Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

FB-111A Aardvark

Flying Under the Radar

FB-111A <i>Aardvark</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

1. FB-111A Aardvark Marker

Inscription.

The FB-111 had Terrain-Following Radar. It could scan the ground ahead, feed its readings into the autopilot, and then remain at a constant low altitude without the pilot's control—at night, at hundreds of miles per hour. This gave aircrews a better chance of evading enemy radar. But it was also a tense experience.

"I like the thrill of the speed. I like being the only pilot on the airplane. I liked... flying a capable airplane that had some really neat systems on it. For example the Terrain Following Radar System where the machine will keep you 200 feet off the ground, hands off. Now let's talk about this 'hands off' thing. This is hands off: where my right hand is around the stick but not touching it, and my left hand is on the throttle. That's hands off. Marvelous and capable aircraft but unlike the B-52... I never really trusted it. But if you were on top of it all and never let the airplane get away from you, it was a treat to fly."
-Frank Bachre quoted by Tyler Beck, "Oral History: The Pilots of Plattsburgh Air Force Base." 2014.

The F111's variable-sweep wings (or "swing wings") could draw in

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to improve its performance at higher speed or spread out for better performance at lower speeds. Engineers used lessons from the F-111 in designing the B-1 bomber's swing wings.

The Aardvark was named not because it looks like the African animal, but because it hunted at night with it's nose close to the ground.

DATA CARD
Top Speed mph · 1,400
Crew · 2
Range · Continental
Payload · 2-4 nuclear-armed AGM-69 Short Range Attack Missiles

Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.

Location. 44° 7.972′ N, 103° 4.333′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

FB-111A <i>Aardvark</i> and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

2. FB-111A Aardvark and Marker

marker is in West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: HGM-25A Titan I (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named HGM-25A Titan I (a few steps from this marker); YT-38 Talon (a few steps from this marker); A-7D Corsair II (within shouting distance of this marker); B1-B Lancer (within shouting distance of this marker); F-102A Delta Dagger (within shouting distance of this marker); B-1B Lancer (within shouting distance of this marker); F-101B Voodoo (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Rockwell B-1B "Lancer" (was within shouting distance of this marker).

Regarding FB-111A Aardvark. Although an official

FB-111A <i>Aardvark</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

3. FB-111A Aardvark

field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.