Tech & Auto
Why The Military Has Retired The F-111 Aardvark
By GARRETT ETTINGER
The General Dynamics' F-111 Aardvark, also known as "Pig," is one of the most effective military jets ever created. The F-111 was retired by the U.S. Air Force in 1998.
The F-111 was created in the 1960s to help establish American air dominance by producing a multi-role supersonic combat aircraft capable of flying below enemy radar.
However, the fighter jet tested poorly, and several flight tragedies caused by faulty equipment, such as its left wing detaching mid-flight, tarnished the F-111's name early on.
Eventually, the plane's many issues were resolved. The first redesigned F-111 would finally be fully tested and approved between 1972 and 1973.
Despite its rough start, the F-111 would become one of the safest military bombers ever, maintaining a 0.015 loss rate with only 77 losses after over 1 million flight hours.
The U.S. Air Force eventually retired the jet in favor of other specialized planes, like the F-15E Strike Eagle and B-1B Lancer, that performed needed operations more efficiently.