Six retired RAAF F-111s are to be loaned for display to civilian museums and associations. The six aircraft will go to:
- Aviation Historical Society of NT
- Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Association
- Fighter World (Williamtown)
- Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)
- Queensland Air Museum (Caloundra)
- SA Aviation Museum
In announcing the loans, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said:
"The iconic F-111s were the front line of the Australian Defence Force for almost four decades. The F-111s were affectionately known as 'Pigs' because of their ability to hunt at night and fly low in the weeds thanks to their terrain-following radar."
"They could fly at two-and-a-half times the speed of sound and when they retired were still one of the fastest strike aircraft in the world.
"Loaning these mighty planes to Australian air museums and historical organisations will help preserve this important part of our military heritage."
The RAAF was the last air force in the world still operating the 1960s-designed F-111 when they finally retired them in 2010.