Retired F-111 Pilot Lt. Col. Kevin “Too Kool” Kuhlmann explains how the General Dynamics F-111 could perform almost any role in the air battlefield, as a fighter, bomber, and even low-level attack aircraft.

In this episode, Kevin discusses maintaining weapon systems on the F-106 and F-4, flying the Aardvark, and the thrill of lighting the afterburner during fuel dumps. With groundbreaking technology for its time, like terrain-following radar, variable-sweep wings, and an ejection capsule, this supersonic jet was not only advanced but a whole lot of fun to fly. This one is going to be cool!

Resources:

• Wings Museum's FB-111A
• Kevin's MSU Bio
• The F-111 Aardvark (Behind the Wings)

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:34) - The F-111 Overview
• (04:32) - Flying at Mach 1.5
• (04:55) - Aviation Beginnings
• (06:06) - Joining the Air National Guard
• (07:01) - F-106 Maintenance
• (08:39) - Working on the F-4
• (09:24) - Joining the Air Force
• (11:32) - Naming the Aardvark
• (12:01) - Flying the T-37
• (12:29) - F-111 Training
• (15:57) - Transitioning from F to A Models
• (16:48) - The Variable-Sweep Wings
• (19:27) - Terrain-Following Radar
• (20:25) - The Weapons System Officer
• (22:41) - The Ejection Capsule
• (24:41) - Fuel Dumping with Afterburner
• (26:25) - Becoming an F-111 Instructor Pilot
• (29:57) - Aardvark Retirement
• (30:32) - The F-111 Influence on Aircraft Design
• (31:59) - Teaching at MSU
• (33:16) - Kevin's Advice
• (34:48) - Outro