Worked F-models(B-Shop) for 8 years at the 'Heath.Will always love this jet; best moments of my life spent troubleshooting hard-broke/ four-time repeat writeups and fixing them.Jet noise: the sound of freedom.
I was B shop too. 1971 to 1974 at Cannon AFB. 74 to 77 at Chanute as an instructor and Mt Home 77 to 80 as an FTD instructor. Do you recon we crossed paths?
Our Cold War heritage in the UK is slowly disappearing to new housing developments. When it’s gone it’s gone. Luckily we have people like yourself that post videos reminding us of what life use to be like at these Cold War bases. Thanks for posting.
My family and I lived in Abingdon England from 1970 -72 and then moved to Upper Heyford. I could watch planes from my bedroom window out towards taxiway and fuel depot with all the fuel tank trucks. I could see the alert hangers. I was a sirforce dependant then. A teenager then.
Growing up in Ardley, we spent many hours on the railway embankment up by the old tip on the Somerton road, watching them come in, lovely sights, sounds & memories of being a village kid.
Those were the days for sure, an airshow enthusiasts dream, F-111's at RAF Upper Heyford. I can remember the airshow held there, I think it was on a Saturday. The F-111 display was fantastic, and the incredible noise produced by the Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan's was awesome. Happy days for sure, truly missed by me and sadly gone forever.
Great video from back in the day. I was at Heyford from from 88 - 90. I have some great memories. I was in the 42 AMU specialist flight, MA/ electro environmental. Being on the EF-111a’s was a challenge for my career field, with so much electronic heat load on the jet compared to the other F-111’s. We stayed busy all the time and worked many hours. Still it was a great experience.
Some years ago now I used to take my boys to RAF Upper Heyford to the open days. we went to the bicentennial day there, the best visit we ever had. I remember seeing a b52, on the nose was whriten Live Free or die. this sums up the commitment of America & Britain, I remember leaving heyford that day feeling very thankful and proud that Britain has such friends,
Great footage, I miss those days growing up at the end of the runway. My father worked on the F111 at heyford for many years. This brought back many good memories, thanks for posting.
Thank you for this i forgot how much i missed the sound of this beautiful airplane stationed there form December 1985 to December 1990 before getting transferred to Cannon A.F.B. Those were the best years of my life Assistant Crew Chief on 68-032 the Raging Cajun 79th B flight.
What's up Foo-man! This is SSGT H * * - Dedicated Crew Chief 68-032!! Now where's Deb? We would have the family together again!! You are right about the sound. He did a great job catching what they really sounded like! I miss it!!
Much respect to you guys on what you had to work with. Great effort in keeping these ladies FMC. Spent 12 months at Cannon from '00-01 before separating. My dad was stationed there with the 481TFS as an aircraft mechanic '69-71 before heading with the E's to Heyford and the 79th.
Fantastic Video, I Spent 1 day there and had a base Scramble and F-111's seem to come out of all corners, unforgettable and this vids cement them, Just wish I had a camera back in those days.
I used to live in Middlebarton so they often went low right over my house. Worked in the tower and especially loved when everything was lit up for a night takeoff or landing. Missed this, thanks. Served 75-77 at UH.
Nice work Andy, bring's back good memories, spent my entire childhood and late teens watching these guys fly over, lived in Bletchley Milton Keynes at the time, 1970's and mid 80's, and my parent's house was under a regular flight path for 111's returning back to UH, they would often come back from a sortie in pairs cruising over at about 2000ft and 200 knots or so, UH would also get the odd visit from F 104's ( possibly Luftwaffe aircraft ) which were pretty distinctive with there howl, good times.
harman1967 thanks! Several times during 86-87, I stood next to the approach lights on short final to runway 27 as WGAF F-104s from JBG34 smoked their way onto the runway. You never forget their howl.
Wow, would have loved to have been there! They say it's a small world, I work at Cranfield airfield and went on a PT6 engine course last year in Wichita Kansas, just so happens I was in the class with a guy who served on the 79th at UH in the late eighties, he told me a few interesting stories.
The highlight for me was 1989, standing outside my front door at around 4:30pm and unexpectedly seeing an SR-71 Blackbird on short final. I raced up to the end of the runway and found out it did an overshoot. I was hoping it was going to do another approach, but was not to be. The one time I wasn't listening to the scanner and that happens. My teenage self learned a valuable lesson that day…30 years later, I forgot what that was. The only time I went to Cranfield, I saw 6 retired Lightnings. The most I've seen at one time. The 80s were a fun time.
@@UHvarkfan I was at RAF Lakenheath, and had an SR-71 do a missed approach / flyby one day. I was waiting to cross the runway, & got a front row seat! Pilot hit afterburner right over our heads….
@rampking1 Unfortunatly, Friday December 3, 2010 was the very last F-111 flight of any model, anywhere. Many tears that day, my friend, to those of us that flew her, worked on them, and loved them. I think that either I subscribe to you, or vise versa, or we are friends, as I see your handle on virtually every aviation vid that I go to! Lol. I'll send you a link in a moment of the final flight/ ceremony in Austraila. I would kill to see one fly, just one more time. So bummed.
I wasn't born in the Cold War, but I feel a strange sense of nostalgia and sadness when I realize soon, there will be a generation when these bases, weapons depots, and lost jets aren't there anymore. :(
I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford 1980-1982… Interesting fact; while I was stationed there the movie “Octopussy” (James Bond 007) was filmed on Base!
Amazing how the F-111 turned it around. During early deployment against North Vietnam, so many F-111A's failed to return from low level strike missions. Now the Russians wish their SU-24 was half as good a the retired F-111. The Feats of the F-111 are legendary.
Do you know why we lost so many As in Nam? The subcontractor supplying the cotter pins for the sweepable wings decided to go under spec. He went to jail. Upgraded the As to Es with new avionics, and sent 'em to Heyford.
@jonesy97 The dedicated Soviet Air Defense Command had HUGE problems tracking a Korean 747, you can forget about an F-111. Had them on their heals with the F-111, knocked them flat with the B-2. Any word of the retirement date of the Australian F-111's?
World class footage, Over to the Wash and if this was aborted then up the North SEA over to Scotland then back down across the Irish sea, all in 25 Minutes. Great bunch of guys - the Best.
The bunkers found a new use during COVID they were to be used to store the dead bodies of those who died of COVID, now UH is a large housing estate but the main building is still there along with the runway and bunkers,
Looked like the plane at 2.15 had a flame-out on the right engine during his almost 'touch and go' practice. He recovered enough to climb out and go around again....I hope? I know that one did catch fire in flight and came down somewhere in Northamptonshire. And another crashed at the old Finemere aerodrome.
I noticed that happened several times!!! it looked like it eventually got the other burner lit finally. doesn't that cause an imbalance in thrust between the two engines??? I thought I noticed him wobble a little bit and finally get it under control and back to a positive rate of climb. the second and third time were much better. I wonder if that is just wear and tear or something starting to fail or missed during maintenance? just a mechanic with a 'I wonder what's wrong I'd like to fix it!!!' mindset ;) I'd sure have traded my left nut and quite a few other things to have been alive and able to be out there working on those birds back when they ruled the skies! such a wicked cool unique plane!
That wasn’t a flameout, but it looks like #2 burner didn’t light right away. By the way, It’s not uncommon to use only 1 AB or even no AB on a missed approach or touch & go. F-111Fs usually used no AB for that.
That used to be going to sleep music and waking up. Does anyone have one of those sleep noise machines that we are used to? Thats a million dollar idea??????
Low level in a F-111E in the 55th. It's not great quality because of the way I had to edit the video tape in 1988. Enjoy. ua-cam.com/video/PgLADsfxptg/v-deo.htmlsi=gm9fghWwAnb3PoAq
@rampking1 Scared the hell outta the Soviets. The deep, fast, nuclear threat. Zip in low, pop up over Moscow, drop a B-61 or two, and TFR on the egress! I bet that thought kept 'em up at night.
I agree. I never heard them called Aardvark in the 4 years I spent as an avionics technician at Cannon AFB, 72-76. Not saying they weren't but I never heard it.
I worked in 55th AMU weapons loading from 87-91. The best experience I had in my 23 year career, thanks for the footage.
Worked F-models(B-Shop) for 8 years at the 'Heath.Will always love this jet; best moments of my life spent troubleshooting hard-broke/ four-time repeat writeups and fixing them.Jet noise: the sound of freedom.
My uncle was a crew chief on the very first ones to come on line. Even with the teething problems he still speaks fondly of this aircraft.
I was B shop too. 1971 to 1974 at Cannon AFB. 74 to 77 at Chanute as an instructor and Mt Home 77 to 80 as an FTD instructor. Do you recon we crossed paths?
Our Cold War heritage in the UK is slowly disappearing to new housing developments. When it’s gone it’s gone. Luckily we have people like yourself that post videos reminding us of what life use to be like at these Cold War bases.
Thanks for posting.
My family and I lived in Abingdon England from 1970 -72 and then moved to Upper Heyford. I could watch planes from my bedroom window out towards taxiway and fuel depot with all the fuel tank trucks. I could see the alert hangers. I was a sirforce dependant then. A teenager then.
Growing up in Ardley, we spent many hours on the railway embankment up by the old tip on the Somerton road, watching them come in, lovely sights, sounds & memories of being a village kid.
I'm over in charlbury I do miss watching these
Those were the days for sure, an airshow enthusiasts dream, F-111's at RAF Upper Heyford. I can remember the airshow held there, I think it was on a Saturday. The F-111 display was fantastic, and the incredible noise produced by the Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan's was awesome. Happy days for sure, truly missed by me and sadly gone forever.
Great video from back in the day. I was at Heyford from from 88 - 90. I have some great memories. I was in the 42 AMU specialist flight, MA/ electro environmental. Being on the EF-111a’s was a challenge for my career field, with so much electronic heat load on the jet compared to the other F-111’s. We stayed busy all the time and worked many hours. Still it was a great experience.
Some years ago now I used to take my boys to RAF Upper Heyford to the open days. we went to the bicentennial day there, the best visit we ever had. I remember seeing a b52, on the nose was whriten Live Free or die. this sums up the commitment of America & Britain, I remember leaving heyford that day feeling very thankful and proud that Britain has such friends,
Great footage, I miss those days growing up at the end of the runway. My father worked on the F111 at heyford for many years. This brought back many good memories, thanks for posting.
AMAZING , even after 30 years . F 111 we miss you
Thank you for this i forgot how much i missed the sound of this beautiful airplane stationed there form December 1985 to December 1990 before getting transferred to Cannon A.F.B. Those were the best years of my life Assistant Crew Chief on 68-032 the Raging Cajun 79th B flight.
What's up Foo-man! This is SSGT H * * - Dedicated Crew Chief 68-032!! Now where's Deb? We would have the family together again!! You are right about the sound. He did a great job catching what they really sounded like! I miss it!!
+glockensig Yes he did mark how have you been i had debbie on my facebook for awhile
Much respect to you guys on what you had to work with. Great effort in keeping these ladies FMC. Spent 12 months at Cannon from '00-01 before separating. My dad was stationed there with the 481TFS as an aircraft mechanic '69-71 before heading with the E's to Heyford and the 79th.
This is the nuts. After my tour on 6-7-2014.There will never be another vid like this. Its caught in time.
Glad you like. Wish there were more videos.
Fantastic Video, I Spent 1 day there and had a base Scramble and F-111's seem to come out of all corners, unforgettable and this vids cement them, Just wish I had a camera back in those days.
Awesome!... we used to get RAAF F111's at Kiwi airshows... cheers from down under👍🇨🇰
I used to live in Middlebarton so they often went low right over my house. Worked in the tower and especially loved when everything was lit up for a night takeoff or landing. Missed this, thanks. Served 75-77 at UH.
Nice work Andy, bring's back good memories, spent my entire childhood and late teens watching these guys fly over, lived in Bletchley Milton Keynes at the time, 1970's and mid 80's, and my parent's house was under a regular flight path for 111's returning back to UH, they would often come back from a sortie in pairs cruising over at about 2000ft and 200 knots or so, UH would also get the odd visit from F 104's ( possibly Luftwaffe aircraft ) which were pretty distinctive with there howl, good times.
harman1967 thanks! Several times during 86-87, I stood next to the approach lights on short final to runway 27 as WGAF F-104s from JBG34 smoked their way onto the runway. You never forget their howl.
Wow, would have loved to have been there! They say it's a small world, I work at Cranfield airfield and went on a PT6 engine course last year in Wichita Kansas, just so happens I was in the class with a guy who served on the 79th at UH in the late eighties, he told me a few interesting stories.
The highlight for me was 1989, standing outside my front door at around 4:30pm and unexpectedly seeing an SR-71 Blackbird on short final. I raced up to the end of the runway and found out it did an overshoot. I was hoping it was going to do another approach, but was not to be. The one time I wasn't listening to the scanner and that happens. My teenage self learned a valuable lesson that day…30 years later, I forgot what that was.
The only time I went to Cranfield, I saw 6 retired Lightnings. The most I've seen at one time. The 80s were a fun time.
@@UHvarkfan
The F-104 howl was from the GE J79 engine….F-4C made that howling sound too!
@@UHvarkfan
I was at RAF Lakenheath, and had an SR-71 do a missed approach / flyby one day.
I was waiting to cross the runway, & got a front row seat!
Pilot hit afterburner right over our heads….
AndyJ, many thousand thanks for this video ...
@rampking1 Unfortunatly, Friday December 3, 2010 was the very last F-111 flight of any model, anywhere. Many tears that day, my friend, to those of us that flew her, worked on them, and loved them. I think that either I subscribe to you, or vise versa, or we are friends, as I see your handle on virtually every aviation vid that I go to! Lol. I'll send you a link in a moment of the final flight/ ceremony in Austraila.
I would kill to see one fly, just one more time. So bummed.
Andy - you've been gone from this earth just over a month now and we all miss you. Andy passed away near RAF Upper Heyford on 31 October 2019.
I used to make bread delivery's there the same time as this video, loved sitting in my van watching the flying
God I miss jets going into burner on a missed approach! Awesome video! Thanks so much for posting.
I wasn't born in the Cold War, but I feel a strange sense of nostalgia and sadness when I realize soon, there will be a generation when these bases, weapons depots, and lost jets aren't there anymore. :(
Great memories. Thanks very enjoyable.
I ran the engine test cell & Hush Houses 1989. Great memories!
I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford 1980-1982… Interesting fact; while I was stationed there the movie “Octopussy” (James Bond 007) was filmed on Base!
Saw f1-111es occasionally at manston lakenheath ones were quite regularly miss those days
Amazing how the F-111 turned it around.
During early deployment against North Vietnam, so many F-111A's failed to return from low level strike missions.
Now the Russians wish their SU-24 was half as good a the retired F-111.
The Feats of the F-111 are legendary.
Do you know why we lost so many As in Nam? The subcontractor supplying the cotter pins for the sweepable wings decided to go under spec. He went to jail. Upgraded the As to Es with new avionics, and sent 'em to Heyford.
Love this plane
Used to sit in the speed break in the pouring rain. Crew chief 1980/81. Sleep tight tonite heyford's on alert.
I was at Upper Heyford from 1970-74.
Great footage!
It’s great that the one at Duxford is marked with UH
remember them flying over us when we worked on the m40 in 89.
@jonesy97 The dedicated Soviet Air Defense Command had HUGE problems tracking a Korean 747, you can forget about an F-111.
Had them on their heals with the F-111, knocked them flat with the B-2.
Any word of the retirement date of the Australian F-111's?
Awesome footage
When Upper Heyford was active local people responded to noise complaints by calling it 'the sound of freedom'.
World class footage, Over to the Wash and if this was aborted then up the North SEA over to Scotland then back down across the Irish sea, all in 25 Minutes. Great bunch of guys - the Best.
I served at UH from 76 - 80 and 90 till the base closed. 79th TFS both times.
The bunkers found a new use during COVID they were to be used to store the dead bodies of those who died of COVID, now UH is a large housing estate but the main building is still there along with the runway and bunkers,
Were the E models pave tack capable, or was it only the F models?
E models were not pave tac capable. - Weapons 1976 - 1980 and Avionics 1990 - 1993 when they closed UH.
Lucky man...awesome!!!Saw them only once at the TAM 88 in Baden Sölingen Germany
I was working at the iat greenham common in 1979 and one them do a puff the magic dragon
Looked like the plane at 2.15 had a flame-out on the right engine during his almost 'touch and go' practice. He recovered enough to climb out and go around again....I hope? I know that one did catch fire in flight and came down somewhere in Northamptonshire. And another crashed at the old Finemere aerodrome.
He landed okay after that. Amazing watching all that raw fuel being dumped out of the engine. Good thing the left afterburner didn't ignite all that.
I noticed that happened several times!!! it looked like it eventually got the other burner lit finally. doesn't that cause an imbalance in thrust between the two engines??? I thought I noticed him wobble a little bit and finally get it under control and back to a positive rate of climb. the second and third time were much better. I wonder if that is just wear and tear or something starting to fail or missed during maintenance? just a mechanic with a 'I wonder what's wrong I'd like to fix it!!!' mindset ;) I'd sure have traded my left nut and quite a few other things to have been alive and able to be out there working on those birds back when they ruled the skies! such a wicked cool unique plane!
That wasn’t a flameout, but it looks like #2 burner didn’t light right away.
By the way, It’s not uncommon to use only 1 AB or even no AB on a missed approach or touch & go.
F-111Fs usually used no AB for that.
That used to be going to sleep music and waking up. Does anyone have one of those sleep noise machines that we are used to? Thats a million dollar idea??????
Low level in a F-111E in the 55th. It's not great quality because of the way I had to edit the video tape in 1988. Enjoy. ua-cam.com/video/PgLADsfxptg/v-deo.htmlsi=gm9fghWwAnb3PoAq
More more, gimmie more!
@rampking1 Scared the hell outta the Soviets. The deep, fast, nuclear threat. Zip in low, pop up over Moscow, drop a B-61 or two, and TFR on the egress! I bet that thought kept 'em up at night.
Not sure why this has been recommended to me now, but as a point of order, the USAF never called them ‘ Aardvarks’ only the Australian Air Force.
They WERE Aardvarks back in 81,,," Breznev's Boy "68-029 ,,,when Breznev Passed away we lined out his Name then added Andropov ,,,
I agree. I never heard them called Aardvark in the 4 years I spent as an avionics technician at Cannon AFB, 72-76. Not saying they weren't but I never heard it.
@@TomSkinner We did at Upper Heyford. I worked on them 1975 through 77.
My brother in law was a staff Sgt on the base he worked on the varks think he ended up being one of the last people to leave the base when it closed
I can still smell the JP4.
Это же советский МИГ-23!!!
The Fencer's American pa😉