How Are Planes Named?

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (BenjaminGraff) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:51:02 GMT

http://www.hazegray.org/faq/designat.htm#t2

best regards

Benjamin Graff

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Red Admiral) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:09:24 GMT

1932 RAF Naming System

Fighters: General words indicating speed, activity or aggressiveness
Bombers:
a) Day: Animals except felidae
b) Army co-operation: Classical names
c) Night: Inland towns of the British Empire or towns associated with the RAF
d) General Purpose: British historical names
e) Transport: General towns and seaports of the British Empire
Flying boats: Coastal towns and seaports of the British Empire
Fleet Air Arm:
a)...

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Alexius55) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:22:25 GMT

Red Admiral wrote:
The RAF had strict naming proceedures based on the type. I have a copy somewhere in an old flying magazine which I'll try and find.

Not so strict, and they mostly no longer exist, but back when there was an Air Ministry they had procedures for some types: Heavy bombers were towns- Lancaster, Lincoln, Halifax, Stirling Flying boats were coastal towns- Sunderland, Lerwick Maritime...

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (jhack) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:09:38 GMT

Pascally said
" think you mean Warthog

Aadvark is (was) the F-111. Except the ones still flying, the RAAF's are called Pigs."

You're right, Pascally my bad.

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Desertfox) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:50:50 GMT

Don't forget Douglas with its D (Dauntless, Devastor, Destroyer) or Sky (Skyhawk, Skyraider, Skywarrior) or Lockheed with its space/star themes (Galaxy, Starfighter, Constellation, Starfire).

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Duncan Albermarle) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:49:43 GMT

Speaking of themes, McDonnell-Douglas used the supernatural ie. Banshee, Demon, Voodoo, Phantom.

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (pascaly) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:23:36 GMT

I think you mean Warthog

Aadvark is (was) the F-111. Except the ones still flying, the RAAF's are called Pigs.

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (jhack) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:37:40 GMT

You are right about some official names enc. Don't ever tell an F-16 pilot he flies a fighting falcon. He (or she) is a Viper pilot. The A-10 is the Thunderbolt II in official correspondence, but it's an Aardvark to the pilots.

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (bager1968) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:04:19 GMT

Blue Jay was the code name of the developmental versions of the UK Firestreak A-A missile (comparable to early model AIM-9 Sidewinders).

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (jhack) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:51:47 GMT

For a while, in WWII through Vietnam, the various U.S. airplane companies had themes. Republic's planes had thunder in them (P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84 Thunderjet, F-105 Thunderchief) Grumman had its cats, Vought's planes were pirate theme (F4U Corsair, F7U Cutlass, F8U Crusader). I'm not sure where the North American company fit into that with P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre. I guess after the way they started naming fighters after sharp objects, Sabre, F-108 Rapier. Before and during WWII,...

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Red Admiral) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:48:14 GMT

The RAF had strict naming proceedures based on the type. I have a copy somewhere in an old flying magazine which I'll try and find.

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (seasick) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:52:25 GMT

Grumman: Cats
F4F -- Wildcat
F6F -- Hellcat
F8F -- Bearcat
F9F-1 -- Panther
F9F-3 -- Cougar
F11F -- Tiger
F-14 -- Tomcat

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (emc) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:24:51 GMT

I believe that US military aircraft are named by their manufacturers, with the contracting service having a veto. Some of the names are, in my opinion, banal (Fighting Falcon), downright stupid (Peacemaker) or sound like the name of a train (Thunderchief). I'm also not a big fan two-word names, especially those which start "Super."

Of course, some of the names are never official (Blackbird, Aardvark) and I suspect that some of the official names are never used, except...

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (CliffS) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:02:57 GMT

BenRoethig wrote:
A lot of it depends on who designed the aircraft. A lot of them have themes. The exception came in the 70s when the Air Force decided to start naming things after birds.

I don't think it matters, as long as the names signify speed, power & aggression. (Hawk, Lightning & Typhoon have been recycled from WWII usage.) Generally speaking, the British have always favoured striking names...

Re: How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (BenRoethig) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:38:51 GMT

A lot of it depends on who designed the aircraft. A lot of them have themes. The exception came in the 70s when the Air Force decided to start naming things after birds.

How Are Planes Named?

feeds@yuku.com (Kwajalein) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:07:34 GMT

Does the manufacturer just throw a dart at a chart of the animal kingdom and then name its next aircraft after it? Probably not, but I'm interested in how it happens. Are there restrictions limiting names to creatures that fly? (Hornet, Osprey, Blackbird, etc.) I was out in the yard the other day and saw a Blue Jay fending off other birds from his area. A Blue Jay may never come to be an aircraft moniker, but it is an aggresive little terror.