[B]F111-Aardvark ~ Why you LOVE IT & why we need it[/B]

It would be nice to have an electronic warfare plane in DCS. But that would need the whole Jamming thing reworked.

Not interested at all

You made me fall in love with that beauty! Someone HAS to do it!

You know you want it!

https://imgur.com/0qRwgEU

Meh. Its an interesting aircraft if you're into analog cockpits and vietnam and cold war era tech. If DCS or a 3rd party ever did model this, you would absolutely want the F model. It was the only one with PGM capability once they added the Pave Tack Pod back in the 80s.

To make this an effective DCS module, ED or whoever would have to model both the pilot and WSO seats and functions as well as implementing a good ground mapping radar system to make this work. The WSO was everything on the aircraft in terms of finding and attacking targets and IIRC there is no transfer of control of the radar and pave tack pod to the pilot like you would have in the Strike Eagle or similar. And even though the F-model had the Pave Tack pod, its primary means of navigation and attack was still the radar.

Pre-Order for sure. In fact it should be crowd funded because it is long overdue.

I find the F-111 really ugly to be honest but I'm very impressed by its service record and capabilities. I would definitely consider getting it if it ever came out.

Meh. Its an interesting aircraft if you're into analog cockpits and vietnam and cold war era tech. If DCS or a 3rd party ever did model this, you would absolutely want the F model. It was the only one with PGM capability once they added the Pave Tack Pod back in the 80s.

 

To make this an effective DCS module, ED or whoever would have to model both the pilot and WSO seats and functions as well as implementing a good ground mapping radar system to make this work. The WSO was everything on the aircraft in terms of finding and attacking targets and IIRC there is no transfer of control of the radar and pave tack pod to the pilot like you would have in the Strike Eagle or similar. And even though the F-model had the Pave Tack pod, its primary means of navigation and attack was still the radar.

Yeah, you’er right, there’s no way we could ever get a complicated late Cold War swing wing fast jet with a WSO in DCS. I mean there’s no way you could communicate with it, or it with you. And swing wing is beyond the capacity of the sim anyway. Oh wait I seem to be forgetting something, what could it be??

Man the op really made me want this thing. DCS really needs some more dedicated ground attackers, and there’s a real desire for dedicated bombers. Honestly I think only Heat Blur could pull this off, and it seems right up there ally. So here’s to hoping.

Sorry Guys, i neglected this for a bit. I wanted to add some images of the F111 and pass on some more info ive collected.

I wanted to clear up the Carrier Ability.

As we know the F111-TFX was built with Robert Macnamaras "80% commonality". This means the planes were built the same (with small difference for different application)

The Airforce A model (also includes the EF111 Raven) and Navy B model were built at the same time.

The Carrier B Variant.. used the A Variant Nosewheel gear (except for the last plane in the B series, after a crash they tried a different Front Wheel)

It appears that the B variant had 2 types of rear wheels. Standard and "Raked". It appears the first half of the B's had A variant rear wheels, and the second half of the B's had the beefed up "raked" gear. I cant confirm, but it appears the C model also had Raked gear.

here are the different B models and an example C model

The Navys issues was weight and size. They needed under 70,000lbs. Thats so the Freaking elevators could haul it.

The Crafts dry weight is 45,000, its payload is 30k.

this would have to be something modeled. an Arresting gear top weight. MORE IMMERSION! cables snap beyond a certain weight.

ATM.. it would appear: The Australian C variant, The EF111 Raven, the F and G models have the same Arresting/Landing Gear that the B variant had.

IN SHORT.. We would HAVE to model Carrier Landing for the Pig. No matter how difficult or sketchy it would be.

Found you guys a nice time lapse of the Dump and Burn. I can think of Practical Battle field applications.. for something like this

Here is a cockpit view of the F model. This is probably the Pave-Tack layout

heres the EWF model.. the A variant RAVEN. not gonna lie, the ECW Suite excites me.

I Just Realized the Aussie C.. has MFD's are the MFCDs?

In Regard to your Questions and Statements:

Buckshot, i can totally imagine this. DCS doesnt have bombers.. thats why this Plane is PERFECT. Its more like a fighter than a bomber. Its a perfect bridge into Bombers. Its got everything we love about DCS

Jonne.. depends on how you look at it. This is a Bomber. No bomber fits the DCS gameplay. This one does. a 3g turn at mach! its fast, its agile, its got a gun. Its tactical, and its also SEAD, escort, pinpoint strike.. everything we love about DCS.. with all those added goodies. and the first chance to carpetbomb in the game!

deadpool.. i must admit, looking at thr EF111a Ravens cockpit makes me a bit curious.

Notso.. maybe the best question of all. WHICH Aardvark to use?

The F model is the one that out performed the Warthog in Desert Storm. The Gold Standard, most variable, the historic high water mark but bear with me here.

The Australian C model.. appears to have MFD/MFCDs (just like all the jets in DCS) im trying to find out if it has a TADS color map right now. The Aussies had an updated Laser System, and the C model is still modular. They do have Gun Modules for the C, Recon Modules, ECM modules.

So i think we should go with the Aussie C. Its not an unfair advantage. It has systems people already know (more buyers, more customer draw) and it can still carry all the different modules and wide variety of pylons and munitions

Several Air Force aircraft have or had tail hooks. This doesn't mean they were designed for carrier use. 100-series aircraft had them as part of an emergency stop system which many airfields are equipped with.

Could you imagine penetrating low level, supersonic, at sea level, using your TFR at 200ft above the deck, just to smash a target with pinpoint precision and get the heck out of dodge while being chased down (attempted chasing). It would bring so much OCA/precision strike action to the game that is currently very lacking.

Not that I do not like the idea of the F-111 in the game, actually I would be quite happy to see it. But its mission is not new to DCS.

It would be nice to have an electronic warfare plane in DCS. But that would need the whole Jamming thing reworked.

If DCS or a 3rd party ever did model this, you would absolutely want the F model. It was the only one with PGM capability once they added the Pave Tack Pod back in the 80s.

 

It wasn't just the Aussies.

Actually some USAF F111F's got MFD's ( since it was general dynamics, same ones as in F16C) as part of "Pacer Strike" upgrade post gulf war, which also included a new INS, as well as eventually a GPS module. Pacer strike was a close mirror of the avionics upgrades seen on EF111A's.

Also interesting to note prior to pacer strike the F-111F's also got an refitted with a digital flight control system.

So yea this kind of late model F111 would be neat.

OH YES! I love images like that. Do you know when the image was taken? The Majors patch says 2874th Test Squadron, out of California. They closed McLlelan Airbase in 2001 i think.

First think i noticed was the RWR with the blue backdrop. Also looks like ground radar (like in the A4 skyhawk mod) And the pilots attention is on the Camera ( LIghteningII pod alternative) while he is using the MFD.

interesting stuff.

That means. Which ever model they go with. The Pig or the Aardvark F, would be able to have full sensor implements.. without giving the plan an unfair advantage, or making it unrealistic. THAT is the lynchpin.

It Fits the DCS profile.. it has everything that would make it a really fun module to fly.. and a BUNCH of things not seen on any other DCS planes. Itd be the best selling bomber they could make. (aside from the Su34 fullback.. another of my favorites, but we probably would see a f35 before a su34.)

See what i mean? The more i learn about the F111, the more i wanna fly it.

I need to find out if the expandable pylons were c model only. And if they were pivoting, like the 2 interior pylons (always facing forward) im guessing that was automatically controlled. anyway here is an Aussie with her extra pylons

To make this an effective DCS module, ED or whoever would have to model both the pilot and WSO seats and functions as well as implementing a good ground mapping radar system to make this work. The WSO was everything on the aircraft in terms of finding and attacking targets and IIRC there is no transfer of control of the radar and pave tack pod to the pilot like you would have in the Strike Eagle or similar.

Yeah, but the WSO has their own stick and throttle, and on some variants (IIRC) a HUD too :music_whistling:

Definitely a buy for me, with either the Echo or Foxtrot variant +1

Yes please ill take the C/G