As the General Dynamics F-111 Fighter-Bomber is among the most familiar and popular military aircraft of all time, an introduction of the aeroplane is unnecessary, however, will highlight A8-138 is one of thirteen retired Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-111s preserved in aviation museums and RAAF air bases.
Unfortunately, remaining airframes were disposed (buried) at a Swanbank landfill.
The preserved machines consist of twelve F-111C's and a single F-111G, and while twelve of the fighter-bombers remain on Australian soil, a single example (F-111C A8-130) was shipped to Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA.
Of interest, A8-138 was accepted into service by the RAAF in 1973 after sitting idle in the United States for a number of years while concerns with the design of the F-111 were resolved, and operated until retirement in 2010.
While A8-138 may no longer be a flying machine with the RAAF, the aircraft still proudly remains on duty as Gate Guard at RAAF Base Amberley, near Ipswich, Queensland.
