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Pilot sits on the left of the cockpit.
F-111 Wizzo's have both stick and throttles so he has everything needed to fly the airplane.
Also known as the "feedbag," this is where the rubber meets the road for the F-111 Wizzo. Inside the hooded enclosure are two screens. The Wizzo can switch between radar and Pave Tack infra-red presentations.
Under the hood are the various controls for both radar and Pave Tack pod.
Just out of sight in this photo--on the right side of the cockpit--is the special control device used to manipulate the Pave Tack targeting pod's view direction, magnification, and a button to fire the laser. It is affectionately known as the "goat turd."
A distinctive characteristic of the F-111 is that upon ejection, a rocket motor fires, separating the entire cockpit area from the aircraft
Unlike the F-14, the F-111's variable geometry wings can only be moved manually. The wings move from 16-72 degrees of sweep. The wings must be set at 16-26 degrees in order to lower flaps and slats for landing. The throttles go all the way forward to provide 5 stages of afterburner.
Ahead of its time, the F-111 had tapes for airspeed and altitude. Some didn't like the new presentation (instead of the more common round dial gauges), I loved them! With all the "glass cockpits" of today, it's a bit quaint to have mechanical tapes to show anything in a cockpit!
Secondary Flight & Engine Instruments
RPM, Oil, etc.
Note the lever on the front part of the stick. it's called the "paddle," and is used to temporarily disconnect the Terrain Following Radar (TFR) from the autopilot. You can also see the red "pickle" button, used to release weapons. During the "Toss" maneuver, an F-111 pilot would "Paddle, Pull, & Pickle." Everything he needed was right on the stick. 1. Paddle off the auto-TFR, 2. Pull back on the stick to get the nose pointed up, 3. Pickle, to authorize weapons release (which is computed by the navigational system).
Use to extinguish fire in either engine.
Tailhook lever, Gear Lever, Parking Brake Handle
Starting from top. The F-111 landed only once (I believe) on an aircraft carrier. The hook is used primarily when stopping distance is critical. The F-111 uses cables strung along the first and last part of a runway in these emergency situations.