F-111 Aardvark: Low-Altitude Menace

On December 21, 1964, the American tactical bomber F-111, nicknamed the ‘Aardvark,’ took to the skies for the very first time. The name ‘Aardvark’ translates to ‘earth pig,’ reflecting its distinctive design. The bomber’s story began in 1961, when the U.S. Air Force and Navy outlined requirements for a new strike aircraft. This two-seat supersonic platform needed to feature a heavy combat payload, twin engines, and a variable-sweep wing. The F-111A entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1967, replacing the Republic F-105.