RAF F111K desktop model -found at Legends!

I get the wing change link but to name one of the largest brutish strike jets after Europe’s smallest bird of prey dies seem bizarre…

Surely an early variant model- hard to be sure but wings look too short for a C

Many thanks for the feedback, i agree the ‘dot’ being an abbreviation anglacism, il hopefully remember to keep adding the ‘dash’ in the designator

One interesting snippet from the files at Kew re naming the F-111K for RAF. service was that it was to be called ‘Merlin’ after the bird of same (its wings changing geometry when diving)

Again many thanks, Joe

Ironically the name that actually stuck (F One Eleven) was not even countenanced as an alternate by the RAAF edict.

Here is a GD issued model of an F-111C which was presented to the delivery pilot of A8-129.

F one eleven is what it was called generically but when they first started to arrive that “F one hundred and eleven” is how they were to be called “officially”. Of course no-one did. I have been associated with RAAF types for many years and they just called them “Pigs”. In fact, the video produced by the squadrons was called “Pigs can Fly”

With a dash not a dot: even the newspaper got that bit right!

F one eleven is what ive always heard it as here in Australia.

Mustang51 is correct. This is how it was reported in RAAF News:

I remember when the F.111 was first introduced in Oz. An “Official” from the RAAF stated on TV that it was to be called, “…the F One Hundred and eleven…” Remember that quite clearly. As QldSpitty correctly says, here we just called them “Pigs”.

I’ve never heard what they would have named it since the type had no official “nickname” at the time

How about the Healey bomber? Flaps about a lot, overweight, over budget but in the end goes nowhere (for the RAF)

It never hurts to try!
Especially if someone is authoring something.

I politely made the same point on WIX and got nothing for my efforts except insults.
A particular nasty Canadian suggested I had a mental health disorder for even suggesting that people use the correct format.

Oh well…

Fully agree: it’s a shame that a quest for accuracy should be given such a negative slant. In fact no – it’s a worrying trend.

We just called them Pigs here…

It never hurts to try!
Especially if someone is authoring something.

I politely made the same point on WIX and got nothing for my efforts except insults.
A particular nasty Canadian suggested I had a mental health disorder for even suggesting that people use the correct format.

Oh well…

TRSjoe…
Since you’re writing about the aircraft allow me to offer a minor correction.
When writing the American designation it’s F-111K, not the UK-style F.111 (unless the that’s what the RAF really planned to call it….I’ve never heard what they would have named it since the type had no official “nickname” at the time.)

I think we are fighting a losing battle: “U2”, “B52” and even “B1b” are commonplace, and not restricted to American types either: the A400M is commonly referred to as “A400” now, even though there is no such designation.

TRSjoe…
Since you’re writing about the aircraft allow me to offer a minor correction.
When writing the American designation it’s F-111K, not the UK-style F.111 (unless the that’s what the RAF really planned to call it….I’ve never heard what they would have named it since the type had no official “nickname” at the time.)

F-105K too? Part of the same sad story…

If anyone out there comes across an example for sale please give me a shout, im actually currently writing up a technical history of the F.111K Merlin, and am interested in pretty much anything connected to the project

cheers, Joe