One of our new Associate Members, David Palmer provided us with what was probably part 1 of a series reminiscing about his 23 years in the RAAF. He had wanted to be an Air Force pilot since he was 12 and finally joined up at 19. He made a technical error in acing the maths exam so was trained as a navigator not a pilot!
The F-111 was controversial from the start, being the crazy-brave initiative of US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to have the one plane designed for use by both the US Air Force and Navy.
The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production aircraft, including variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight. Its design influenced later variable-sweep wing aircraft, and some of its advanced features have since become commonplace. The F-111 suffered a variety of problems during initial development. Several of its intended roles, such as an aircraft carrier-based naval interceptor with the F-111B, failed to materialize, and the US Navy withdrew from the deal in 1969.
A description of the F1-11C, which is what the RAAF acquired, can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111C
The Australian government ordered 24 F-111Cs just before it called a snap election in 1963, but the aircraft were not delivered until 1973 because of long-running technical problems. (The 1963 election was also notable for being very soon after the assassination of US President John F Kennedy, and for being the first Federal election in which all adult Aboriginal people were eligible to vote.)
The high cost of the purchase meant the Australian government cancelled or delayed implementing some other major decisions including funding the establishment of a veterinary school at Melbourne University!
However it did win the election with an increased majority, so that’s OK then.
We look forward to hearing more about David’s life in the RAAF.
Click here for pictures shown in presentation.