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Contact Info
Home Town New York
Last Address Edwards AFB, CA
Date of Passing Apr 23, 1971
Location of Interment Star of David Memorial Gardens - North Lauderdale, Florida
Narrative:
Destroyed on test flight out of Edwards AFB, CA. Crashed on April 23, 1971 into the Mojave Desert CA. Cause of accident described as "aircraft departed controlled flight during a gun firing flight test wind up turn".
Both crew - Major James W. Hurt III (pilot) and Major Robert J. Furman (WSO) were killed. They were both found still inside the escape capsule
Aircraft experienced trouble at 6,000 feet. This was the 18th crash of the type since entering service and the second fatal accident of 1971 when the module chute failed to properly deploy. All F-111s were grounded on Thursday April 30, 1971 after it was determined that the recovery chute compartment door failed to separate making crew escape impossible. This was the sixth grounding order for the F-111 since it entered operation. Grounding order lifted June 8, 1971 during which time the panel that failed in this accident was replaced .
F-111E s/n 67-0117 was the 3rd conversion from F-111A to F-111E, and had accumulated 97 flights and 152.7 flight hours.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark Length 73.49 ft | 22.40 m Width 62.99 ft | 19.20 m Height 17.13 ft | 5.22 m Engine(s) 2 x Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-111 turbofan engines generating 25,100lbs of standard thrust each. Empty Weight 47,840 lbs | 21,700 kg MTOW 100,002 lbs | 45,360 kg Max Speed 914 mph | 1,471 km/h | 794 kts Max Range 2,900 miles | 4,667 km Ceiling 57,907 ft | 17,650 m | 11.0 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 5 Armament 1 x 22mm cannon
Mission-specific ordnance can include any of the following:
* F-111A - Initial Production Model Designation; 23 pre-production models produced; Total of 158 at production end fitted with 18,500lb TF30-P-3 powerplants; 42 converted to EF-111A Ravens. * F-111B - Cancelled Fleet Defense Variant of which 5 pre-production models were produced. * F-111C - Australian Export Models of which 24 were produced. * F-111D - 96 Production Models fitted with TF30-P-0 powerplants generating 19,600lbs of thrust each. * F-111E - 94 Production Models of this type. * F-111F - 106 Production Models of this type fitted with TF30-P-111 capable of 25,100lbs of thrust each. * EF-111A "Raven" - Electronic Warfare Model Designation based on converted F-111 "A" models; retired in 1998. * FB-111A - Strategic Model Designation of which 76 were produced; fitted with 2 x additional hardpoints, increased wingspan and TF30-P-7 powerplants generating 20,150lbs of thrust; improved electronics. * F-111G - Converted FB-111A Models for European Theater use; RAAF usage of this model as well. * EF-111A - Electronic Warfare Conversion Models of F-111A series; 42 converted in this way.
