Bozothenutter Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 With regards to the Eldorado Canyon aircraft. What does the place where the outer pylon is mounted look like without the pylon? I assume covers and such? @mrvark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 I was around Fs from 1982-7 and never saw one without all four pylons installed. When the 27th TFW F-111Ds participated in SAC's Giant Voice (?) competition in 1988 (?) there was at least one extremely long low level that required use of bomb bay installed 'Tokyo' tanks and removal of the wing pylons to reduce drag, which was the only time I heard of Ds with the pylons removed, but I don't have photos of that. EF-111As normally flew with pylons installed on the outboard (stations 3/6). I have one photo that shows the bottom of the wings that leads me to believe that the inboard station pylon attachment points my have been removed as there is no evidence of anything where it should have been. If removed there may have been some sort of plug, or they may have just left the hole exposed. In any event, removing the pylons was an extremely rare event. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 (edited) edit Edited February 19 by Bozothenutter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 On 2/17/2025 at 7:38 PM, mrvark said: I was around Fs from 1982-7 and never saw one without all four pylons installed. When the 27th TFW F-111Ds participated in SAC's Giant Voice (?) competition in 1988 (?) there was at least one extremely long low level that required use of bomb bay installed 'Tokyo' tanks and removal of the wing pylons to reduce drag, which was the only time I heard of Ds with the pylons removed, but I don't have photos of that. EF-111As normally flew with pylons installed on the outboard (stations 3/6). I have one photo that shows the bottom of the wings that leads me to believe that the inboard station pylon attachment points my have been removed as there is no evidence of anything where it should have been. If removed there may have been some sort of plug, or they may have just left the hole exposed. In any event, removing the pylons was an extremely rare event. But, but, this is supposed to be from Eldorado Canyon right? Aren't the outer pylons (2 -7)removed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 10 hours ago, Bozothenutter said: But, but, this is supposed to be from Eldorado Canyon right? Aren't the outer pylons (2 -7)removed? Yes, that's Remit 31 at last chance during OEC. Stations 1/8, were never used operationally (a couple of publicity shots aside). Stations 2/7 were only used by FBs for carriage of fuel tanks. 1/2/7/8 were all fixed at 26° for a hi-alt cruise setting (giving the wing tanks a toed-in appearance when the wings were set to the normal takeoff setting of 16°. In the photo, you see the normal 'F-' configuration of swivel pylons 3/4/5/6. Here is a pic of a FB-111A wing with all the pylons removed showing the fixed pylon 2 attach points and the pivot locations for pylons 3/4, along with the flaps down configuration. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bozothenutter Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 Thanks for that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 On 2/19/2025 at 6:14 PM, mrvark said: Yes, that's Remit 31 at last chance during OEC. Stations 1/8, were never used operationally (a couple of publicity shots aside). Stations 2/7 were only used by FBs for carriage of fuel tanks. 1/2/7/8 were all fixed at 26° for a hi-alt cruise setting (giving the wing tanks a toed-in appearance when the wings were set to the normal takeoff setting of 16°. In the photo, you see the normal 'F-' configuration of swivel pylons 3/4/5/6. Here is a pic of a FB-111A wing with all the pylons removed showing the fixed pylon 2 attach points and the pivot locations for pylons 3/4, along with the flaps down configuration. They were used for test dropping of weapons from those stations. So at some point it did test for instance the dropping of the BLU-27 from a TER (something Ive seen photos of) but beyond that. I cant find any evidence they were ever even taken to places where any of the jets were used. Not to say it didnt happen, but I cant find any evidence of it. Be that photos or even memories of people who worked those places. I cant find anybody who saw them in Vietnam when used there. When the Fs were at Mountain Home I believe they were in storage (at the base), however that is only going from the memory of a AMU guy who worked there. I cant find anybody who worked at Lakenheath who saw them at the base. The E models at Upper Heyford its a similar story. When removed the movable inboard stations had a cover plate that was fitted. Just looked like a round panel... Nothing much to say about it. If not fitted there was a hole with fittings inside for fitting the pylon to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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