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“The best air interdiction aircraft ever built, the General Dynamics F-111. At 13:30 on the 3rd December 2010 the last aircraft, A8-125 landed ending Australia’s 37+ year involvement with the aircraft. Witnessing the event were current crews, family, RAAF officers, many former RAAF crews, people who loved the aircraft and even quite a few ex-USAF aircrew that came down to see for themselves the last flight of the type. When it was purchased, the F-111 was controversial, it came with some teething problems, but since their delivery in 1973, they have been the greatest asset in the region. Nothing could come close. It was fitting that the first aircraft that arrived at RAAF Amberley, the home of the F-111, A8-125 was also to last to land. Six aircraft were launched for the ‘Last Hurrah’, a flight over Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, the region where the F-111s roamed. The people of the region love the ‘Pig’, an affectionate nickname highlighting the types ability to fly low with its nose in the dirt. Of course the last flight would not be complete without the trade mark “dump and burn”. No other aircraft has such a unique party trick, raw fuel is dumped using the emergency fuel release, and then the afterburner is lit, and you get a 100-300 foot flame that comes out of the rear of the aircraft. A Hornet driver could beat himself silly pulling Gs all over the sky and the Pig would come and do the dump and burn, and to all air show crowds, that was the highlight of the whole day. Locals have enjoyed this spectacle at the annual “Riverfire” fireworks display, where the finale of the display was a dump, lighting up the whole city as it flew over. After a vigorous aerial display, five other F-111s did an airfield attack and then they formed for a final six ship fly-past. Then they landed. One by one they taxied to the hard stand, and were directed to stop, and at 13:35 the air around Amberley became quiet, never again to have the high pitched whine of the F-111. Two aircraft are to be kept in flyable storage should there be a momentous wartime need for them, and right now 4 are to be kept in museums, but the fate of the rest is uncertain. Many will meet their demise, the victim of a political decision to save money over capability, the same death that befell the US versions. Sadly this is the way of many a great warrior, many of the best types have fallen to the stroke of the pen. I hope that you enjoy the photos of the F-111 finale, as you too can see the end of an era, the last tier one aircraft that Australia ever owns.”
