The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, a supersonic, medium-range, multirole combat aircraft, first flew on December 21, 1964. It was the first production aircraft to feature variable-sweep wings, which allowed it to perform well at both supersonic and low speeds. The F-111 was used by the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

The F-111 was a symbol of the advanced technology of the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Its variable-sweep wings were a marvel of engineering that was often described in aviation literature. The plane was a symbol of the 'can-do' American aerospace industry.