RV4974 EF-111A Raven
RV4974 EF-111A Raven
The history of the EF-111 is quite unusual. The US Air Force Command realized relatively late that there was an urgent need to build a machine that would fulfill the missions that the EA-6B had so far performed. Fortunately, it turned out that most of the base EA-6B systems can be easily transferred to the F-111A frame and as a result of cooperation between the aviation giants - General Dynamics and Grumman, each EF-111A starts its life as F-111A, after which it is comprehensively rebuilt and improved by Grumman to the final version. Thanks to the Pratt-Whitney TF-P-3 engines, reaching a maximum thrust of approximately 8,500 kg, the performance of the EF-111A is similar to that of an F-111A loaded with 2,750 kg of bombs. The most visible change from the F-111A is the massive vertical stabilizer that houses some of the electronics being transferred. The rest are in the fuselage, in the place of the bomb hatches. Despite the complexity of the systems carried, the EF-111A proved to be even easier to use than its predecessor EA-6B, requiring 20 hours of operation by one mechanic per hour of flight. Entering service in 1982, the EF-111A has not yet been tested in combat conditions, but continuous training keeps the machines combat-ready at any place and time. Technical data: Maximum speed: 2,350 km / h, rate of climb: 55.8 m / s, maximum ceiling 13,700 m, maximum range: 6,110 km
