Following is from the former F-111 commander for the Aussie Air Force regarding the F-111 gear-up landing.
He was also an exchange pilot with the USAF in the RF-4C, circa 1975-78.
One main wheel fell off at lift-off. The tower notified the crew who had not noticed any difference. Not a
situation that is covered in the books. They flew around for 4hrs, burning off fuel and deciding on a plan.
Alternatives being jump out over the sea, or make an attempt to get it down in one piece. They worked out
a plan that if the pilot was losing control during the landing the nav would punch them out. They had IPs trying different solutions in the sim. Finally they flew the approach at about 1.5 metres off the ground for a few
hundred metres with the gear up and the hook dragging along the ground. They engaged the app end cable,
put her down perfectly with an understandable bump but no injuries, came to a fairly quick halt, and fairly
calmly egressed the cockpit.
The pilot was a Flying Officer(=LT)just off transition training and he performed to perfection. The nav was
a 29 year old Flight Lieutenant (=Capt) who also performed to perfection.
Prelim investigation shows most likely cause was a wrongly fitted locking pin on the big nut
that holds the wheel on. FAAAK! They found another 3 jets with the same problem!!
Both lads were as calm as on a Sunday stroll, and credited the success to the superb training that the RAAF
gives all of its crews. IF they do not get a gong of some sort their CO needs sacking.
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