F-111 fleet grounded
July 19, 2006
AN investigation into Australia's F-111s begins today after the 26-strong fleet was grounded following an emergency landing in Brisbane by one of the ageing strike bombers.
The aircraft made a belly landing at the RAAF's Amberley base west of Brisbane about 2.10pm (AEST) yesterday after losing a wheel on takeoff.
After circling the air base near Ipswich for almost three hours to burn off excess fuel, the jet came into land, creating a plume of sparks as it slid on its belly along the tarmac.
The 29-year-old pilot had only graduated from the F-111 training course two weeks ago, but his 32-year-old crew member is considered one of the most experienced F-111 navigators.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the grounding of the F-111 fleet was necessary to ensure there was nothing structurally wrong with the planes.
Air Marshall Geoff Shepherd said it was the first time a wheel had ever fallen off an F-111 in the 30-year flying history of the planes in Australia.
He said there were still no clues as to why the wheel fell off as the jet took off on a routine flight to Tenterfield in northern NSW.
RAAF Amberley's Group Captain Leo Davies believed it may only take weeks for the investigation to be completed.
"Defence's flying safety investigators, Boeing - as the primary contractor for F111 maintenance - and a Melbourne-based team of engineers will head the investigation," he said.
"They will determine what happened and also assess how much work needs to be done and the time frame to get the aircraft back in the air again.
"They should make an assessment over the next few weeks."
Eight F-111s have crashed since they began operating in Australia in the 1970s, killing 10 crew.
July 19, 2006
AN investigation into Australia's F-111s begins today after the 26-strong fleet was grounded following an emergency landing in Brisbane by one of the ageing strike bombers.
The aircraft made a belly landing at the RAAF's Amberley base west of Brisbane about 2.10pm (AEST) yesterday after losing a wheel on takeoff.
After circling the air base near Ipswich for almost three hours to burn off excess fuel, the jet came into land, creating a plume of sparks as it slid on its belly along the tarmac.
The 29-year-old pilot had only graduated from the F-111 training course two weeks ago, but his 32-year-old crew member is considered one of the most experienced F-111 navigators.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the grounding of the F-111 fleet was necessary to ensure there was nothing structurally wrong with the planes.
Air Marshall Geoff Shepherd said it was the first time a wheel had ever fallen off an F-111 in the 30-year flying history of the planes in Australia.
He said there were still no clues as to why the wheel fell off as the jet took off on a routine flight to Tenterfield in northern NSW.
RAAF Amberley's Group Captain Leo Davies believed it may only take weeks for the investigation to be completed.
"Defence's flying safety investigators, Boeing - as the primary contractor for F111 maintenance - and a Melbourne-based team of engineers will head the investigation," he said.
"They will determine what happened and also assess how much work needs to be done and the time frame to get the aircraft back in the air again.
"They should make an assessment over the next few weeks."
Eight F-111s have crashed since they began operating in Australia in the 1970s, killing 10 crew.