Gourley, John F-111 Aardvark. General Dynamic's Variable-Swept-Wing Attack Aircraft

The General Dynamics F-111 was one of aviation history's most promising planes when it came out in the early 1960s. Despite a rocky service career, political changes in how the military acquired its weaponry and the addition of too much new technology, the plane provided a credible frontline deterrent in the Cold War era and was used to great effect in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Many of the challenges faced by putting the F-111 - with all of its new systems - into service are now accepted as a normal outfit in modern fighter aircraft. Although the Navy did not accept the F-111B model, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat development program was significantly assisted by prior radar and missile system testing on the F-111B airframe. The F-111 was a hugely powerful aircraft and carried devastating weaponry, but was phased out by the USAF in the mid-90s, largely due to crippling maintenance costs. The aircraft remained in Australian service until 2010.

Many of the challenges faced when the F-111 was introduced with all its new systems are now considered standard equipment in modern fighter aircraft. Although the U.S. Navy did not accept the F-111B model, the development programme for the Grumman F-14 "Tomcat" was greatly aided by prior radar and missile system testing on the F-111B airframe. The F-111 was an extremely powerful aircraft with devastating weapons, but was withdrawn from service by the USAF in the mid-1990s, mainly due to its immensely high maintenance costs. The aircraft remained in service with the Australian Air Force until 2010.