Pigs can fly-F1-11 last flight.

[demorier]

F1-11's based at Amberley air base near Brisbane took to the heavily clouded sky for a farewell flight on Friday 3rd Dec. They will now become museum pieces replaced in Australian service by the Super Hornet.

 

[magoo]

I'm starting to feel old......

 

[Bjoern]

Kind of sad to see this aircraft go, but if the inventory can be streamlined to save costs it makes sense.

 

[Jagdflieger]

How many years did they serve in Australia? Must be something like 35 years or so.

 

[Naki]

IIRC they entered service in 1973 or 74 so they have been in service 36 or so years.

They were originally ordered back in about 1963 but their delivery was delayed due to technical issues, so the Canberras were replaced by leased F-4E Phantoms in the interim from about 1971 to 73

 

[Navy Chief]

I was in the Indiana Air Natl. Guard for a short time, back in the late 70s (before I went back on active duty with the USN), and attended the USAF Egress maintenance school at Chanute AFB.

One of the aircraft systems we studied was the F-111. Fascinating. The entire cockpit would jettison, complete with a parachute, and floats, for at-sea ejection. Amazing.

NC

 

[Panther_99FS]

My current boss is an ex EF-111 wizzo...

 

[demorier]

They remained in service in OZ for a long time mostly because the various weapon and avionics systems were able to be retrofitted without to much trouble, the other important factor is the aircraft is practically a flying fuel tank....something we just have to have over this way is very long range.

Naki is about with the service intro year....there was some Mirage jets in there somewhere before that to.