General Dynamics F-111 Projects

[allysonca]

I assume the scale to be around 1/40th as it was in the in -house made F-111 family size. Stand only said F-111. Was a standard stand, The friend from whom I obtained the model worked at GD Texas. Sadly he passed away last year.

 

[NUSNA_Moebius]

Looks like a pretty straightforward mod of the F-111 into a tandem seater. This would be beneficial for a dedicated fighter version, as it would open up visibility for the pilot at the expense of the WSO.

The sole (or maybe double) sidewinder under the fuselage is interesting - I wonder if it fouls the weapons bay?

I wonder, what if the Sidewinders were actually embedded into the actual weapons bay doors? The configuration intrigues me, though would make more sense for something like an AIM-4, since the Sidewinder is meant to be launched off a rail normally.

 

[Triton]

NASA TACT (Transonic AirCraft Technology) program modified General Dynamics F-111 model found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TACT-NASA-MODEL-TRANSONIC-AIRCRAFT-TECHNOLOGY-39778-F-111-RETRACTABLE-WING-/251161709658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7a678c5a

 

[fightingirish]

IMHO a "Stuffed Turkey", quite suitable for X-Mas! ;D

Many thanks, CodeOneMagazine!

This design for an enlarged F-111 variant was fourteen feet longer than a standard F-111. The lower bulge provided space for a rotating weapon pallet. The drawing is dated 4 March 1970.

Picture: http://www.codeonemagazine.com/images/media/19700304_BX_gen_ar_1267828237_7552.jpg

Source:
Code One Magazine - Aviation Archeology

 

[Pioneer]

Nice find fightingirish!!
It appears to be a less radical adaption of the basic F-111 (compared to FB-111H design)!!
Would be nice to find and learn more!

Regards
Pioneer

 

[circle-5]

Here's a game of "can you count the differences", with profile views of two stretched proposals of the F-111 airframe: the FB-111H and the earlier (1965?) F-111/SAC, which was itself a modified variant of the F-111/ADC.

If you win, you get nothing.

 

[aim9xray]

Great models! The upper image is that of a stretched FB-111 with TF-30 engines. The FB-111H was to have the GE F101 engines (as used on the B-1).

 

[sferrin]

Great models! The upper image is that of a stretched FB-111 with TF-30 engines. The FB-111H was to have the GE F101 engines (as used on the B-1).

Compare the afterburners closely. The top one has the F101's and the bottom has TF-30s.

 

[Orionblamblam]

If you win, you get nothing.

Next, on Wheel Of Fish...

 

[Steve Pace]

SAC band - no serial number; serial number - no SAC band. -SP

 

[circle-5]

SAC band - no serial number; serial number - no SAC band. -SP

Impressive observation abilities. You should consider becoming an aviation book writer.

 

[fightingirish]

ROFL!!!

 

[Steve Pace]

HAR!

 

[aim9xray]

Compare the afterburners closely. The top one has the F101's and the bottom has TF-30s.

I respectfully disagree. Having seen the model in question, I can assure you that the exhaust cans are the model shop equivalent of "close enough" to those of the TF-30. The model in the upper image also has the intakes common to the FB-111A and F-111F. The FB-111H design had circular cross section intakes that were quite a bit larger without the quarter-circle shock cones ("spikes" in GD-ese). The "TF-30 intakes" were entirely inadequate to support the mass flow requirements of the F101 engine.

 

[circle-5]

Yes, I must concur with aim9xray on that one. The intakes on the top model are inadequate for F101 engines. Now that we know it's not an FB-111H, what is it? Could it be the FB-111G, from about 1972? I believe the FB-111G was to have TF-30s, is that correct?

Also, I'd like to know the date and source of the above press clipping, if you have this info -- many thanks.

 

[aim9xray]

I don't have the clipping immediately at hand; it is from Aviation Week, circa mid or late 1977 (certainly after the B-1 program cancellation by Carter). Flight International had a good Doug Richardson-written article in their 12 November 1977 issue.

And yes, I'd agree with Circle-5 that the model is probably of the predecessor FB-111G design.

Any additions/corrections/amplification from Code-One Magazine would gratefully and eagerly accepted! Hint, hint ;D

 

[Triton]

Another F-111K model found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPPING-PRECISE-1-72-F111-UK-MODEL-/200900045197?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item2ec693698d

 

[Abraham Gubler]

It is in US Navy colours and has a squashed looking nose. So I would conclude this is an F-111B model rehased as a British aircraft. Could be the model maker had a surplas of F-111Bs and reused them to support the F-111K marketting effort. That is if it is in its original condition.

 

[aim9xray]

I respectfully disagree. That is the long nose, and the model has the short (Air Force) wings as well. The long wingtips extend to the scarfed horizontal stabilator tips. Attached is a image of a F-111B desk model for comparison.

 

[allysonca]

Here are some pictures of a different "H" or FB? model. It was on the shelf for several weeks after unpacking and I have to admit that I just glossed over it as there were so many other GD models that came from a friends estate. Tony Chong and I were discussing the models of the A-12 I had received and he saw a picture of this plane on the shelf and made the comment that it was an H model. Lo and behold it was - is - maybe - er, what just IS this? Note the boat tail and the 4 seat config. A FB-111? I've never had one in this version in the collection. Going to restore it and trying to decide on the paint scheme. Silver? Camo? Gray? My H model was gray and white so I am leaning in that direction.


It's a large 1/40th wood in-house and not the usual resin F-111's that pop up on occasion. All comments welcome and if anyone has a large GD stand I am interested.

 

[carsinamerica]

I found a source for some early bomber designs. From Gunston, Bill, Modern Fighting Aircraft: F-111, New York: Arco, 1983:

"Since the earliest days of the TFX program, SAC (USAF Strategic Air Command) had eyed the aircraft as a possible basis for a small supersonic bomber. The command never thought of just buying the resulting F0111, but the impressive range figures appeared to indicate the possibility of future stretching into a larger bomber to fly SAC missions. GD began work on possible SAC versions in 1962, and several were three-engined, with the centre engine fed by an S-duct. Other models had larger and more powerful engines, most of which existed only on paper, and at all times the SAC One-Eleven was regarded as suitable for the nuclear role only, the payload being used for fuel rather than for massive loads of conventional bombs"

 

[hesham]

Great find Cars,


but what was S-duct ?,I can't imagine its shape.

 

[Orionblamblam]

but what was S-duct ?,I can't imagine its shape.

 

[carsinamerica]

Great find Cars,


but what was S-duct ?,I can't imagine its shape.

As the picture shows, the inlet lies above and forward of the engine. Think Lockheed L-1011 (or Boeing 727, or Hawker-Siddeley Trident) center engine. It has some complications in terms of airflow, but convenience in terms of packaging. In this case, it would let you marginally widen the F-111 center fuselage and insert a new engine without undue difficulty. I've never seen a picture of this design, though.

 

[Sundog]

Just to add one more third engine with an S-duct to the list, there is also the XB-51.

 

[hesham]

Thank you my dears Scott and Sundog,


and for the member Cars,may be we can imagine that configuration,by add a one
engine with S-duct in the tail,who can make that sketch ?.

 

[Delta Force]

65 FB-111As to be modified to FB-111H, and/or up to 100 FB-111Hs built. Initial funding for two prototypes. $380m for prototype development, with a total program cost of $7000m, for a unit price of $42.1m (less than half the unit price of the B-1) for a 167 aircraft fleet.

43 percent commonality with structure, 79 percent of subsystems of the basic aircraft. Main features are the stretched fuselage and the use of F101 engines. Bomb bay size almost doubled, to allow 4 or 5 nuclear weapons instead of 2. External hardpoints increased to 12, 6 on the wings and 6 on the sides and bottoms of the air intakes. Two wing hardpoints fixed, usable at minimum sweep only. Maximum wing sweep is reduced to 60 deg, with maximum speed reduced to Mach 1.6.

Avionics suite include GE APQ-144 radar, modified APQ-134 TFR, APN-200 Doppler, AJN-16 and SKN-2400 INS, dual IBM CP-2A computers, AN/ALQ-131 band 1 & 2 jammers, AN/ALQ-137 jammer, AN/ALQ-153/154 tail warning, AN/ALR-62 RWR, AN/ALE-28 chaff/flare dispensers.

Engine: 2 x F101-GE turbofans, rated at 17,000lb st dry and 30,000lb st afterburning.
Max speed: Mach 1.6 above 36,000ft, cruise speed Mach 0.75, low altitude penetration speed Mach 0.85 at 200 ft, takeoff distance 6,700ft, high altitude ferry range 6,900 miles.

Empty weight: 30,408 lb
MTOW: 140,000lb
Max in-flight gross weight: 156,000lb (after refuelling)

Span: 70ft spread, 44ft 10in swept
Length: 88ft 2.5in
Height: 22ft
Wing area: 550 ft

Armament: 5 nuclear bombs, 4 AGM-69A SRAM, 3 ALCM-A in the internal bay. 10 weapons on 12 hardpoints.

Air International Jan 1978

The empty weight for the FB-111H is much lower than the empty weight cited for other F-111 variants. Might there be a mistake on the empty weight?

 

[TomS]

I think so. Here's a PDF from Air Force Magazine in December 1977 giving an empty weight of 51,832 lbs and a max in-flight weight of 155,000 lbs.

 

[allysonca]

I just received this model today and found this thread. Its a modified Topping with the tandem configuration and the missiles on the wings. Has provisions for 2 more but they were long gone. Wish it was bigger!

 

[Jemiba]

It's not the one, we had before here, but maybe we can get some more photos, so we (or I)
could make a 3-view ?

 

[allysonca]

Here are some detail shots. You can see where the nose mod was made just ahead of the intake area. The rest is The Topping F-111B. Decidedly a prodigy of an F-14 and F-111.

 

[fightingirish]

Maybe this was an attempt to lighten the F-111B for the US Navy by getting rid of the escape capsule.
It seams that the WSO sits higher than the pilot.
To keep the aircraft length in the same size for an aircraft carrier, I presume, that some avionics are fitted under and behind the WSOs seat. On an USAF / land-based version the nose length would be longer and the avionics would be fitted in front of the cockpit.


See also this GD factory model of an F-111 project with a stretched fuselage, tandem seating and USAF markings. It was posted by circle 5. Jembia, I thinks, you meant this model.
Link: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,803.msg95361.html#msg95361

The mods might merge these two topics (or just the last posts from this topic to the other topic) soon.

 

[SOC]

Maybe this was an attempt to lighten the F-111B for the US Navy by getting rid of the escape capsule.

Losing the escape casule was suggested during SWIP but rejected as an option by the Navy. This might represent a possible redesign had that option been proceeded with.

 

[Sundog]

Didn't the USAF prefer tandem seating, while the navy preferred side by side seating? This could just be one of the iterations closer to what the USAF wanted versus what the USN wanted for their TFX.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

FB-111B/C flyer


Source Dave Wood / The Greatest Planes That Never Were group on Facebook here

 

[circle-5]

Good find, Overscan. Thank you.

 

[hesham]

Great find my dear Paul.

 

[JohnR]

Just out of interest did any countries other than us (UK) and Australia evaluate or consider the F111?

Regards

 

[Hot Breath]

I understand that the F-111D was able to use Sparrow missiles. Is this correct? What was the thinking behind that? Did they ever use them operationally?

 

[F-14D]

I understand that the F-111D was able to use Sparrow missiles. Is this correct? What was the thinking behind that? Did they ever use them operationally?

I believe the F-111D's radar/fire control was intended to have the capability to guide AIM-7. The thinking was, "Hey, it's a Fighter, isn't it"? Plus, the F-111 was supposed to be all things to all people. I know of no case where a Sparrow was fired at anyone "in anger", and I'm not sure if one was fired at all. I believe the capability was eventually deleted from the Ds and wasn't ever integrated on the Es and Fs. Perhaps some else knows more.