Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

mustachecachestache47 wrote:

Now something i don't get is how the B-1 goes supersonic.

Uh, like any other supersonic aircraft. Rolling Eyes

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What with this thread here and the 'F-35B lightning II vs. AV-8b Harrier II' thread in the F-35 section i'd say you guys are getting trolled, and pretty well too.

I don't think we're getting trolled necessarily. This website has a high degree of visibility and attracts all types of people, from the casual aviation enthusiast, to the hardcore ones spanning many different ages. I think it would be more interesting to talk about what we'd do if we owned a private military contracting firm that was allowed to purchase a squadron's worth of F-111s. That's more likely to happen than the USAF or RAAF bringing them out of mothballs. It still isn't very likely though. I can't imagine any private company wanting to pay to operate F-111s either.

Even just one for the 'Heritage Flight' thing that guy does with the F-4 at Airshows.

Sure, bring it back... via similar F-16XL re-winging and next-gen super-cruising-capable variable-cycle F110 motors, expanded bay capacity for JASSM size ordnance and APG-82 and then we can talk about such a poor-man's NGB (+ multi-mission platform/long range interceptor) alternative for 10% the cost and ahead of schedule? Interesting.

darkvarkguy wrote:

Even just one for the 'Heritage Flight' thing that guy does with the F-4 at Airshows.

That would be nice. One of these days I want to catch the EE Lightning in one of those types of events!

The tooling for the F-111 no longer exists, there was no reason to save it. That's one of the reasons the Aussies were coming here to canabalize parts so much, and why they retired it. Trying to put new production 'Varks in pl;ace would be much more expensive that just buying more F-35s, plus who would ever want to use the TF30 again?

Actually, the replacement for the F-111 mission was supposed to be the B-1A, that's one of the reasons they planned to build at least 244 of them. When Carter killed that, USAF was forced to adapt one of its existing airframes and the most cost-effective one to do was the Eagle.

You know what I'd like to see comeback? Government fiscal responsibility, accountability, the idea of civil service in DC, and Crystal Clear Pepsi. F-111s do just fine in museums and as knives and forks.

discofishing wrote:

You know what I'd like to see comeback? Government fiscal responsibility, accountability, the idea of civil service in DC, and Crystal Clear Pepsi. F-111s do just fine in museums and as knives and forks.

That, and the Phantom. Modernized, armed RF-4C for a few ANG units? Yes, please. We have 175 of those things in the Boneyard, relatively recently retired and (I believe) non-cannibalized.

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That, and the Phantom. Modernized, armed RF-4C for a few ANG units? Yes, please. We have 175 of those things in the Boneyard, relatively recently retired and (I believe) non-cannibalized.

Modernized? You mean...

- New glass cockpit
- AESA radar
- engines (F414 EPEs?)
- avionics
- leading edge maneuvering slats
- strengthened airframe
- new cameras/sensors
???

That costs a lot of money. As much as I would like to see something like that happen, it can't. The US Govt is broke. If WW III happened tomorrow, F-16s, F-15s and F-18s would probably be pulled out of the boneyard instead of Phantoms and Varks.

Simply said, we don't need the Vark anymore. The missions either are no longer relevant and/or have been, or will be replaced by better, and more reliable equipment.

The Es and FBs aren't needed, because we don't utilize a tactical nuke mission anymore. If, God forbid, we ever send the glow in the dark stuff downrange, it's going to be with Minuteman IIIs, ALCMs, and SLBMs.

The Fs aren't needed, because we have much more capable strike fighters now. The Pave Tack pod was so big, that it had to be carried in the F's bomb bay, and rotated out when it was time to lase the target. Now, we have newer, smaller, and more capable strike fighters, which can carry a very small, lightweight designator pod. As a plus, the SNIPER and LITENING pods do not take up an ordnance station either.

Laser Target designation and bombing can be carried out by RPAs as well. For example, the Predator can self-lase for its two Hellfires, or buddy lase for any laser-guided ordnance in the inventory. The Reaper can do the same, as well as self-designate for its GBU-12s. You have the advantage of doing a job that a manned striker can do, but putting up to 2 less human beings at risk.

The EFs aren't needed, because the Electronic Attack mission has been taken over by the EA-18. The Growler is a much more modern and capable platform. It can also shoot its way into and out of a target area if it needs to. Again, the AF is looking into reviving its Electronic Attack mission, but possibly using a newer generation RPA for the mission.

Simply said, if you can think of a mission that you'd like to see an aircraft perform, then the AF is already thinking about using an RPA for that mission, if it isn't being utilized in that role already.

At the end of the day, I'd love to see the Vark fly again, but as some sort of Collings Foundation/Heritage Flight type of bird. Collings was able to get a D model Rhino, and even had Steve Ritchie flying it for awhile. Our British friends were able to get a Vulcan back in the air, so you never know.

You sum it up perfectly TC!

Thanks Vark! I try. Smile

Of course, despite my post, I'll say, Nothin' but love and respect for all of you -111 Bubbas out there (my Uncle Crewed Es at UH), but like the Thud, the Rhino, the SLUF, and others, its time has come and gone.

I know a lot of folks don't like to hear the thought that RPAs are taking over what was once the job of their aircraft...or, more to the point...their FAVORITE aircraft (that being more for the fanboys than anything).

However, as I said before, I take a lot of stock in putting a couple less crewmembers at risk. A trip to the F-111 Memorial Wall at Cannon is a very sobering experience, and, like Forrest Gump said, "That's all I've got to say about that..."

The Heritage flight -111 would be cool because that F-4D they fly steals the shows IMO. What a sound!!! I would love to see a -111 at 100' AGL do a 'whisper run' with the wings at 72 degrees at the airshows every year...ah I can dream can't I?

I'd love to see that, followed by a second pass where they "Torch". Just do your best to stay subsonic boys! Laughing

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

F-111 comeback