F-111 along Interstate 30
Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:35 pm
I recently passed through Texarkana, and noticed that an F-111 is still sitting behind a small wire fence at what appears to be a somewhat abandoned military surplus store. This is just a few miles west of Texarkana, on the north side of the road. Would anyone know the story behind this aircraft, why its there, how it got there, etc.? Thanks.
Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:42 am
George:
The location is Turner's Military Surplus.
If you ever have the chance, stop by and go in.
The guy has a great collection of WW-II memorabilia, and on top of it all, he is really nice.
I recall the F-111 being for sale, as well as a number of drop tanks from F-111s, C-130s.
There was also an M-113 simulator for sale there.
Saludos,
Tulio
The location is Turner's Military Surplus.
If you ever have the chance, stop by and go in.
The guy has a great collection of WW-II memorabilia, and on top of it all, he is really nice.
I recall the F-111 being for sale, as well as a number of drop tanks from F-111s, C-130s.
There was also an M-113 simulator for sale there.
Saludos,
Tulio
Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:52 am
Tulio - Thanks for the information. Also for the picture. It would be interesting to know how he aquired an F-111.
Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:34 am
There is an identical machine just south of there, near I-20 in Hawkins, Texas. The two planes were sold at auction directly from General Dynamics I believe, which was possible because they are built up from non-airworthy (expired time) components.
The machine in Hawkins is available for less than $100K, but does not include the engines.
The machine in Hawkins is available for less than $100K, but does not include the engines.
F111... early model?
Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:41 am
Wow that looks like a very early model 111?
Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:09 am
According to f-111.net, these are static test rigs:
"B4 Fatigue Test FB-111A
Charles Bogle reports that this test article was used at Fort Worth in the Engineering Test Laboratory. When it was no longer required, it was moved outside the front gate. It was later sold and is probably the "Hawkins TX F-111". The airframe is currently foe sale from his hanger at Hawkins TX (90 miles east of Dallas on I-20 & 260 miles north of Houston). Bob says...
"The airframe is about as complete externally an aircraft that you can find including the afterburners,cannon door installation in the weapons bay, operating bay doors, movable flaps and slats, and a lot of neat stuff to go with it.......I just need the space for my other projects that I am doing for some Museums."
"There is a further test now in private hands at Hooks TX. This appears to be the Flight Control Test Stand (T1). The test article had been a test bed featuring flight controls, hydraulics, but no ECS or fuel systems, and it's operational life was at the Engineering Test Laboratory in Ft Worth. At some stage after GD Fort Worth had finished with the airframe, the AF took it back, and it arrived at the 8AF Museum at Barksdale AFB, LA. to be made into a "FB" for static display. (1999)
The museum curator, Mr.Harold "Buck" Rigg described the "aircraft" as he found....
At that stage, it was in natural aluminum with the horizontals in a purple color, no wings, no rudder, no crew capsule. The nose cone was made not of Fiberglas but thick (and heavy) phenalic. The main and nose gear were constructed of machined pig iron. The wheels and tires are from other aircraft. The GD rep told me that the F-111 mock-up was "hand-made." It had a lot of "orange wire" instrumentation in the cock-pit, which was hooked to a minimal aluminum panel, no seats. In fact it had milk crates set up on one side. The headrest were made of wood as I recall. The mock-up was a production test model. Items considered for production were test fitted to this mock-up first. We found a set of wings at Davis-Monthan. One was burned out and was gutted of its leading and trailing edge 'stuff.' Needless to say on the incredibly small budget I had to operate on this project was fast turned into a back burner effort.
The retirement of the FB-111A negated the need for the static (as an FB-111A became available). The 8AF Museum gave the test article back to DRMO, who sold it to the current owner, Mr. Turner of Hooks, Texas. So now it sits, on the side of the highway, calling in sightseers to Mr Hooks Army Surplus business, where he says alot of people come asking about the jet!
"B4 Fatigue Test FB-111A
Charles Bogle reports that this test article was used at Fort Worth in the Engineering Test Laboratory. When it was no longer required, it was moved outside the front gate. It was later sold and is probably the "Hawkins TX F-111". The airframe is currently foe sale from his hanger at Hawkins TX (90 miles east of Dallas on I-20 & 260 miles north of Houston). Bob says...
"The airframe is about as complete externally an aircraft that you can find including the afterburners,cannon door installation in the weapons bay, operating bay doors, movable flaps and slats, and a lot of neat stuff to go with it.......I just need the space for my other projects that I am doing for some Museums."
"There is a further test now in private hands at Hooks TX. This appears to be the Flight Control Test Stand (T1). The test article had been a test bed featuring flight controls, hydraulics, but no ECS or fuel systems, and it's operational life was at the Engineering Test Laboratory in Ft Worth. At some stage after GD Fort Worth had finished with the airframe, the AF took it back, and it arrived at the 8AF Museum at Barksdale AFB, LA. to be made into a "FB" for static display. (1999)
The museum curator, Mr.Harold "Buck" Rigg described the "aircraft" as he found....
At that stage, it was in natural aluminum with the horizontals in a purple color, no wings, no rudder, no crew capsule. The nose cone was made not of Fiberglas but thick (and heavy) phenalic. The main and nose gear were constructed of machined pig iron. The wheels and tires are from other aircraft. The GD rep told me that the F-111 mock-up was "hand-made." It had a lot of "orange wire" instrumentation in the cock-pit, which was hooked to a minimal aluminum panel, no seats. In fact it had milk crates set up on one side. The headrest were made of wood as I recall. The mock-up was a production test model. Items considered for production were test fitted to this mock-up first. We found a set of wings at Davis-Monthan. One was burned out and was gutted of its leading and trailing edge 'stuff.' Needless to say on the incredibly small budget I had to operate on this project was fast turned into a back burner effort.
The retirement of the FB-111A negated the need for the static (as an FB-111A became available). The 8AF Museum gave the test article back to DRMO, who sold it to the current owner, Mr. Turner of Hooks, Texas. So now it sits, on the side of the highway, calling in sightseers to Mr Hooks Army Surplus business, where he says alot of people come asking about the jet!
Last edited by WebPilot on Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:28 am, edited 4 times in total.
Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:19 am
If anyone has the coordinates of these birds, I'll add them to my aviation site/museum locator.
Mike
Mike
Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:05 pm
Mike:
33 28 01.08N
94 12 48.38W
Saludos,
Tulio
33 28 01.08N
94 12 48.38W
Saludos,
Tulio
Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:48 pm
it needs some major tender loving care!!! 
Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:42 am
Tulio wrote:Mike:
33 28 01.08N
94 12 48.38W
We should start some WIX geocaching at/around warbird sites like this! With all the visits people on the board tend to do, it could be a lot of fun. I'm thinking of leaving a cache near the F-86 in Valdosta before I leave.
Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:50 pm
Picture? What picture!?! All I got was the dreaded photobucket' this photo has been sent to Mars box' 
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Sat Dec 13, 2008 10:48 pm
Couldn't see the picture either, so I went searching and found several.
Try;
"Turner's Military Surplus"
or;
"Turner's army surplus"
in a google search, then remove the apostrophes and do it again.
There were many that were better, but couldn't "hotlink" them.
Try;
"Turner's Military Surplus"
or;
"Turner's army surplus"
in a google search, then remove the apostrophes and do it again.
There were many that were better, but couldn't "hotlink" them.
Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:48 am
As soon as you move a pic in your photobucket account, the link's broken - therefore it's helpful to future readers (over two years later in this case) to put the pic in the place you'll leave it at your account and not delete / move it. Same problem if you 'hotlink' from a private webpage's pictures.