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The name
The only countries to operate the F-1 1 1 have been
the United States and Australia and both have dis
tinctive names for the aircraft. The US Air Force
dubbed their F-1 1 1s Aardvark because of the air-
craft's long snout and partly because the aircraft
were manufactured by General Dynamics in a mile-
long plant unofficially known as the Aardvark, The
Australian F-1 1 1s are affectionately called Pigs,
again because of their long nose and ability to get
down in the weeds with their Terrain Following Radar.
The speed
The F-1 1 1 is still one of the fastest military jets in
the world with a top speed at high altitude of Mach
2.5 which equates to almost 3000 km/h. Some air
craft come close, like the American F-1 4 Tomcat
(Mach 2.1) and the Russian Sukhoi SU-35 (Mach
2.3), but only a few can match the F-1 1 1 's speed,
including the American F-1 5 Strike Eagle (Mach 2.5)
and the Russian MiG-25 Foxbat which is estimated to
be capable of Mach 2.8 or 3400km/h. The next gen
eration of aircraft is another story.
The fleet
The Air Force has 35 F-1 11s which comprise four
RF-1 1 1 (photo reconnaissance aircraft), 17 F-1 1 1 C
models and 14 F-111G models. Initially 24 C models
were ordered and delivered between June and
December 1973. Four A models were acquired as
I attrition replacements in 1982 and modified as F-
i 1 1 1 Cs. An additional 1 5 G models (ex-USAF FB-
1 1 1 As) were acquired in 1993/94.
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