F-111 AARDVARK: Crew Escape Module | Upscaled Documentary

In the 1960s and 1970s, the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark and B-1A introduced the method of jettisoning the entire cockpit as a means of crew escape. The crew remains strapped in the cabin, unencumbered by a parachute harness, while 27,000 lbf (120 kN) of thrust from rockets accelerates the module away from the rest of the aircraft. A single, large parachute retards the descent of the capsule. On landing, an airbag system cushions the impact. In the event of a water landing the airbag acts as a flotation device. Additional airbags could be activated to the right the capsule in the event of a water landing (similar to the Apollo Command Module), or an additional airbag could be selected for auxiliary flotation. With a movement of a pin at the base of the pilot's control stick, a bilge pump could be activated and extra air pumped into the airbags. For the F-111 escape capsule, following a successful landing on land or water, it could serve as a survival shelter for the crew until a rescue could be mounted.

Three of the four B-1A prototypes featured a single crew escape capsule for the crew members. For the fourth prototype and for the B-1B, this was changed to use conventional ejection seats. One source gives the reason "due to concerns about servicing the pyrotechnical components of the system," while another says this was done "to save cost and weight." On August 29, 1984, B-1A prototype #2 crashed and the capsule was ejected at a low altitude. The parachute was deployed improperly and one of the three crew died.

The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic, medium-range, multi-role combat aircraft. Production models of the F-111 had roles that included attack (e.g. interdiction), strategic bombing (including nuclear weapons capabilities), reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, the F-111 entered service in 1967 with the United States Air Force (USAF). The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also ordered the F-111 and began operating the F-111C in 1973.

USAF F-111s were retired during the 1990s with the F-111Fs in 1996 and EF-111s in 1998. The F-111 was replaced in USAF service by the F-15E Strike Eagle for medium-range precision strike missions, while the supersonic bomber role has been assumed by the B-1B Lancer. The RAAF continued to operate the type until December 2010, when the last F-111C was retired.

The name Aardvark was derived from perceived similarities of the aircraft to the animal: a long nose and low-level, terrain-following capabilities. The word "aardvark" originated in the Afrikaans language, as a contraction of "earth-pig", and this was the source of the F-111's nickname of "Pig", during its Australian service.

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 73 ft 6 in (22.40 m)
Wingspan: 63 ft (19 m)
Swept wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m) swept
Height: 17 ft 1.5 in (5.220 m)
Wing area: 657.4 sq ft (61.07 m2) spread, 525 sq ft (48.8 m2) swept
Aspect ratio: 7.56 spread
1.95 swept
Airfoil: root: NACA 64-210.68; tip: NACA 64-209.80
Empty weight: 47,200 lb (21,410 kg)
Gross weight: 82,800 lb (37,557 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 100,000 lb (45,359 kg)
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186
Zero-lift drag coefficient area: 9.36 sq ft (0.87 m2)
Aspect ratio: spread:
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 afterburning turbofan engines, 17,900 lbf (80 kN) thrust each dry, 25,100 lbf (112 kN) with afterburner
Performance

Maximum speed: 1,434 kn (1,650 mph, 2,656 km/h) at altitude
795 kn (915 mph; 1,472 km/h) / Mach 1.2 at sea level
Maximum speed: Mach 2.5
Range: 3,210 nmi (3,690 mi, 5,940 km)
Ferry range: 3,210 nmi (3,690 mi, 5,940 km) with external drop tanks
Service ceiling: 66,000 ft (20,000 m)
g limits: +7.33
Rate of climb: 25,890 ft/min (131.5 m/s)
Wing loading: 126 lb/sq ft (620 kg/m2) Spread
158 lb/sq ft (771 kg/m2) wings swept
Thrust/weight: 0.61
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon in weapons bay (seldom fitted)
Hardpoints: 9 in total (8× under-wing, 1× under-fuselage between engines) plus 2 attach points in weapons bay with a capacity of 31,500 lb (14,300 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles:
AGM-69 SRAM thermonuclear air-to-surface missile (FB-111A only)
AGM-130 stand-off bomb
Bombs:
Free-fall general-purpose bombs including Mk 82 (500 lb/227 kg), Mk 83 (1,000 lb/454 kg), Mk 84 (2,000 lb/907 kg), and Mk 117 (750 lb/340 kg)
Cluster bombs
BLU-109 (2,000 lb/907 kg) hardened penetration bomb
Paveway laser-guided bombs, including 2,000 lb (907 kg) GBU-10, 500 lb (227 kg) GBU-12, and 4,800 lb (2,200 kg) GBU-28 penetration bomb
BLU-107 Durandal runway-cratering bomb
GBU-15 electro-optical bomb
B61 or B43 nuclear bombs
Avionics
GMR and TFR

[brianv]

I love watching these old-fashioned training demonstration documentaries

[TheErockaustin]

My FIL worked on the flight controls for the F111 and told me some fascinating stories about this plane. He said on one particular test flight, the hydraulics got damaged and they had to eject the capsule for the first time. The flight engineer was rattled, but looked over at the pilot who was calmly writing in his notebook. He asked him what he was writing, and the pilots told him he was jotting down notes about how the ejection went and how the capsule was behaving, that way the engineers would have more data in case they didn't survive (they did).

Those test pilots were a different breed... I think the test pilot's name was Thigpen. My FIL said he was the best test pilot he ever met, with Phil Oestricher being a very close second. Love hearing his stories.

[GymbalLock]

There's a quirky space-age charm to those old 80s documentaries. The grainy footage combines with the techno-synth music to become iconic.

[chrisnizer]

I was surprised at just how big the F-111 is the first time I saw one at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. My buddies and I made the trip from Camp Schwab in Henoko to see a big dog and pony show there. The Habu (SR-71), F-111, and numerous Air Force and Navy planes were on display. Always thought the Aardvark was VERY cool!

[lwrii]

I cut my teeth on the FB-111A at Plattsburgh AFB in the late 70s. I finished my career in the late 80s/early 90s on the EF-111A at Mountain Home AFB. The airframe in my opinion is magnificent! It truly is an unknown wonder in aviation community these days. In it's prime it was untouchable and able to do what no other aircraft of it's era could. I really enjoyed working on them. When your jet took off you know you did a good days work to make that possible, truly rewarding.

[GEOsustainable]

We finally get to put a face to the voice we have all listened to for thousands of hours.
The Major must have been a genius because he knew every subject so well. He always knew every detail of everything.
When I was in, this would have been a one hour nap.

[sebastiengiboulot]

Living near Amberley I had the privilege of seeing them often. As a teenager I was around them a lot. I feel very privileged for it.

[RevMikeBlack]

I lived eight miles away from a US Air Force base during Operation Desert Storm. Although it was normally an A-10 base, a number of F-111 planes came and went while training to go to Iraq. We were accustomed to the comparatively whisper quiet A-10s, so the F-111s came as quite a surprise. They were so loud on takeoff that I could hear them eight miles away with no problem. What a plane!

[goodshipkaraboudjan]

The RAAF had a supersonic capsule ejection over New Zealand in 1979. Crew were fine and the capsule it great condition so the RAAF sent a Herc over to pick it up and converted it into a full motion simulator which it served as until 2010. Today it's an interactive display open to the public.

[davidclemens]

I was in the Air Force stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base. I worked on those planes as a weapons system maintenance / loader from 1982 to 1986. Even though at the time I would have rather worked on f-16s or f-15s I am now glad I had the opportunity to work on a surprisingly versatile aircraft

[neilreid]

Good training video. I think I'm ready- let's give it a go.

[Humble_Electronic_Musician]

F111 is my favorite plane
Awesome engineering
And beautiful lines

[overlycreative]

When I read the comments, I hear the words of grown children of many service men, fellow Veterans and many support and development designers and mechanics. I'm so proud to be an American with so many people of many creeds, colors and religions that make up our American nation. You all are the voices of freedom and your combined efforts and dedication to varied missions give me confidence that the average of us will keep this nation on its course of individual freedom no matter who sits in the oval office or the congress.

[andrewnorgrove]

Australia ! " The RAAF's fleet of F-111s included 28 F-111Cs (of which four were converted to RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft) and 15 F-111Gs. " Loved the F-111 Might of ended up in one if things had worked out ! Joined the RAAF then had an accident that stopped my flying hopes

[battshytkrazy]

UNDERRATED. MULTIPLE ROLE. LONG RANGE

[todd]

Back in 1988, I was stationed at Cannon AFB, NM. I was coming back to base, saw 2 F-111D's coming in for landing, saw a poof of smoke and a capsule going up. Quite impressive, and the next day, I helped to clean it up. I was on the big pieces crew, what a mess...

[leroygodfrey]

I had the pleasure of being an Egress tech on these planes for 3 years. Very complex system, but very well designed.

[francisdavis]

I worked for Talley Defense Systems that built the capsule escape rocket motor. Our neighbors was Hughes, the McDonnell-Douglas and finally Boeing. Our count down and static firing of the motor spooked a few AH-64 pilots and kept them out of our airspace.

[timothyharrison]

My dad was a crew chief on F-111As from the late sixties until '73. He said pilot survival in ejection was not great due to the complexity of the escape module. Either the chute systems failed or the cushion would not inflate. I worked on a few FBs accidentally while TDY to Plattsburgh in '84. Neat things, false axles in the wheels for quick tire changes, but a simple clip holding the nut in safety on the nose wheel means the left one departs occasionally. High lift (flaps, slats) inspections in ISO dock is a major PIA and sometimes the outboard slat or flap vane falls off in flight, it's been too long and I can't recall. The spike in the intake inspection for FOD is also a PIA. Also, the absolutely loudest twin engine aircraft I've ever heard run in afterburner on a test stand

[godsgripkitsofficial]

thanks you for all your amazing content! I actually held Jack John Northrop's Gavel from his desk at Northrop Grumman HQ. A friend of mines worked on the nav for B2