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End of an era
Stanley - November 29th, 2010 at 12:46 PM

This time Friday will see the end of the last flight of the F-111 in the world.
No big deal to most but these old girls have been my source of income for the last 10 years and also for most of the 80s.

Keep an eye out in the sky over Brisbane, Sunshine coast and Gold Coast (and Ipswich of course) on Friday. 4-6 jets will take off 11.30am Friday and land at Amberley at 1.00pm. Of course there will also be the last dump and burn in the world.


hellbugged - November 29th, 2010 at 01:26 PM

no no Stanely you are not on your own

very sad to hear :td:


DubbyFan - November 29th, 2010 at 02:10 PM

Yep sad, love the pig of the sky!


Phil74Camper - November 29th, 2010 at 03:07 PM

That's very sad, up there with the last flights of the Concorde and SR-71 a few years ago, the retirements of the RAAF former Qantas 707s. And the Space Shuttle will make its last flight next year.

Are these last ones some of original F-111Cs from 1973, or are they the former US F-111Gs that we bought in the 1990s? Or both?

I hope they'll retain a few of them in museums - Point Cook surely. I guess Temora would like one too as they have a few former RAAF jets - a Sabre, Sea Venom, Mirage, Canberra etc, in flying condition. If they get an F-111 I doubt they'll be able to afford to fly it !


vw54 - November 29th, 2010 at 04:19 PM

take some pics will yar luv seening them fly


vassy66T1 - November 29th, 2010 at 05:04 PM

Yeh. They have been (and could easily continue to be if the govt, had half a brain ... oh what's the use) an absolute asset and an amazing machine.
I will have a tear in my eye


FROSTY - November 29th, 2010 at 05:40 PM

What happens to them after Friday?????


LIFE IN THE LOW LANE - November 29th, 2010 at 07:08 PM

Compare to the absolute crap the gov't are buying to replace them with it will be a very sad day in Australia's Air force history. Probably one of the best fighter bombers ever built even compared to newer planes none can carry the bomb weight or fly the distance and the speed that the pig can(am I right in saying that stanley??)

Australia's air defence has just become a lot weaker that's for sure.....


Stanley - November 29th, 2010 at 07:41 PM

We've prepped a few for museums. There will be a C and G model in Pt Cook and we alo just pulled a crew module out of one with a few more to go.

After Friday they will remain serviceable (but not flying) for a little while before the remainder are prepped for destruction and head to the graveyard with the rest.

And yes Brendan you are right in some of what you say however, what they're replacing them with is built by the company I work for and they pay my mortgage....:lol: