Old Viper Tester Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) 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. 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". Thanks for looking, Sven Edited February 17, 2019 by Old Viper Tester 19 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 16 minutes ago, Old Viper Tester said: Thanks for looking, Sven No thanks needed - thank you for sharing another set of unique images and their backstory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Interesting aircraft seems to have the cutout for the Pave Tack but still in the SAC colour scheme, did any FB-111's have Pave Tack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Viper Tester Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Top post again, thanks Sven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 Great stuff, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 lovely photos and story yet again Sven Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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