F-111A Aardvark
The first production variable-sweep aircraft, with an escape capsule instead of ejection seats.
- First production swing wing
- Crew escape capsule
- Automatic terrain following
- Internal bomb bay
Specifikation
- Ursprung
- United States
- Tillverkare
- General Dynamics
- Roll
- Strike
- Introducerad
- 1967
- Stridstyp
- Luft
- Spawnkod
- f111a
På servern
The F-111A entered US Air Force service in 1967 as the first production aircraft in the world with a variable geometry wing. It was also the first with an afterburning turbofan and one of the first with automatic terrain following radar, letting it fly at high speed a few hundred feet above the ground in total darkness. Instead of ejection seats the entire crew cabin separates from the aircraft as a sealed capsule with its own parachute and flotation. The crew sit side by side and the internal bay carries ordnance. On MCS the Aardvark is a long range, low level bomber. It covers enormous distances, arrives underneath the radar coverage and delivers a heavy load without ever climbing into view. It has no gun in normal service fit, no agility worth the name and no chance against a fighter. Recommended for deliberate strike missions across the map.