The Versatile F-111 Aircraft Quiz | Military Matters

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The F-111 has had several nicknames over the years, which of the following are correct?

Answer: All of these.

All of these names have been used at one time or another. It picked up the name 'Aardvaark' due to the unusual shape of the nose, which, incidentally contains the 'brains' of the aircraft - the Avionics systems. 'The Pig' is a less kind name used affectionately by most of the aircrews and ground crews, basically meaning 'Pigs Might Fly!'.

2. Which nation's air force was the last in the world to actively fly and maintain the F-111 aircraft for combat?

Answer: RAAF - Royal Australian Air Force

The RAAF retired their F-111C and F-111G in 2009.

3. What was the nickname given to the last F-111 sold and flown out of the USA?

Answer: Boneyard Wrangler

This aircraft was removed from storage and transported to McClellan AFB in California for refurbishment; it was sold to Australia in May 1994. It was nicknamed 'Boneyard Wrangler' as it was the first F-111 to be recovered from the Boneyard (or aircraft graveyard).

The tail depicts a skull wearing a red slouch hat with a yellow lightning bolt behind - tail number A8-272. This was the aircraft involved in the 'flyover' at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

4. The F-111 is capable of a 'Dump and Burn' (externally releasing fuel and igniting it during flight); is this true?

Answer: yes

The 'dump and burn' is a characteristic unique to this aircraft. A nozzle about 8 inches in diameter sits between the twin engine cowls at the rear of the aircraft. During a 'dump and burn', thousands of litres of fuel are 'dumped' by opening a valve. The twin afterburners ignite this fuel resulting in a massive, spectacular tail of flame from the rear of the aircraft.

5. What makes the cockpit of the F-111 unusual among other strike aircraft?

Answer: All of these

The cockpit of the F-111 is designed as an escape pod for the aircrew. It contains an explosive charge around the pod that is ignited from within the cockpit when the pilot or navigator/weapons system operator choose to eject from the aircraft. It is fitted with a parachute that slows down the module on descent.

The aircrew sit side by side, whereas most strike/fighter aircraft have the pilot and navigator sitting inline (one behind the other). Due to the fact the entire cabin space is a module, neither the canopy or seat eject from the aircraft as separate items.

6. What is the wing shape/formation of the F-111?

Answer: Variable sweep wing

The F-111 has a variable 'sweep wing'. The wing angle can be changed in-flight from a forward 'spread' position for lower speeds through to a delta 'swept' configuration for higher speeds.
Wingspan spread = 63ft(19.2m), swept = 32ft(9.72m).
Rotary wing is the term used for helicopters.

7. Who was president of the United States when Australia signed to take delivery of the F-111 'off the drawing board'?

Answer: John F. Kennedy

The signing ceremony was on 19th November 1963, just 3 days before JFK was assassinated. John F. Kennedy, the Australian Minister of Defence Athol Townley, and the U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, shook hands in the Defense Secretary's office in the Pentagon. Australia had decided to buy 24 of the F-111A's 'off the drawing board'. Two days later, the day before he was assassinated, JFK was at Dallas AFB giving praise to the F-111 and Australia's commitment to purchasing the aircraft.

The first pre-production F-111A was airborne some 13 months later, on 21st December 1964.

8. Although initially designed and built in the early 1960s, the F-111 is capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound; is this statement true?

Answer: Yes

The F-111 IS capable of Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph, 2,655 km/h), though due to the aging airframe it is rarely taken to anywhere even approaching this speed. Anyone familiar with supersonic aircraft would also know the sound barrier is never broken over land at lower altitudes (unless in a war zone) due to the damage the sonic boom may cause to anything on the ground.

9. Many problems plagued the F-111 program (initially TFX), including massive cost blowouts and structural problems with the aircraft design. What single alarming, tragic incident resulted in the grounding of the aircraft and almost caused the cancellation of the entire F-111 program?

Answer: A wing detached mid-flight

In December 1968 a wing of the F-111A completely detached in flight, killing the crew. Among the problems the F-111 development team were having were occurring with failure of the WCTB or Wing Carry Through Box, this is the component allowing the wings to sweep forward and back. This particular aircraft (an F-111A 67-0049) already had a modified WCTB in place.

10. General Dynamics designed and built the F-111, as well as many different fighter/strike aircraft. Who built the engines used in the F-111?

Answer: Pratt & Whitney

Twin Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 turbofan engines power the F-111; they produce a 'dry thrust' of 17,900lbf and 25,000lbf with afterburner. This allows the F-111 to have a 'take off' weight of 100,000lbs! Pratt & Whitney engines are used in the SR-71 Blackbird. Kuznetsov manufacture the engines for the Tupolev Tu160 Blackjack as well as many other Russian military aircraft engines.

Source: Author madkeen4

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Versatile F-111 Aircraft Trivia Quiz

I spent some time in the Air Force and became rather well acquainted with these aircraft during my tenure. See how much you know about the F-111. This quiz is dedicated to the memory of FltLt Anthony 'Shorty' Short and SqnLdr Steven Hobbs.

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