Remember when the "Original Tomcat" was asked if more thrust would enable the F-111 to operate off Aircraft Carriers? His reply was to the effect that "... There isn't enough thrust in all of Christendom to allow that platform to fly off a carrier..."
My thoughts exactly.
Not an aircraft that I would classify as a "jet fighter".
...And McNamara is a freaking engineering and military genius.
Wasn't it the Chief of Naval Operations who, testifying before some House committee, said there wasn't enough thrust in Christendom to make the F-111 a fighter?
Howdy, Democrat!
On a mission flown a few years (quite a few, now) back, we had 3 confirmed 'kills' against the F-16s with no losses on our side. Needless to say, the Lawndarts weren't very happy.
Of course, I've also been in an F-111 where my idiot pilot decided to try a vertical scissors against an F-16.
80,000 pounds of manliness going up - but not for long! At the Red Flag debrief, the F-16 pilot commented, "I almost hated to shoot someone who was so obviously insane."
What do you think the "F" stands for?:^)
And they have occasionally managed to record a "kill" on F-15s at Red Flag.
Now the F-117 - no way is that a fighter.
Com'on PD, the Ardvarrk rules the skies! ;)
The late great Col. John Boyd had similar, shall we say, doubts? It was his repudiation of the F-111 that led to the devlopment of the F-15 and F-16.
Of course, he thought your Tomcat was needlessly complex (swing wing and all) too.
They fly the FB-111.