User:Hammersfan/General Dynamics FB-111

The General Dynamics FB-111 is a retired medium range strategic bomber, developed from the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. The aircraft was developed as an interim strategic bombing platform as a result of the need of the United States Air Force (USAF) to replace both the B-58 Hustler and early versions of the B-52 Stratofortress - although the USAF had a program in place to develop a replacement strategic bomber, this had suffered delays, and led to the establishment of an interim requirement. The FB-111 entered service in 1968 and remained in use until 1991. Following the entry into service of the B-1B Lancer, half of the FB-111 fleet was converted for use in the tactical role of the related F-111, at which point they were redesignated F-111G.

Development
During the early 1960s, the USAF began the Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft (AMSA) program, a project intended to develop a new strategic bomber for Strategic Air Command intended to bring together the range and payload of the B-52 Stratofortress and the Mach 2 speed of the B-58 Hustler. At the time, new Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) were being developed that were felt to negate the need for new strategic bombers to form part of the nuclear triad. However, the USAF insisted on the need for manned aircraft in opposition to the then Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. McNamara's opposition to the AMSA program led to a decision taken to upgrade the existing B-52 fleet, while producing an aircraft to replace the B-58 in the medium-range strategic bombing role. In 1965, the General Dynamics F-111, which had been selected by the USAF in its Tactical Fighter Experimental program, was selected for adaptation into a new, medium-range strategic bomber. The prototype FB-111, which was converted from an existing F-111A, first flew in July 1967, with the first production model delivered in August 1968. An initial 263 production FB-111s were ordered in 1968, with 210 intended for operational use. But, owing to the cost of development, combined with the limitations of the aircraft in terms of range and payload compared to the B-52, as well as the planned B-1, led to the order being cut to just 76 airframes.

Operational history
The FB-111 entered service with Strategic Air Command in 1968, when the first examples were delivered to the 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Carswell Air Force Base, which was located close to the General Dynamics plant in Fort Worth, Texas. However, difficulties with the development of the aircraft's terrain following radar, as well as issues with the construction of the fuselage led to delays in deliveries, which were stopped altogether in 1969 after a number of crashes involving the F-111 aircraft, which led to all of the existing FB-111 airframes being returned to the manufacturer for structural inspection and modification. The 4007th had all of its aircraft returned by September 1970.

In 1970, the first operational unit to receive the FB-111 was activated, when the 393rd Bombardment Squadron was raised at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire.