Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
A random selection from various locations of the big beastie. Remember them fondly at low level over the house and they used to make a hell of a din, fast, wings back at low level. We had an incident one winter evening over Leominster with people reporting a UFO when one aircraft dumped fuel and ignited it lighting up the dark sky, IIRC the runway at Upper Heyford had frozen over and they wanted a lighter landing weight. Another time we had a big close formation of around 15 aircraft over, just before the annual show, I thought maybe practice but nothing like it happened at the show?
Upper Heyford 1991 Open House
f-111e 3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111e 2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111e 1 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111 formation by Paul Downes, on Flickr
ef-111a 2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
ef-111a 1 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Finningley 1991 Battle of Britain At Home Day
1991 finn ef111a by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Boscombe Down 1992 ATI, we had Cannon D, Upper Heyford Es and Lakenheath Fs
1992 bd f111d cc by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1992 bd f111e uh by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1992 bd f111f land by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Mildenhall 1993 Air Fete
1993 af f4 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 af f5 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
IAT 1993 including an Aussie
1993 iat m2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 iat t20 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 iat d3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1994 Yeovilton 50th anniversary D-Day commemorations an Aussie RF-111C
1994 dd 4 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1994 dd 29 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
the AFTI preserved at Edwards AFB back in 1997
f-111afti 39778 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Hope there's something you like.
Upper Heyford 1991 Open House
f-111e 3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111e 2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111e 1 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
f-111 formation by Paul Downes, on Flickr
ef-111a 2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
ef-111a 1 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Finningley 1991 Battle of Britain At Home Day
1991 finn ef111a by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Boscombe Down 1992 ATI, we had Cannon D, Upper Heyford Es and Lakenheath Fs
1992 bd f111d cc by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1992 bd f111e uh by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1992 bd f111f land by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Mildenhall 1993 Air Fete
1993 af f4 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 af f5 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
IAT 1993 including an Aussie
1993 iat m2 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 iat t20 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1993 iat d3 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1994 Yeovilton 50th anniversary D-Day commemorations an Aussie RF-111C
1994 dd 4 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
1994 dd 29 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
the AFTI preserved at Edwards AFB back in 1997
f-111afti 39778 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Hope there's something you like.
- LN Strike Eagle
- UKAR Staff
- Posts: 11191
- Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 3:29 pm
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
Awesome stuff. I've been watching some F-111 footage on YouTube recently. Wish I'd seen one fly.
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
- Pen Pusher
- Posts: 7138
- Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 6:34 pm
- Location: St Ives, Cambs
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
I went to a Boarding School 18 miles south of Otterburn. Because of its location on the side of the North Tyne Valley, it was used as a ground marker for aircraft coming off the ranges. Mainly Vulcan's but in late 1970/71 it got noisy when the F-III's arrived. Straight and level off the range and over the school, wings back re-heat on, climb. Day and night.
Brian
Brian
- Wrexham Mackem
- UKAR Staff
- Posts: 2514
- Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 4:46 pm
- Location: Farndon, Chester
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
They were awesome beasts they truly were.
Mildenhall and IAT 87 & 89 saw FB-111 appearances too.
My only regret is that from a flying display point of view, aside from the Aussies, we only ever saw flypasts, formations in different wing configs and refuelling sims. A beast of a machine for sure, but it does cross my mind what an airshow legend they could have been if they were ever displayed like other USAF assets in Europe.
Mildenhall and IAT 87 & 89 saw FB-111 appearances too.
My only regret is that from a flying display point of view, aside from the Aussies, we only ever saw flypasts, formations in different wing configs and refuelling sims. A beast of a machine for sure, but it does cross my mind what an airshow legend they could have been if they were ever displayed like other USAF assets in Europe.
- HeyfordDave111
- Posts: 1428
- Joined: Sat 21 Feb 2015, 5:30 pm
- Location: IAT 92
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
Hi Wrexham,
In the final years i lived in Banbury and was a fence hangar almost every day up u til about 6 months before closure.
I distinctly remember the 4 ship variable geometry flypast being practiced about a week before i saw it at Mildenhall, but also in the same week i saw an 'in trail' 4 ship roll by each aircraft, and that didnt make Mildenhall i'm sad to say.
In the final years i lived in Banbury and was a fence hangar almost every day up u til about 6 months before closure.
I distinctly remember the 4 ship variable geometry flypast being practiced about a week before i saw it at Mildenhall, but also in the same week i saw an 'in trail' 4 ship roll by each aircraft, and that didnt make Mildenhall i'm sad to say.
Got to love Russianhardware
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
Great photo's, thanks for sharing them. That formation with variable amounts of wing sweep is just awesome!
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
Mmmmm… initially disappointed when I saw swingers in the title and saw F-111s.. Very nice selection, much missed, even living in the heart of the West midlands, varks were the most regularly seen military type at high and low levels in the '70s. Their almost daily beat ups of my uncle's place near the Clee hills was just awesome to witness.
You caaan't trust the system... Maaan!
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
Cheers guys, imagine shots of those through the Mach loop wings back low level, oooh suit you sir.
Nigel, thanks for adding the FB, I saw them at all those shows and only managed a half decent static at Mildenhall on the flightline, all on print as well, grrrrr.
One more showing the weird fiery flame of the big engine F.
1992 bd f111f ln by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Nigel, thanks for adding the FB, I saw them at all those shows and only managed a half decent static at Mildenhall on the flightline, all on print as well, grrrrr.
One more showing the weird fiery flame of the big engine F.
1992 bd f111f ln by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
I spent over 30 years in the Royal Australian Navy and had several encounters with the "Aussie Pigs". When they were doing simulated attacks on shipping they were easy to spot and track visually due to the nice black smoke trail they left against a clear blue sky. I watched them bomb Townsend Is in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SBTA) and fly at high sub-sonic speed up one side of Prudoe Is and down the other side. Amazing aircraft.
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
IMG_9702-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_9707-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
1a by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2246 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2825-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2596-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_9707-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
1a by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2246 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2825-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
IMG_2596-01 by Andy Heap, on Flickr
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Swingers, Aardvarks and Sparkvarks
You're spoiling us now Andy. The Cs look so good wings back with the extra span, they just become a full delta.
The Aussie displays were great as well, really thrown around, I remember at Boscombe Down in 1990, the aggressive kanga hop take off.
Apologies for the music in advance at the end of that video. Wouldn't happen now.
The Aussie displays were great as well, really thrown around, I remember at Boscombe Down in 1990, the aggressive kanga hop take off.
Apologies for the music in advance at the end of that video. Wouldn't happen now.