New F-111 model

Hobby boss just relased a completely new 1/48th kit of the F-111A, with flaps/slats drooped, http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/hb/kit_hb_80348.shtml . ALso released is a 1/48th Tornado as well from Hobby boss

Darba niftakar battibekk fuq dan l-ajruplan u li swept back wings jekk ma kienx it-tomcat issa gejt fid-dubju nahseb Marco jiftakar zgur

Ray

Ray wrote:Darba niftakar battibekk fuq dan l-ajruplan u li swept back wings jekk ma kienx it-tomcat issa gejt fid-dubju nahseb Marco jiftakar zgur

Ray

Actually the tomcat is somewhat connected to the F-111 as the tomcat programme can trace its origins to the failing of the F-111 carrier fighter programme. Both aircraft had swing wing capability. Although the F-111 is still in service with the australian airforce it is due to be retired during 2010 thus ending the F-111 career.

The F111 was planned to be a carrier based aircraft. The Tomcat 'stole' the F111's swing wing technology..

AdriaN wrote:The F111 was planned to be a carrier based aircraft. The Tomcat 'stole' the F111's swing wing technology..

Not exactly, the F-111 has its origins in the TFX programme. The idea was to have an aircraft that could satisfy both the airforce and navy, but both had different roles/requirements in mind, the airforce as a fighter bomber to replace the thunderchief and the navy as a long range carrier based interceptor, both with different specifications. As it went, it was decided to use the USAF option and then produce a modified version for the navy (F-111A and F-111B repectively) For the naval version, general dynamics paired up with grumman which had an extensive knowledge in carrier avaition for assembly and testing. The F-111 naval version had poor carrier properties, and also the navy was not happy the whole programme because it was thought that USAF requirments would interfere with what the navy wanted - an interceptor, the opposite of what the airforce wanted. Ultimately when the F-111B version was sinking, grumman began studying alternatives, and eventually ended up in the F-14 tomcat and the F-111 went to serve vsliantly in the USAF. The F-111 is not the first variable geometry wing (swing wing) design, but the first to go into production. If there is something that went over to the F-14 from the F-111 is the weapons system(which in it self is another story), that is the radar (AWG-9) and the phoenix missiles which were intended to be used in the F-111B.

Il-battibekk kien fuq jekk tistax tirreferi ghall-wings kemm "in the swept back position" u "kemm in the swept forward position"

Ray

Ray wrote:Il-battibekk kien fuq jekk tistax tirreferi ghall-wings kemm "in the swept back position" u "kemm in the swept forward position"

Ray

Both can be and should be referred to as wings. The variable geometry wing concept is to combine and maximize the benefits of high speed wing(swept back) and the lower speeds(foward - position), such as for landing in a single aircraft. For the F-14, the fact that the wings swept back had another benefit, no wing folding gear. For carrier storage the wings are actually swept than the would in flight (max angle sweep in flight is 68 deg) to 75 deg (so called oversweep). The F-14 can also land with the wings in fully swept position but a higher speed. So for modelling sake, you can model the tomcat with the wings in 3 positions, but when on land, either the full foward of the overswept position is preferable.