WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Nick Frasca had a happy reunion with one of his former planes Monday morning. The retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel was happy to find out the F-111 Aardvark jet was on display at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins.
"We saw on the internet that the museum had this plane, and I checked in my flight records," said Frasca. "Lo and behold, I had flown it. The rest is history."
Frasca decided to come and see the plane one last time and the museum arranged to allow him to sit in his old cockpit.
"It's like going back in time," said Frasca. "I pretty much knew where everything was, all the controls and the switches and it felt like putting on a glove."
The F-111 named 'Heart Breaker' was assigned to Frasca in 1983. He was assigned to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and Royal Air Force Station Upper Heyford in England in the early 1980s. The jet plane was the first production "swing-wing" aircraft and carried heavy bomb loads at high speeds and low altitudes.
"I've always felt very humbled and honored that my country trained me and entrusted me to take this multi-million dollar machine and employ it in the defense of the country," said Frasca.
Frasca flew the 'Heart Breaker' for eight of the 20 years he served in the Air Force.