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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0070.PDF
Above An F-l 11 A, the initial production version. Below F-ll I target potential in the Middle East. Bottom F-l 11 has a 1,000 n.m. radius of action fall nuclear weapons. Secondary roles include conventional attack. F-lllEs equip the 20th TFW, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), at RAF Upper Heyford, while F-lllFs equip the 48th TFW, USAFE, at RAF Lakenheath. The primary roles of these UK-based air craft are theatre nuclear strike, con ventional interdiction, and counter-air attack. Secondary roles are close air support, air-defence suppression, and maritime air support. Royal Australian Air Force F-lllCs equip Nos 1 and 6 Squadrons, RAAF Amberley, New South Wales. Primary roles are conventional attack and maritime control/anti-ship strike. Four aircraft are equipped with a weapons-bay camera pallet for all- weather reconnaissance. Four F-lllAs have been purchased at a knock-down price to replace Cs lost in accidents. The aircraft are being refurbished at the Sacramento Air Logistics Centre (ALC), McClelland AFB, California, for delivery between February and April next year. Extended wingtips and uprated undercarriage will be added in Australia to bring the air craft close to C standard. Of the remaining F-llls, 49 are at Sacramento ALC undergoing modifi cation; one E is at Eglin AFB, Florida, for stores testing; one A and one D are based at Edwards AFB, Califor nia, acting as B-l chase aircraft; and eight As are at Grumman undergoing conversion to EF-lllAs. A further 11 As and Ds are in storage at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, providing spare parts, including complete fuse lage sections, for five As, Ds, and Es at General Dynamics' Fort Worth plant for crash-damage repair. Of the 562 F-/FB-llls built, 100 have been lost in more than l,00O,0O0hr. General Dynamics believes that the F-lll has a potential lO.OOOhr ser vice life, taking the aircraft to 2010 at current flying rates. The company has a high degree of confidence in its prediction—because of early develop ment problems with high-strength steel wing planks, each aircraft built was static - tested before being delivered. Completed aircraft were FLIGHT International, 9 January 1982
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