al Asaad

Yah-the "F-111B" was a serious bone of contention back in the 60s when it was known by its Defense Department code name "TFX" (Tactical Fighter Experimental).

All sorts of political and Defense Department intrigues surrounded the bidding on the final contract, with all the big hitters in Defense trying for the then huge contract.
Needless to say, the FTX has been one of the best kept secrets in the US Air Force, its sterling combat record, like in Libya, a part of Air Force legends.

The fact it still flies and performs spectacularly more than fifty years after the first designs hit the drawing boards also speaks well of its sturdy construction and amazing speed with a full load of ordnance on board.

All during the Cold War the Russians had a special dread of the FTX. Designed, like the US Air Force B-58 "Hustler" as a "penetrator", the Russians, fearing their speed and subsequent almost 100% lethality over a target, spent huge sums of monies to defeat both aircraft.
Whole new arrays of high-speed Russian radars had to be invented to deal with the "Aardvark", its comical though deadly nickname.

Then as now, its pilots doated on the "Pig" as some called it, their admiration bordering on culthood.

Best known by the public for its "swing wing" (precursor to its Navy "cousin" the F-14 Tomcat), the F111 was actually too huge to really be classified as a "fighter".

Nonetheless, the "Aardvark" has its many devotees.

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