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:
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