The versatile “swing wing” F-111, unofficially named the “Aardvark” until its retirement ceremony on July 27, 1996, when the name was made official, entered the USAF inventory in 1967. The F-111’s wings are straight for takeoffs, landings or slow speed flight; by sweeping its wings rearward, it can exceed twice the speed of sound (Mach 2).
In 1960 the Department of Defense combined the USAF’s requirement for a fighter-bomber with a Navy need for an air-superiority fighter, though the Navy eventually canceled its program. In all, 562 F-111s of all series were built; 96 of them were production F-111Ds, 94 were production F-111Es, and 106 were production F-111Fs.
The F-111 was a long-range, all-weather strike aircraft capable of navigating at low level to reach targets deep in enemy territory and to deliver ordnance on the target. Primarily a bomber, the F-111 featured a sweep wing varying between 16 degrees and 72.5 degrees, with side-by-side seating for a pilot and weapons systems officer.
The E model was an improved version of the F-111A and was introduced before the D model. The F-111D featured an improved Mark II avionics package, more powerful TF30-P-9 engines, and an environmental control system. The F-111F model was equipped with an all-weather AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack infra-red targeting designator/reader carried in a pod-mounted turret. It could track and designate ground targets for targets for laser, infra-red and electro-optical bombs. The National Museum of the United States Air Force has an F-111F on display in its Cold War Gallery.
| Type | Number built/ converted | Remarks |
| YF-111A | 2 | RAF K to USAF as YF then FB |
| F-111A | 159 | 18 pre-production and 141 production aircraft |
| RF-111A | 1(cv) | Converted A; program canceled |
| F-111B | 7 | U.S. Navy shortnose version |
| F-111C | 24 | RAAF; A with FB wings |
| RF-111C | 4 (cv) | Photo-recon C for RAAF |
| F-111D | 96 | Improved E model |
| F-111E | 94 | Improved A model |
| F-111F | 106 | Improved D model |
| F-111G | 60(cv) | Modified FB-111A |
| F-111K | 0 | RAF version; 50 canceled |
| FB-111A | 76 | Fighter-bomber; inc. RAF K |
| FB-111H | 0 | Larger FB version; canceled |
| EF-111A | 42(cv) | Raven; ECM aircraft |
Notes:
- The 11th F-111A S/N 63-9776 became the RF-111A.
- The 13th F-111A S/N 63-9778 was transferred to NASA Dryden in 1973.
- The 18th pre-production F-111A S/N 63-9783 became the FB-111A prototype.
- Four F-111Cs were converted to RF-111C for RAAF.
- One FB-111A crashed during acceptance testing and was never delivered to the USAF.
- Two US Navy F-111Bs were under construction when the program was canceled.
- Two nearly complete RAF F-111Ks were turned over to the USAF as YF-111A and completed as FB-111A S/N 67-149/150
- RAF F-111Ks under construction (besides the first two) of the 50 ordered were completed as FB-111A.
TECHNICAL NOTES (F-111F):
- Armament: One 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, plus a mix of up to 24 conventional or nuclear weapons
- Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 of 25,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner
- Maximum speed: 1,452 mph/1,262 knots
- Cruising Speed: 470 mph/408 knots
- Service ceiling: 60,600 ft.
- Range: 2,971 statute miles/2,584 nautical miles
- Span: 32 ft. swept, 63 ft. extended
- Length: 73 ft. 6 in. Height: 17 ft.
- Weight: +100,000 lbs. maximum
- Crew: Two