Defence has announced the six museums and historical organisations chosen to display retired RAAF F-111C jets.
The six comprise:
- Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory (Winnellie, NT);
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Association (Evans Head, NSW);
- Fighter World (Williamtown, NSW);
- Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (Albion Park, NSW);
- Queensland Air Museum (Caloundra, Qld); and
- South Australian Aviation Museum (Port Adelaide, SA).
The five jets are A8-109 and A8-113 (both ex USAF F-111As that saw Vietnam combat), A8-129, A8-134 (an RF-111C), A8-147 and A8-148 (the last RAAF F-111c).
Deliveries of the loaned F-111 are expected to begin early next year. The WA division of the Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force Association will receive a crew module display.
F-111s are already on display at the Aviation Heritage Centre at RAAF Base Amberly and the RAAF Museum at RAAF Base Point Cook. Two more fighters are planned to go on display at RAAF Bases Edinburgh and Wagga.
The RAAF retired the last of its F-111s in 2010 after 37 years of service.
“Loaning these mighty planes to Australian air museums and historical organisations will help preserve this important part of our military heritage,” Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said in a statement.
Defence came in for criticism from fans of the F-111 last year after it was revealed that 23 decommissioned F-111s had been dumped in a landfill near Ipswich.
