MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! From Youtube.
Aussie F-111's in a landfill?????
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cvairwerks
Staff Sergeant
Was done due to the cost to decontaminate the fuselages. Lots of DU used in various components.
Was quite common ... and not as dangerous as some would think.
And other things
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MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Meanwhile, in the USA.
There is one at The American Air Power Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island
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- #9
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
That's good! I saw where a group in Wisconsin (not EAA) got one to put on display but have not been able to find out any more info. I wish we had better close up photos of the cockpits so I could see if they have the air conditioning vent I redesigned. Mine have "Caution" printed on them. Crews were crushing them getting in and out because no one thought to provide a hand hold. I strengthened the vent and thought "Caution" was better than "Danger! 50,000 Volts!" although probably less effective.
Wildcat
Major
Don't worry, several RAAF F-111's are preserved in Oz. The RAAF even restored and gifted one to the Pearl Harbor aviation museum. Here's one I photographed in Adelaide.
Wildcat
Major
Just had a quick look on ADF-serials website and it appears there are 12 RAAF F-111's on display. Additionally, several cockpit and tailfins are also preserved. 12 out of 46 airframes is not a bad survival rate.
Yeah, there's even one at the RAAF Amberley entrance which you can look around without coming onto base or going to a museum:
More photos:
airqueensland.blogspot.com
More photos:
RAAF Base Amberley Gate Guard - General Dynamics F-111C A8-138
As the General Dynamics F-111 Fighter-Bomber is among the most familiar and popular military aircraft of all time, an introduction of the a...
airqueensland.blogspot.com
Depleted uranium (DU) was used in the F-111 aircraft fuselages primarily for its advantageous properties as a counterbalance weight in the aircraft. Here are the key reasons:
- High Density: Depleted uranium is extremely dense, about 1.7 times denser than lead. This makes it ideal for counterbalance applications, as it allows a significant amount of weight to be concentrated in a small volume. This property is particularly useful in aircraft design, where space is limited and weight distribution is critical for maintaining balance and stability.
- Structural Integrity: The high density and robustness of DU make it an excellent material for adding weight without compromising the structural integrity of the aircraft. In the case of the F-111, DU counterweights were used to maintain proper balance and control surfaces, ensuring optimal aerodynamic performance.
- Material Properties: DU has good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties that make it durable in various environmental conditions encountered during flight. This ensures the long-term reliability and safety of the aircraft.
Specific Application in the F-111
In the F-111 aircraft, depleted uranium was used in the form of counterbalance weights in the horizontal stabilizers. These counterweights were essential for the proper functioning of the stabilizers, which are crucial for the aircraft's pitch control.Safety Considerations
While the use of depleted uranium offers significant advantages, it also comes with potential health and environmental risks due to its weak radioactivity and chemical toxicity. However, in the case of the F-111, the DU was encapsulated and securely integrated into the aircraft structure to minimize exposure risks during normal operation and maintenance.Conclusion
The decision to use depleted uranium in the F-111 aircraft fuselages was driven by its high density, which allowed for effective and efficient counterbalancing in the aircraft's design. Despite its potential hazards, the benefits in terms of performance and structural integrity made it a valuable material for this specific application.- Thread starter
- #14
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
One day the archeologists will dig them up and say they were so the Pharaoh could fly to the underworld. They should have put a full-sized doll in them to really cause some head scratching.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Creepy.
Should have put Carlo Kopp there...
Depleted uranium is used in quite a number of aircraft, spent time searching for the stuff when two Wessex helicopters clipped blades while in formation and the DU blade balance weights were scattered about the country side, Boeing 747 uses DU for balance purposes as well.
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 729
- Mar 16, 2014
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Cat D-9?
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- #20
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
I knew a girl who was from Kingman AZ. Kingman was a big WW2 surplus disposal site. She said there was a lot of stuff buried out there. I wonder if anyone has gone looking for buried airplanes and airplane parts around there?
About a mile and a half away we have an A-7E in a park. It still has its TF-41. I wonder if we can get it off the ground using the shopping mall parking lot across the street or if we will have to taxi it down to the airport about a mile away?
About a mile and a half away we have an A-7E in a park. It still has its TF-41. I wonder if we can get it off the ground using the shopping mall parking lot across the street or if we will have to taxi it down to the airport about a mile away?
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