Flying pigs are done, says RAAF

A PUSH is on to retire the RAAF's controversial F-111 bombers early as the cost of flying them and the risk of an accident increase each week.

Senior air force officers and defence scientists are pushing the top brass to fast track plans to buy long-range missiles and upgrade other war planes so the F-111s can be withdrawn from service.
"We need to get out of the F-111 business," RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd told a parliamentary committee.

The planes are due to be phased out from 2010, but the Herald Sun has learned moves are under way to bring that forward to 2008.

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