F-111B Conversion Part Four - Cockpit

 

 Currently a work in progress.

 

The seven F-111B cockpits differed in two major ways: ejection seats or crew escape module; and the Phoenix Airborne Missile Control System (AMCS) was installed or not.

The first three F-111Bs (BuNos 151970, 971, and 972) had ejection seats because qualification of the crew module did not support the aircraft manufacturing schedule. See https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2016/07/f-111ab-ejection-seats.html.

As far as I know, only the F-111Bs used by Hughes for its Phoenix system test program had the Phoenix system displays and controls installed. These were BuNos 151971, 972, and 152715 (152714 was also operated by Hughes for a time, reportedly for pilot checkout and proficiency flying). This included the Vertical Display Indicator Group (VDIG), which consisted of a large TV-like presentation (Direct View Indicator, similar to the one in the A-6 Intruder) and a head-up display (Precision Indicator).

This is the instrument panel of BuNo 151972. The head-up display is just visible above the glare shield.

 The left console forward:

 The left console aft:

 Center console:

 

 

 The right hand console from the F-111B flight manual:

 

The Vertical Display Indicator Group (the PI extended through a slot in the glare shield):

The VDIG was essential to the Phoenix system control, one of its several modes:

All the other F-111Bs had Grumman-designed substitutes: at least two variations of a large, mostly blank, sheet metal panel in the right hand crew position, one the same shape and dimensions as the Phoenix system installation; and a gyro-driven, three-axis attitude indicator and separate flight instruments in place of the VDIG for the pilot.

This is the cockpit of BuNo 152715 prior to the installation of the Phoenix system. Note the sheet metal equivalent of the system in the right hand crew position and the large artificial horizon in place of the VDIG:

This is the cockpit of BuNo 151973 that was used by Grumman for various flight-test requirements. The right side panel in this case is flush with the pilot's instrument panel. Red-orange designated flight test instrumentation or calibrated instruments. The orange handles with black stripes on either side of the center console activated the ejection of the crew module.

 

This is the cockpit of BuNo 151974 that was eventually used for at-sea evaluation aboard Coral Sea. Note that the right hand panel is the same as the one initially installed in152715. The big aeronautical map on the lower half of it is centered on the Long Island, New York area.

 The instrument panel of 151974 with another variation of a substitute for the VDIG:

This is the stripped cockpit of BuNo 152714 after it was stricken with yet another variation of the right hand instrument panel that included provisions for several flight instruments, possibly including an altimeter (it almost certainly never had the Phoenix systeme installed even though it was assigned to Hughes for a time).

 

The Cat 4 Conversion Set R72016 provides parts for the first three F-111Bs including the Phoenix instrument panel and the ejection seats.