The Navy conducted a feasibility study to deploy a variant of the Air Force General Dynamics F-111 aboard aircraft carriers as the next generation fighter/interceptor. A special version of the Aardvark was designed for the Navy and designated the F-111B. Seven airframes were ordered and built, five of which were designated test and research airframes and two of which were designated operational. The maiden flight of the F-111B was made on May 18, 1965 when BuNo. 15170 took off from from Grumman's Peconic River Facility, Long Island, New York. On July 23, 1968 BuNo 151974, became the only F-111B to perform carrier operations after completing arrestor proving tests at PAX River in February 1968. Carrier suitability trials were conducted aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43 during the summer of 1968 (between war cruises). However, by the time the carrier tests took place the F-111B program was for all practical purposes cancelled. This opened the door for the F-14 Tomcat program to move forward.

F-111B #151974 made 9 arrested landings, 10 catapult-launches on the USS Coral Sea on July 23, 1968.

There were 7 F-111B airframes: Test and Research Airframes: BuNo 151970, 151971, 151972, 151973, 151974. Operational Airframes: BuNo 152714, 152715

After F-111B (BuNo 151974) completed sea trials on the USS Coral Sea in July 1968, she was ferried to NASA Ames Research Centrex at Moffett Field, California on 10 October 1968 and was stricken from Navy rolls on 11 October 1968. Wind tunnel tests were carried out at NASA Ames in support of the USAF F-111 program. Following the wind tunnel testing, the wings were remove to be used as the test article for a jet/deflected flap concept. The fuselage was trucked to China Lake, where it was stripped of usable parts for the ongoing Hughes Phoenix missile test program and the carcass eventually scrapped.

There is a great article on the TFX(F-111B) program that delves in to all the politics and technical aspects of the program.   Part I    Part II    Part III

Another interesting article on the Navy F-111B: Was the Navy’s F-111 Really That Bad?

F-111B USS Coral Sea Gallery

* Click on any thumbnail to start a slide show of the images on this page *

[Image Source - US Navy via F-111.net]

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1968 - This photo is of the F-111B carrier suitability trial team.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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1968 - A U.S. Navy General Dynamics/Grumman F-111B (BuNo 151974). This aircraft was used for limited carrier suitability tests aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in July 1968. It was the only F-111B to perform carrier operations after completing arrestor proving tests at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), in February 1968.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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1968 - This F-111B, 151974, would be the only one to conduct carrier trials in the summer of 1968 aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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1968 - This F-111B, 151974, would be the only one to conduct carrier trials in the summer of 1968 aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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1968 - This F-111B, 151974, would be the only one to conduct carrier trials in the summer of 1968 aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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1968 - This F-111B, 151974, would be the only one to conduct carrier trials in the summer of 1968 aboard USS Coral Sea CVA-43.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - Christopher L. Buehler]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - Christopher L. Buehler]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

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Jul 23, 1968 - USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials.

[Image Source - f-16.net]

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Jul 23, 1968 - Part of the USS Coral Sea F-111B Carrier Trials included testing the plane on the elevator and hangerdeck to see if would fit. The fuel had to be removed form the plane to get under max weight of the elevator and it had to be positioned on an angle to fit on the elevator - which it barely did.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jul 23, 1968 - F-111B launches in afterburner during Carrier Trials aboard USS Coral Sea.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jan 21, 1969 - F-111B set up in the 40 foot x 80 foot wind tunnel at NASA'a Ames Research Center for leading slat experiments on 29 January 1969.

[Image Source - US Navy]

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Jun 6, 1969 - F-111B set up in the 40 foot x 80 foot wind tunnel at NASA'a Ames Research Center for leading slat experiments on 6 June 1969.

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Oct 1969 - F-111B #151974 - Following the tests, NASA Ames removed the wings, one of which was used in the test program of an externally-blown flap system. The fuselage was trucked to China Lake, where it was stripped of usable spare parts for the ongoing Phoenix missile test program, and eventually scrapped.

[Image Source - Unknown]

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1970 - Artists concept of F-111B fighter.

[Image Source - Gary Campbell]

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1970 - Model of the F-111 including the Navy variant.

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1970 - Model of the F-111B.

- Here are two accounts from Naval Aviators involved in the F-111B evaluation program:

Lt. Roy Buehler (from VF-33, we put 6 guys thru test pilot school in 2 ½ years) flew the carrier suitability trails. No one who flew the a/c was allowed to comment on the a/c's performance until the report was published. We almost got this one. Roy attempted a close-in wave-off. From the normal power setting for an approach (about 88% on each engine), the a/c landed, rolled out to the end of the wire, and the engines had not gotten to 100%. Not a real sharp performer. - Joel Jaudon

There were 2 operational F-111Bs built. One of the 2 is currently (and permanently) assigned to the bone yard at China Lake. If you are ever out there it is an interesting slice of aviation history to see. The F-111B had a number of problems that made it carrier unsuitable, a technical term for, "this thing is really shitty". The original nose (as can be seen on the F-111A, USAF version, was so long that you couldn't see the carrier at the approach speed needed for a carrier type of landing. The F-111B nose is much shorter which caused some problems with the radar that was to be installed in the airplane. The normal approach speed for the F-111 was to fast for the ship arresting gear so they decided to fly the F-111B slower which gave the aircraft a very cocked up attitude for carrier landings. There was also a max weight problem for both the catapults and the arresting gear, which would result in the aircraft being restricted on both catapult and landing weights for shipboard use. The real killer was the fact that the Navy wanted to use it as a fighter/interceptor. The limited rear visibility and the side by side seating sucked for the fighter mission. In my day the F-111 was lovingly known as the Clavin Coolege aircraft, "build one airplane and let them all fly it". - Bob Scott

- Here is a follow-up from someone that was there, Chuck Doughdrill:

Having served aboard the Coral Sea and witnessing the sea trials of the F-111, I can give you a bit more truthful evaluation of what occurred aboard Coral Sea. This trial was conducted as I understand it after the Navy had rejected the aircraft but because the money for the sea trial had nevertheless been appropriated. From a taxpayer's point of view, it was a waste of money. For us, it was a damned enjoyable afternoon. We were the open deck carrier available for that period off the California coast. The size of the aircraft was such that the JBD's could not be elevated but since we had no aircraft on board, save the COD, we just cleared the area aft for launch. We had the initial session of landings followed by a shutdown, while the pilots enjoyed a break, and then a start up and second session after which they left for home base. It was a welcome break from receiving cats and dogs from every persuasion who were trying to get in carquals on the open deck.

I had two Air Force officers from an inspection team visiting me onboard at the time and they probably are the only Air Force officers to witness the carrier trials by the F-111. As a naval aviator, not involved in the trial but only an observer, the aircraft operated magnificently and was a beauty to behold. I did not meet the pilots but understood they were former naval aviator test pilots for General Dynamics, not active naval aviators. Whoever they were, their airwork was impressive. The airplane fairly leaped off the cats and came aboard gracefully, much like the A-6. It came aboard so slowly that it looked as if the pilot could have chosen which wire to engage. The general feeling among the flight deck handlers and officers was amazement although the aircraft was too large to ever have been used aboard Coral Sea.

As for the comments that the F-111 could not spool up sufficiently on wave off, etc., I never heard any of this at the time nor heard of anything but amazement by all the pilot types that were involved with direct support and who talked at length with the test pilots. The navy had already made up their minds and those comments may have been laundered to justify the decision. It's been done before but I really don't know.