F-111 Aardvark strike fighter

The General Dynamics F-111 was the first variable-geometry aircraft to enter service in any country. The two-seat aircraft was built as a tactical strike fighter (F-111) and strategic/theater bomber (FB-111). A number were subsequently modified to an electronic warfare (EW) configuration (EF-111A Raven).

In the F-111 design, the pivot points for the variable-sweep, shoulder-mounted wings were located relatively close to the fuselage inside fixed wing "gloves"; the gloves extended...