Calm down mate! The F111 is a great delivery platform but a terrible ACM platform, even with full extension of the wings (which would be too high in high G turns.) The new Hornets suffer from the USN's propensity to make their fighter/attack aircraft do too much and be truly effective at either task. As to going against communist aircraft, your F111 could not last more than a few seconds in an ACM environment against the new vectored thrust aircraft. During the 1970's the USAF would allow some ACM with the F4 units. The F111's were greased every time. You need to calm down and get educated on aircraft capabilities, and maybe talk to some of the pilots. By the way, I talked to a USMC Harrier driver who "shot down" USN ace Duke Cunningham in mock battle using vectored thrust back in 1973 flying the old AV8A model. Even though this did portend the future it still comes down to ability and who sees whom first. Good on ya!

The Super Hornet is nothing but an upsized Hornet (a very capable aircraft, for sure, but now obselete by today's standards), based on a 30+ year old air frame supposedly capable of dealing with the lastest Sukhois!!! Ha Ha!! The Australian Air Force (RAAF), well actually not the RAAF, but idiotic bureaucrats have decided the Super Hornet should replace the F-111!!!!! While the F-111 is alot older than the Super Hornet, it is still the most capable aircraft in it's class in the world-and, Australia, through keeping these aircraft in front-line condition for the past 35+ years, have the know how to keep them in front-line service indefinitely, Boeing has insured that the F-111's get retired by 2010 so that they can have at least one other customer apart from the USN!! The Super Hornet cannot, and I repeat CANNOT fill the role the F-111 does so superbly. And for Boeing to say otherwise is nothing but criminal. Boeing needs the contract, they are NOT concerned with an ally's sovereignty. Letting Australia's air supremacy and first strike capability diminish because they need the contract is evil!! Burn in hell Boeing!! Stick to airliners!!!! But then again Airbus have you nailed on that, don't they!!!!