No. 6 Squadron's F-111 A8-109 commences its final take off at RAAF Base Amberley. The last F-111 takeoff ... ever.
No. 6 Squadron’s F-111 A8-109’s final take off at RAAF Base Amberley in 2010. The last F-111 takeoff.. ever.As we recently reported, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been divesting itself of its remaining General Dynamics F-111 Aardvarks and the last one to remain operational, that flew at the series’ decommissioning ceremony in December 2010, was delivered to the The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) located at Illawarra Regional Airport in New South Wales, Australia earlier this month, with a handover ceremony that was attended by regional politicians, military brass and one of the plane’s former pilots.
F-111 “Dump and Burn” maneuvers at Riverfire 2010 Celebration in Brisbane (Image Credit : DG Photography)In marked contrast to the way things are generally done in the states, and possibly due to security restrictions placed on these still quite potent warbirds, this plane and five others were restored by the RAAF and are on long term loan from the Australian government to deserving museums, providing a boost to attendance and museum revenue along with positive secondary effects in tourism as the
F-111 looms quite large in the minds of Australian Aviation enthusiasts, particularly encouraged by decades of air show performances where F-111s would perform ignited fuel dumps, dubbed “Dump and Burn,” which would leave blazing funnels of flames trailing behind the planes that became the de facto most memorable moment of any Australian air show attended by the RAAF and their Aardvarks as well as becoming a regular feature of many of Australia’s national celebrations such as when they hosted the Olympic Summer Games in Sydney in 2000.
A8-109 at its new home at HARS (Image Credit: HARS)The F-111 was entered production in 1967 and introduced several new technologies for production aircraft, including variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight, the latter earning the plane the nickname “The Pig” for its ability to get down in the dirt, flying at extremely low altitudes.
F-111 project leader Tony Abela said this particular F-111C, A8-109, which had served in Vietnam, was chosen because of HARS’ strong ties with Vietnam veterans and the RAAF. “For us it was a continuation of our link with the RAAF and our link with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) as well, that’s why we particularly wanted A8-109,” Mr Abela said.
My father was Col William C. Coltman (Wild Bill) who flew one of the first F-111A’s and was the 3rd man to received a 1,000 hrs when he flew it to Australia! He always said it was way before it’s time. Deployed twice to Vietnam and was MIA 29 Sept 1972, presumed KIA. His crash site was found in northern Laos and excavated. I (now retired USAF RN 24+ yrs) escorted his remains to Arlington and he was buried almost 30 yrs to the day he was lost! Family, friends, and his flying buddies were there to honor him. We thought it would be closure but inside it was an incredible sense of peace! God Bless You & thank you for your service to your country! Kim
Served in the USAF for 26 years and maintained avionics on FB-111As at Pease and Plattsburgh then F-111Fs at the Heath including 7 months in Saudi during Desert Shield/Storm. Those were by far the greatest years of my AF career. Looks like this “Pig” is in good hands. A bit of irony – Amberley was where my dad got his first exposure to Australia while on his way to New Guinea to fly as gunner/RO on A-20s and B-25s with the 3rd Bomb Group during WWII. Said he had to wrap up in three blankets due to the cold nights.
My father was Col William C. Coltman (Wild Bill) who flew one of the first F-111A’s and was the 3rd man to received a 1,000 hrs when he flew it to Australia! He always said it was way before it’s time. Deployed twice to Vietnam and was MIA 29 Sept 1972, presumed KIA. His crash site was found in northern Laos and excavated. I (now retired USAF RN 24+ yrs) escorted his remains to Arlington and he was buried almost 30 yrs to the day he was lost! Family, friends, and his flying buddies were there to honor him. We thought it would be closure but inside it was an incredible sense of peace! God Bless You & thank you for your service to your country! Kim
Served in the USAF for 26 years and maintained avionics on FB-111As at Pease and Plattsburgh then F-111Fs at the Heath including 7 months in Saudi during Desert Shield/Storm. Those were by far the greatest years of my AF career. Looks like this “Pig” is in good hands. A bit of irony – Amberley was where my dad got his first exposure to Australia while on his way to New Guinea to fly as gunner/RO on A-20s and B-25s with the 3rd Bomb Group during WWII. Said he had to wrap up in three blankets due to the cold nights.
Thanks for sharing this with us Ryan. We are always looking for great stories to tell.