Originally Posted by gunnut

FB-111 was a solution searching for a problem. It was designed as a strike aircraft, fleet interceptor, airforce bomber, whatever...

It is true the design started out as a 'one size fits all' solution to Robert McNamaras insistance that the Navy and Air Force should use a common design, but when the Navy refused it the design was refined towards what the Air Force wanted.

It had a bomb bay, but the main gear retracted into the fuselage and took up a lot of valuable real estate for bomb loads.

It could still carry a worthwhile load of Oo-nasties, including nukes.

It had a short range compared to the B-1. I think the only reason why it was in service for so long was because the airforce was forced to buy a fleet of them and didn't want to throw them away.

In fact many thought it the jewel in the USAF crown. It gave the Soviets the willies and they paid it the compliment of (very nearly) copying it in the Su-24. They still insisted that the F-111 fleet was removed from service in 'The Talks'.

B-1 is a great bomber. Too bad we don't have more of them. And they'll be replaced by the B-52 soon. Just like the B-2 will be replaced by the B-52 in 2040.