Remarks: (Del 7/11) getting all crossed up with afterburners blazing while performing a solo display to welcome the last four Super Hornets (from the initial order of 24) to the base at the end of their ferry flight from the USA. This jet wears the 6SQN tail flash. This shot is my 1000th image accepted here at Jetphotos after joining up back in October 2002 - thanks to the Jetphotos crew for making this site the great place that it is.
Remarks: "The Boneyard Wrangler" on static display at the 2008 Defence Force Airshow at RAAF Amberley. The aircraft is ex USAF FB-111A 68-0272 with the aircraft being retired from active USAF service 23/9/1982 and placed in storage. Delivered to the RAAF in May 1994 this remains the only F-111 to be flown out of the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB hence the name. In early May 2009 "The Boneyard Wrangler" was taken by road from RAAF Amberley to RAAF Point Cook to be placed on permanent display at the RAAF Museum.
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: (Del 6/73) seriously low, mighty fast and splendidly loud! It was a pleasure to witness the Pig doing what it does best from such close range just prior to retirement. This marvel of modern technology, that has the honour of performing the last ever "dump and burn" a few days after this shot was taken, has been spared from the scrap heap and now resides in the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre.
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: The RAAF's Second F-111C, A8-126 (operated by 1 Squadron), did the Finale 'Dump and Burn' at the 2008 Amberley Defence Airshow. (Note the 1 Squadron 'Lightning' Fin Flash). I didn't expect an Encore! The 'swing-wings' are swept forward at 26 degrees in this side view, at the moment the After-Burners ignited the first litres of dumped fuel. A8-126 performed the Actual 'Last Dump and Burn' during the 'Retirement' display at Amberley on 03Dec2010. (I first photographed a Dump and Burn at Amberley in 1976.)
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 low res view of CH-47C Chinook helicopter A15-011, operated by No 12 Squadron RAAF, on display in Camo livery at RAAF Base Amberley in September 1983. A15-011 was delivered in Mar 1974 ex FMS Bu 73-21980. This helo crashed on 26Jun1975 after an engine turbine failure. The hangar at rear was used by 12 Sqn Chinooks and 9 Sqn UH-1H 'Hueys', before RAAF Helicopter assets were handed over to the Australian Army. Eleven Army CH-47Cs were 'traded in' to Boeing Vertol in exchange for four up-graded CH-47Ds. A15-011 was not returned to the Australian Army. The Helo was upgraded to a CH-47D and then delivered to the US Army as 93-0933. ( Boeing Vertol was impressed with the excellent condition of the Aussie CH-47C Chinooks, compared to typical US examples.) Apologies for the low quality of this 26 year old photo.
Remarks: The RAAF's Second F-111C, A8-126, did the Finale 'Dump and Burn' at the 2008 Amberley Defence Airshow. I didn't expect an Encore! The 'swing-wings' are swept forward at 26 degrees in this rear view - a 'Fort Worth Flamer' after the dumped fuel ignited. (The wheels are still down and the Horiz Stabs are deflected.) The Public Address Announcer said that the 'Dump and Burn' was being performed for the last time at this Amberley Airshow. It wasn't the 'Last Dump and Burn'! A8-126 did the Actual 'Last Dump and Burn' at Amberley when the F-111 fleet was retired from RAAF Service on 03Dec 2010. The Final RAAF F-111 Flight was by WG CDR Michael Gray (CO 6 Sqn) in A8-125 at Amberley on Friday 03Dec2010. (I first photographed a Dump and Burn at Amberley in 1976.)
Remarks: A low res airborne view of the 'Aardvark' Ramp at RAAF Base Amberley, showing three newly delivered F-111Cs in June 1973 'BC', ie. Before the 'Carports' were built (making this a rare photo, as the 'Pigs' were later invariably parked in 'Carports'.) Part of the new 482 Maintenance Squadron hangar (known as the 'Taj Mahal') is visible at top right. 482 Sqn provided 'Centralised Maintenance' support for operating Units - No 1 Sqn and No 6 Sqn. Photo taken from window of 'RAAF Amberley Gliding Club' Auster J1B VH-KBE. Apologies for quality of this 36 year old photo.
Remarks: Tail shot of "The Boneyard Wrangler" whilst on static display at the 2008 Defence Force Airshow at RAAF Amberley. The aircraft is ex USAF FB-111A 68-0272 with the aircraft being retired from active USAF service 23/9/1982 and placed in storage. Delivered to the RAAF in May 1994 this remains the only F-111 to be flown out of the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB hence the name. In early May 2009 "The Boneyard Wrangler" was taken by road from RAAF Amberley to RAAF Point Cook to be placed on permanent display at the RAAF Museum.
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.
