F-111B

F-111BOur F 111B Pictured On Right At Hughes Aviation The F 111B program, though canceled by the Navy, was crucial in leading to the development of the F 14 Tomcat. It provided Grumman and Hughes Aviation with essential insights into sweep wing design, advanced radar systems such as the AN AWG 9, and the use of AIM 54 Phoenix missile. These lessons were instrumental in the F 14's success, ensuring its effectiveness in naval aviation. Without the F 111B, the

Our F-111B Pictured On Right At Hughes Aviation

The F-111B program, though canceled by the Navy, was crucial in leading to the development of the F-14 Tomcat. It provided Grumman and Hughes Aviation with essential insights into sweep wing design, advanced radar systems such as the AN/AWG-9, and the use of AIM-54 Phoenix missile. These lessons were instrumental in the F-14's success, ensuring its effectiveness in naval aviation. Without the F-111B, the F-14 would not have reached the skies.

Our F-111B, BuNo 152714, was the first of two preproduction variants that boasted numerous enhancements over the initial five prototype F-111Bs, such as a lighter airframe, ejection capsule, revised nose for better visibility, refined Triple Plow II intakes, and was powered by upgraded TF30-P-12 engines that provided 8% more thrust in afterburner than the P-1 model. In total, seven F-111Bs were made, with ours being one of only two F-111Bs remaining in existence.

(Please note that Transport Tags LLC is NOT an authorized or licensed distributor of Grumman, General Dynamics, or Lockheed Martin and uses their name, markings, etc., for identification purposes ONLY in accordance with the Lanham Act).

Loading our F-111B for the Trip to St. Louis

Subsequently, BuNo: 152714 was leased by Hughes Aviation from the Navy and served as a missile test platform for the AIM-54 Phoenix Missile and AN/AWG-9 radar prior to its retirement. Sadly, our airframe only accumulated 53 hours of flight time before it was flown from Hughes Aviation to the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB on July 8th 1969. After being stored at Davis Monthan our F-111B was later transferred to McClellan AFB, CA, where it was dissected for parts to keep RAAF F-111 models flying.

Our F-111B did not end its journey there at McClellan being stripped for parts, as It found its way off the base and into private ownership, where we acquired it in 2024 from the most recent owner. 

Our F-111B in Storage at AMARC