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Aviation History
1965
1965 - 0023.PDF
F-111A TAKES THE AIR ON December 22, ten days ahead of the production schedule, the F-111A prototype made its first flight from Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas, with R. L. Johnson and Val Prahl at the controls. Though it is reported—and has elsewhere been denied—that failure of the flaps to retract curtailed the flight from its intended one hour to 24min and only 200kt, General Dynamics state that the exercise was successful. Take-off weight was 58,0001b and the wing was locked at 26° sweep—10 aft of full forward. Information and drawings of the F-111 appeared in "Flight" for December 24. Notable features revealed in the accompanying pictures are that the curved intake lip moves some lOin forward to leave an auxiliary intake at low speed: and the extent of the full-span leading-edge slats and double-slotted flaps. Lateral control at low speed is by differential tailplane movement supported by wing spoilers. The extreme negative tailplane angle used during the ground run is evident below. Approach and take-off angle of attack appears moderate. The undercarriage rear door moves down and back on a parallelogram linkage to lie aft of the gear when extended. The main-gear axles also droop considerably when unloaded.
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