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Test Ops FB-111A


Old Viper Tester

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An FB -111A, 68-0254, came to Edwards AFB in the late 1980s, at first for an F-111 Avionics Modernization Program then an F-111 Digital Flight Control System test program. The aircraft was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron, 6510th Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center. Some sources say that by this time she was an F-111G, but as far as I can remember, she was listed as an FB-111A on the Test Operations schedule board and the crews logged FB-111A time.

 

Mission recovery in 1989 with test nose boom and the aircraft named "Pappy's Passion", no unit markings applied.

68-0254 f-111ctf ED KEDW 19890512 30cr

 

68-0254 f-111ctf ED KEDW 19890512 02cr

 

68-0254 f-111ctf KEDW ED 19890512 10

 

68-0254 f-111ctf ED 19890512 06

 

I was fortunate enough to fly a safety chase mission on her a year later. The test nose boom has been replaced with a production pitot probe, the ED tail code and AFFTC tail band have bee applied,  and the aircraft name is now "Future Shock".

68-0254 f-111ctf ED R-2508 19900125 28cr

 

68-0254 f-111ctf ED R-2508 19900125 38cr

 

68-0254 f-111ctf ED R-2508 19900125 20cr1

 

68-0254 f-111ctf ED R-2508 19900125 12cr

 

68-0254 6512ts ED R-2508 19900125 26cr

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

Edited by Old Viper Tester
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31 minutes ago, Graeme H said:

did any FB-111's have Pave Tack?

Not aware of any FBs being Pave Tack capable. One of the weapons bay doors was a replacement from from an F-111D(?), which explains the one black panel of the bi-fold doors.

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Yowzah! My very favorite modern weenie cooker! Thank you so  much, Keith, for sharing these fantastic photos! They gave long and faithful service to both the USAF and the RAAF- sure do miss seeing them at open houses!

Mike

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