It completed 9 arrested landings and 10 catapult launches without issue. The big swing-wing jet proved it could handle traps about 10 knots slower than the future F-14, making it gentler on the arresting gear despite weighing around 4,000 lbs more on recovery—The Navy had canceled the program contending the F-111 was severely overweight and unsuitable for carrier operation. The Navy and contractors flew the F-111Bs until early 1971 as research and development aircraft. Two were lost in accidents.