06 A PUSH is on to retire the RAAF's controversial F-111 bombers early as the cost of flying them and the risk of an accident increase each week. Senior air force officers and defence scientists are pushing the top brass to fast track plans to buy long-range missiles and upgrade other war planes so the F-111s can be withdrawn from service. "We need to get out of the F-111 business," RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd told a parliamentary committee. The planes are due to be phased out from 2010, but the Herald Sun has learned moves are under way to bring that forward to 2008. Opponents fear Australia's defences would be left exposed by an air capability gap before new US-built Joint Strike Fighters enter service. Known as "pigs" for their ability to use ground-hugging radars to hunt close to the ground, F-111s have been Australia's leading long-range strike weapon since the mid-1970s. They have become less effective because of modern electronic warfare and stealth technology. Nine RAAF officers have died in F-111 crashes and, according to accident statistics, the ageing planes are overdue for a serious incident. Chief Defence Scientist Dr Roger Lough told the Parliamentary Committee the F-111 was ancient by combat standards. He said he had a "whole division" of scientists at Fishermens Bend in Victoria devoted to keeping the machines flying. "The aircraft has a test called a cold-proof loading test and we are reasonably confident that in the near future one or more aircraft will fail that test," Dr Lough said. The test involves chilling the plane to -50C and flexing the wings using hydraulic rams. Current plans have the strike aircraft retiring between 2010 and 2012, but military sources say the top brass are increasingly concerned about ballooning costs and risks. Air Marshal Shepherd, who logged 2500 hours in F-111s, said it was vital not to leave the retirement date for the F-111s to chance. He said keeping them flying could cost billions of dollars. "We need to decide when to retire the F-111 so we can manage the transition to the new air combat capability," he said. "When you add up the structural risk, the system risk, the support risk, the financial risk and the overall risk to capability, you have a clear and undeniable question about the viability of the F-111." Source .
I don't know if they will be worth much except for spare parts. They will probably be scrapped and some will find new homes in museums.
I have tried to find a video of these planes flying low using their ground hugging radar but no luck.
On my 2nd solo flying lesson, I saw an F-111 skimming the treetops about 3000ft below me and man he was going fast. Definetly one of the most amazing things I have seen. That'd take some serious balls - I HATE flying below 500ft, and im sure he was about 50-100ft flying 5 times faster than me!!!! I've also taxied behind them at the airport, and been within 100m of them when they take off with afterburner. In the 172 I was flying, I cant hear myself scream over the top of its own engine. The pig completey drowned out the noise of my engine and my a/c shook like it was in a bloody earthquake! Wish I could fly one of those things
I've witnessed it first hand while on ex with AirForce out at singo ranges. Its hairy patrolling along to have a huge jet fly just over you, very hairy. It's something that you defiantly never forget.
No Market for Selling Them Australia was the last country operating the pig. We only kept them going by getting additional airframes and parts from the US after they retired their fleet a long time ago. Very capable platform, but very expensive to run. Remember the 1988 airshow at Richmond when 4 x F-111 did a formation dump & burn. The world shook in sympathy. Sad to see them go, but all good things come to an end. They are too expensive to keep airworthy, so static museum pieces and scrap I guess. I once was offered a Caribou for free from an overseas source. Only issue was we had to get it from a remote coral atoll back to Australia. It was very tempting. Would have made an awesome backyard shed. However, there were too many airworthiness issues for the flight back home, so I think they pushed them into the ocean.
No longer in, medically discharged after some nasty broken legs, while in i served with 3RAR infantry.
Jumping out of servicable aircraft? Hope that you didn't do the legs jumping out of an airworthy aircraft!
