Remarks: (Built 1969) parked on the apron at RAAF Amberley along with A8-125, A8-134 and A8-113 just over a week before the much loved F-111 was retired from service. As the final aircraft to shut down engines after the final retirement flight on December 3, 2010 this jet became the worlds last operational Pig. Thankfully this aircraft has avoided the scrap man and is earmarked for preservation with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) collection as a non-flying museum display.
Remarks: The cockpit escape pod from A8-141 after a successful ejection. Now on display around the country when ever there is a RAAF airshow and other airshows of significance.
Remarks: Stbd (Navigator’s) side view of the Cockpit / Crew module of RAAF F-111C A8-141, displayed at the 2001 Avalon International Airshow. (An F-111 model is visible at rear.) A8-141 crashed in the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand on 25Oct1978 after a fire started in the main wheel well during a fuel dump. The crew escaped in the Crew Module, which acted as a ‘life-boat’ when they landed on the water. (The control columns then acted as a ‘bilge pump’!)
Remarks: Low res view of the RAAF 6 Squadron F-111C A8-114 on display in camouflage livery in the rain at Canberra Airport in April 1991. This aircraft was previously USAF F-111A Serial AF 67-114, until acquired by the RAAF in 1982 and modified to F-111C standard. (The aircraft was based at Amberley - YAMB). Photo taken during a rain-soaked 1991 Canberra Air Pageant. (The RAAF F-111 fleet was Retired on 03Dec2010).
Remarks: Rare low res Port side view of RAAF F-111C A8-148 taking off (with wings swept forward at 26 degrees, and flaps/slats deployed) at an Amberley Airshow in mid-1976. The aircraft performed a spectacular display routine (including a 'Dump and Burn'). A8-148 was the Last F-111C received in the initial batch of 24 aircraft (Delivered Dec1973). The RAAF F-111 fleet was Retired in Dec2010. The Final RAAF F-111 Flight was flown in A8-125 (the First F-111C) at Amberley on Friday 03Dec2010. Apologies for quality.
Remarks: Rare low res view of F-111C A8-132 doing a 'Dump and Burn' while climbing over the Amberley runway in 1976. The 'swing-wings' of A8-132 are swept forward at 26 degrees in this view. This aircraft was later used as a Trials Aircraft by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) at Edinburgh South Australia. The F-111 fleet was retired from RAAF Service on 03Dec 2010. The Final RAAF F-111 Flight was commanded by WG CDR Michael Gray (CO 6 Sqn) in A8-125 at Amberley on Friday 03Dec2010. Apologies for low quality of this 35 year old photo.
Remarks: Rare photo of RAAF 1 Squadron F-111C A8-140 taxying with cockpit hatches open on a taxiway at RAAF Fairbairn Canberra in May 1985. F-111C A8-125 was also on static display, complete with an AGM-84 Harpoon missile. Also, the First three of the RAAF's newly acquired F/A-18s were also demonstrated to Air Force personnel that day, including a demo flight for the Minister for Defence (Hon. Kim Beazley) in F/A-18B A21-103. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
Remarks: Rear view of RAAF F-111C A8-125, carrying an AGM-84A Harpoon missile at Fairbairn in May 1985. The First three of the RAAF's newly acquired F/A-18Bs were also displayed for Air Force personnel that day, including a demo flight for the Minister for Defence (Hon. Kim Beazley) in F/A-18B A21-103. (A21-101 and A21-102 were on static display.) A8-125 was the first F-111C acquired by the RAAF, and she was also the last F-111 flown by the RAAF (by CO 6 Sqn WG Cdr Michael Gray, at Amberley on 03Dec2010). The aircraft retired wearing a 'maritime grey' paint scheme. (The Canberra Air Traffic Control Tower is visible at left.)
Remarks: This rare low res 1976 photo shows a Top-Side View of inverted RAAF F-111C A8-148 performing a Fuel Dump (without Burn) during a flypast at an Amberley Airshow in mid-1976. Yes, they had worked out the fact that lighting the After-Burners while dumping fuel created the now famous and historic 'Dump and Burn'. The RAAF F-111 fleet was retired on 03Dec 2010. The Final RAAF F-111 Flight was flown by WG CDR Michael Gray (CO 6 Sqn) in A8-125 at Amberley on Friday 03Dec2010 (and the final and Dump and Burn was performed by A8-126). Apologies for the quality of this 34 year old photo.
Remarks: The RAAF's Second F-111C, A8-126, did the Finale 'Dump and Burn' demonstrations at the 2008 Amberley Defence Airshow, the Townsville Airshow in September 2009, and the 'Real Finale' Williamtown Airshow in September 2010. Sister-ship A8-125 (the RAAF's First F-111) did the first Dump and Burn I saw and photographed at Amberley during an Airshow in Mid-1976. The 'swing-wings' of A8-125 are swept forward at 26 degrees in this view of the 'Flaming F-111' diving past clouds. The F-111 fleet was retired from RAAF Service on 03Dec2010. The Final RAAF F-111 Flight was flown by WG CDR Michael Gray (CO 6 Sqn) in A8-125 at Amberley on Friday 03Dec2010 (and the final and Dump and Burn was performed by A8-126). Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this 34 year old photo.
Remarks: The RAAF will retire the remaining F-111 aircraft in December 2010, after 37 years Service since 1973. The type is being replaced by interim F/A-18F Super Hornets, until F-35s are introduced. The first F-111 flypast at the RAAF Airshow at Williamtown on 18Sep2010 was done by three aircraft with wings at different sweep angles. Photo shows F-111C A8-125 with wings swept back at 72 degrees, RF-111C A8-126 with wings at 45 degrees, and F-111C A8-135 at rear with wings swept forward at 26 degrees. The F-111 (and its unique Dump and Burn display) is now being consigned to history. It will be missed, especially by aviation photographers!
