F1-11 makes Warrego trek

The front line strike jet was once able to do the trip from Amberley to Darwin in an hour and a half but a retired RAAF A8-113 has embarked on a six-day road trip on the back of a low loader, bound for the Aviation Historic Society Museum in Darwin.

The aircraft is minus its wings and tail which are being transported separately.

It is one of six F1-11s on loan to historical societies and aviation museums, and has historical significance as having taken part in the last bombing raid in Vietnam while in US Air Force livery.

The F1-11 fleet was retired from service in 2010 after 37 years of service to the RAAF.

Regional towns enroute will be able to see the historic fighter jet as it passes through, overnighting at Longreach, Mt Isa, Three Ways and the RAAF base at Katherine before its arrival in Darwin this Saturday.

As one person commented in Roma earlier in the week, it’s not something you see on the roads every day.

Below is the approximate road transport itinerary (subject to change):

Tuesday 11 June 2013

2.00am – Depart RAAF Amberley, Qld

6.00am – Dalby, Qld

10.00am – Chinchilla, Qld

12noon – Miles, Qld

3.00pm – Roma, Qld (Overnight)

Wednesday 12 June 2013

7.00am – Depart Roma, Qld

8.30am – Morven, Qld

1.00pm – Blackall, Qld

4.00pm – Longreach, Qld (Overnight)

Thursday 13 June 2013

7.00am – Depart Longreach, Qld

9.00am – Winton, Qld

1.00pm – Kynuna, Qld

3.00pm – Cloncurry, Qld

5.00pm – Mt Isa, Qld (Overnight)

Friday 14 June 2013

7.30am – Depart Mt Isa, Qld

9.30am – Camooweal, Qld

1.00pm – Barkly Homestead, Qld

4.00pm – Three Ways Qld (Overnight)

Saturday 15 June 2013

7.30am – Depart Three Ways

9.00am – Renner Springs, NT

1.00pm – Daly Waters, NT

4.00pm – RAAF Base Tindal, Katherine, NT (Overnight)

Sunday 16 June 2013

7.30am – Depart RAAF Base Tindal, NT

8.00am – Katherine Weigh Bridge, NT

10.30am – Adelaide River – NT

1.00pm – Darwin (Aviation Historic Society), NT