General Dynamics F-111E "Aardvark" 68-0049, 79th TFS, NATO Tiger Meet, 1991 Scale 1/72 HA3009

General Dynamics F-111E "Aardvark" 68-0049, 79th TFS, NATO Tiger Meet, 1991 Scale 1/72 1/72 scale pre-finished. Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings are pad applied for superb results. Crew figure. Model has variable-sweep wings that work. Comes with display stand. Landing gear can be displayed up or down. Extremely sought after by collectors. The General Dynamics F-111 entered service in 1967 as a medium-range aircraft designed for interdiction and tactical strikes. The F-111 was used as an all-weather attack aircraft capable of low-level penetration of enemy territory. It also could be used for reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Some unique features are variable geometry wings, the 2 crew members sat side by side in an escape capsule, internal weapons bay; terrain following radar and after-burning turbofans. The USAF retired their last F-111 in 1998 but the RAAF continued to use theirs until 2010. The 1991 NATO Tiger meet was held at RAF Fairford and one of the 16 participants was the 79th TFS of the 20th TFW from RAF Station Upper-Heyford, England. In 1970 the 79th TFS “Tigers” converted to the swing-wing F-111. This made it the first European operationally ready unit equipped with the F-111 as well as the first, any where in the world with the “E” variant. The aircraft that represented the 79th was F-111E 68-0049 c/n A/1-218 manufactured in 1968 and painted with a feline paint scheme.