General Dynamics F-111 Projects

[J.A.W.]

I enjoyed a good nosey around the Evans Head ( NSW Australia) F-111 Museum machine today,
& a quite impressively large & shapely aircraft it is, with numerous sophistications which only reveal themselves up-close..

 

[Rickshaw]

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

A good question. I'm surprised no one has answered it. I'd be interested to find out as well. Surely it would have been attractive to other nations? UK chose it as a consolation prize for the cancellation of TSR.2. Australia chose it as a deterrence to Indonesian Tu-16s.

 

[circle-5]

General Dynamics F-111 V/STOL variants. My favorite ones have the 10 thrust-vectoring lift jets in twin rotating pylons on the VG wing...

 

[Jemiba]

Almost hard to believe, that it was something else, than an attempt to show the impracticability
of such a design. Or were those pods intended as a "strap-on" solution for short range missions ?

 

[hesham]

Oh my God,my dear Circle-5,you made my day.

 

[circle-5]

I just noticed Configuration 3, where the 10 thrust-vectoring lift engines in the swiveling pods on the swiveling wings also swivel back 90 deg. individually into each pod, to reduce drag. And I thought the Republic AVS was over the top...

 

[Triton]

General Dynamics F-111K concept photo and press release found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royal-Air-Force-General-Dynamics-F-111E-artists-concept-official-photo-1968-/390882670396?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b026c373c

 

[Steve Pace]

What was the exact first flight date of the prototype FB-111A. I've seen 30 July 1967 and 31 July 1967 - which date is the correct date? -SP

 

[fightingirish]

Source unknown, found while googling. :-\

 

[Spook]

General Dynamics F-111 V/STOL variants.

WOW !! ... This is amazing ... Thanks a lot for sharing it. ;D ... When these configurations were studied if I may ask?! :

 

[RAP]

Very interesting looking document for UK version of the F-111.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171945266260?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[blackkite]

Hi!

http://p-d-m.livejournal.com/98863.html

 

[martinbayer]

General Dynamics F-111 V/STOL variants. My favorite ones have the 10 thrust-vectoring lift jets in twin rotating pylons on the VG wing...

Interesting to compare the design in the lower right hand corner to the AVS concept: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,452.0/all.html

Martin

 

[circle-5]

General Dynamics manufacturer's proposal model of the F-111/SAC (from ~1965). This was a modified variant of the F-111/ADC. The F-111/SAC was developed for the Strategic Air Command well prior to the FB-111H (which was proposed as a B-1 substitute). I have no evidence the FB-111H was a direct development of the F-111/SAC, but it is a reasonable assumption, as both variants appear to have the same general "stretch" areas, when compared to the F-111A.

 

[GTX]

Interesting find.

 

[sferrin]

General Dynamics manufacturer's proposal model of the F-111/SAC (from ~1965). This was a modified variant of the F-111/ADC. The F-111/SAC was developed for the Strategic Air Command well prior to the FB-111H (which was proposed as a B-1 substitute). I have no evidence the FB-111H was a direct development of the F-111/SAC, but it is a reasonable assumption, as both variants appear to have the same general "stretch" areas, when compared to the F-111A.

Along those lines, there were TF-30 variants up to 30,000lb thrust proposed. (Which would get you to F101 levels, though I doubt they would have been as efficient.)

 

[blackkite]

General Dynamics manufacturer's proposal model of the F-111/SAC (from ~1965). This was a modified variant of the F-111/ADC. The F-111/SAC was developed for the Strategic Air Command well prior to the FB-111H (which was proposed as a B-1 substitute). I have no evidence the FB-111H was a direct development of the F-111/SAC, but it is a reasonable assumption, as both variants appear to have the same general "stretch" areas, when compared to the F-111A.

Amazing find!!!
I think that FB-111H wing sweep back angle and air intake shape are litttle different from this model.

 

[taildragger]

I don't think that much can be learned from the wing sweep range of a 50 year old mass produced resin model. The sweep range is determined by crude little resin gear teeth and/or the fuselage wing slot. It was probably a sloppy approximation of the real thing when the model was produced and a half century of aging and wear hasn't made it more accurate. I'd guess that the wing sweep range would be so fundamental to the design of a VG aircraft that it would tend to remain constant across any derivatives.
The planned use of a different engine and the troubles experienced with the original configuration(s) would have almost guaranteed that the late-70s version intakes differed from the mid-60s model.

 

[circle-5]

I don't think that much can be learned from the wing sweep range of a 50 year old mass produced resin model. The sweep range is determined by crude little resin gear teeth and/or the fuselage wing slot. It was probably a sloppy approximation of the real thing when the model was produced and a half century of aging and wear hasn't made it more accurate.

This model was hand-made at the GD model shop in Fort Worth. It is constructed of laminated hard wood (maple or cherry) and the VG gears are machined metal with no play, even after 50 years. It measures 2-1/2 feet long and it is unlikely that more than a handful were ever built. Unlike the resin promotional models you are thinking of, these in-house proposals had to be very accurate, particularly for something as important as wing sweep (which was a new feature for military aircraft at the time).

 

[taildragger]

As I was saying, it looks like the wing sweep angle is a little different.

 

[Pioneer]

G'day gents

Just finished reading the following article:

The Air Force instituted a series of studies (Advanced Manned Interceptor, CONUS Interceptor, etc.) during 1971-72 for a new interceptor and had considered a wide variety of possibilities, including a modified Lockheed YF-12A, an improved General Dynamics F-106, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 and the Grumman F-14. The YF-12 and F-106 were dropped from consideration in late-1971, and the F-14 was generally rated at par or slightly superior than the F-15 in the intercep­tor role. The studies later included a stretched, F100 powered F-111, designated F-111X-7, and a modified North American RA-5C pow­ered by three J79s and designated NR-349. Initial funding consisted of $5 million in FY73 money for continued engineering studies, but the program was cancelled shortly thereafter.

Read more http://www.aviatia.net/air-force-f-14/

I'm intrigued by this F-111X-7 and was hoping to learn more about its layout and configuration.
Anyone got anything on it??


Regards
Pioneer

 

[Pioneer]

FB-111B/C flyer


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

Looking over the F-111 Projects topic, in the hope of finding something on the proposed F-111X-7 interceptor derivative, I couldn't help notice the following interesting infomation, which Id overlooked sometime ago when PaulMM (Overscan) first posted this!

Regards
Pioneer

 

[Sundog]

I never noticed those mission specifics either. Also, notice the bottom right one of escort interceptor. It could have been used to protect B-52s and B-1s on long missions; although, probably not the longest.

 

[Pioneer]

Yeah Sundog, I acknowledge your Escort Interceptor, and I can immediately comprehend that mission, as SAC has always been in search of a strategic escort since its experience of WW2. But it's the ASW Support mission that has me baffled - like how is such an advanced supersonic bomber like the proposed FB-111H meant to support ASW operations? and what weapons/sensors would it carry and employ?

Very curious

Regards
Pioneer

 

[dan_inbox]

But it's the ASW Support mission that has me baffled - like how is such an advanced supersonic bomber like the proposed FB-111H meant to support ASW operations? and what weapons/sensors would it carry and employ?

In the 50s they had hunter+killer ASW combos. It could be the killer.

 

[Pioneer]

But it's the ASW Support mission that has me baffled - like how is such an advanced supersonic bomber like the proposed FB-111H meant to support ASW operations? and what weapons/sensors would it carry and employ?

In the 50s they had hunter+killer ASW combos. It could be the killer.

I hear what you are saying dan_inbox, but I'd think the cost and capability of the likes of the FB-111H would be a very inefficient method, wouldn't it?

Regards
Pioneer

 

[starviking]

But it's the ASW Support mission that has me baffled - like how is such an advanced supersonic bomber like the proposed FB-111H meant to support ASW operations? and what weapons/sensors would it carry and employ?

In the 50s they had hunter+killer ASW combos. It could be the killer.

Cued by SOSUS? Or perhaps attacks on Soviet SSBNs in the Bastions?

 

[Hood]

Nuclear depth-bomb missions using its high speed as a rapid reaction platform, perhaps cued in from an Orion?

 

[LowObservable]

This, perhaps?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_60_CAPTOR

The FB-111H was very helpful in figuring out the Tu-22M design and performance. If you didn't have space in the back end for fuel, you were going to have limitations.

 

[TomS]

This, perhaps?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_60_CAPTOR

That would be my guess -- deploying CAPTOR or follow-on weapons on transit routes and bastions.

Direct attack against subs (a la nuclear depth bombs) would not generally be classified as "ASW support" but CAPTOR delivery would fit, because it was intended to channelize and disrupt Soviet submarine operations as much as to directly kill subs.

 

[Orionblamblam]

I'm intrigued by this F-111X-7 and was hoping to learn more about its layout and configuration.
Anyone got anything on it??

Yep. Keep an eye out for US Fighter Projects #03.
http://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=3437

 

[RAP]

F111 crew module model

$5500!

www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1963-64-F111-CREW-ESCAPE-MODULE-NOT-KNOWN-TO-EXIST/123365152169?_trkparms=aid%3D777001%26algo%3DDISCO.FEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160801204525%26meid%3Db11956206a0b4c2dab11624d799b2c21%26pid%3D100651%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D123365152169&_trksid=p2481888.c100651.m4497&_trkparms=pageci%3Aded261b9-b9c7-11e8-92bc-74dbd1802386%7Cparentrq%3Ae311150c1650ab6b4ad6bd93fff74286%7Ciid%3A1

 

[circle-5]

Re: F111 crew module model

I'll wait for the price to come down 90% ...

 

[blackkite]

Ｈi! GD's drawing. You can see wing gear and fuselage, wing cross section.
Source :
The TFX Program: An Analysis of the McNamara
Management and Decision-Making Technique in
Major Weapon System Procurement
John Charles Sweeney
College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences

 

[galgot]

Hi Blackkite San,
I think this is a scaleplan for an in house 1/80 display model.

 

[blackkite]

Oh sorry I must delete it?
How about cross section shape?

 

[galgot]

Not at all it was just an observation. Its a nice scaleplan and it's from GD anyway.
I believe the sections are quite correct , if a bit "adapted" to a 1/80 model.

 

[blackkite]

Thanks brilliant galgot-san.
So wing gear is only for 1/80 model?

 

[TomS]

Thanks brilliant galgot-san.
So wing gear is only for 1/80 model?

Yes. The actual F-111 wing sweep mechanism is far more complex than the simple interleaved gear on this drawing.

 

[blackkite]

Wow thanks a lot.

I also find this picture.