F-111 belly landing

[bgrafsr]

This video, I believe, is from the Australian Air Force. The plane takes off, loses a wheel from the landing gear, and after the pilot aborts the flight, makes a landing with the gear up. He must have nerves of steel.

Real Top Guns F-111 Belly Landing

 

[Moonman]

NICE!!!!!

But it's going to need a Sheetmetal man.

 

[Tony C.]

I belive they just retired them last year or so, now the RAAF flies the F-18D Super Hornet.

 

[rwsmith]

Good piloting

Inexperienced or not that was some good piloting. The F-111 got off to a shaky start back in the .60s but what a plane it turned out to be!

 

[Cyrano]

Love The walrus mustaches on that RAAF Squadron Leader.

 

[safearm]

RAAF was the only air force to fly the F-111 other than the USAF. One of the really great designs of the 60's.

 

[Alnamvet68]

The WSO isn't half bad if you ask me.

 

[Alnamvet68]

RAAF was the only air force to fly the F-111 other than the USAF. One of the really great designs of the 60's.

BTW, the Australian Air Force had them, and flew them since 1973, and retired in 2010; replaced with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. That squadron patch is RAAF.

 

[Bullzaye]

I'm curious as to why they didn't foam the runway? Maybe it might have obscured runway markings or the arrestor cables, to make the landing more difficult? I would've thought the foam would've reduced the chance of fire, and that they could've placed it beyond any of those possible markers.

Tim

 

[medxam]

Fantastic video and stones by the pilots!

medxam

 

[Texas Star]

I don't see the link. Was it deleted?

 

[GLV]

I retired in 70,

and I think I passed gas to just a couple. If I remember right, they were a good stable bird in the envelope.

 

[45Wheelgun]

My father was Head of Procurement for the F-111 project in the early '70s. I had the privilege of sitting in one back in the day. An amazing aircraft.

 

[safearm]

BTW, the Australian Air Force had them, and flew them since 1973, and retired in 2010; replaced with the F/A-18 Super Hornet. That squadron patch is RAAF.

RAAF is the Royal Australian Air Force.

 

[CW Spook]

A belly landing is not particularly dangerous, just expensive. There are dozens of them every year, mostly inadvertent. A planned one should be even less problematic. I am a bit surprised they didn't foam the runway for this one, being at a military base where you'd expect they'd have the capability to do so.

 

[EQGuy]

I don't see the link. Was it deleted?

Texas Star, I did not see it at first either. The link is there but it is a very light violet color and I am partially color blind and did not see it at first.