The cockpit crew module belonged to F-111D serial 68-0125 and has all real flight instruments, 100% complete
Grab your chance to buy on Ebay a completely restored F-111 cockpit crew module.
According to the seller (who is a former F-111 pilot) in fact the pictures in this post show the only restored F-111D cockpit in existence and is truly exotic. The cockpit has all real flight instruments, 100% complete.
The cockpit crew module belonged to F-111D serial 68-0125.
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) on Sep. 18, 1972 the aircraft crashed at 14:15 hours MST, on Sep. 11, 1987 at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, whilst with the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), 27th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW).
The jet impacted about one-and-three-quarter miles from the end of runway 22 at Cannon AFB. The crew were practicing single engine approaches and the engine that was providing thrust flamed out. A well known fact about the F-111 is that the engines don’t have very good response to rapid throttle movements. The aircraft wallowed around for several seconds before the capsule separated.
The ejection was initiated at about 200 feet and the parachute barely opened before impact. The airframe impacted on the right wing and cartwheeled several times before coming to a rest upside down. The vertical tail broke off in the ground.
Crew ejected safely: PILOT Maj John Sides and WSO Maj. Russell Stricker. Call sign Captor 11.
The aircraft had accumulated 1,444 flights and 3,494.2 flight hours at the time of loss.
Bidding is limited to U.S. Citizens living in the U.S.
The development of the high-speed F-111 aircraft caused the need for an improved egress system. The ejectable crew module was designed to meet this need. According to The Ejection Site, the system provides maximum protection for the crewmembers throughout the aircraft performance envelope and includes capabilities for safe ejections at maximum speed and altitude as well as at zero altitude and 50 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). The module is self-righting, watertight, has flotation provisions, and provides protection for the crewmembers from environmental hazards met on land or water. A side-by-side crew arrangement facilitates safe and effective performance and allows crewmembers to work together and aid one another in performing mission tasks while still maintaining their forward visibility which is an important factor in high-speed, low-level flights.
Photo credit: Centuryofflight via Ebay
Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com
