US Military Aircraft Names

[Venomstick121]

How are aircraft in the US armed forces named? I understand the Tri-Service designation system but what about the names? Raptor, Kiowa, Lightning, is there a theme between different roles? I am fairly certain helicopters are native american tribes. What about bombers or fighters?

 

[SaparotRob]

On occasion, the press might name an airplane such as "Flying Fortress".

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

How are aircraft in the US armed forces named? I understand the Tri-Service designation system but what about the names? Raptor, Kiowa, Lightning, is there a theme between different roles? I am fairly certain helicopters are native american tribes. What about bombers or fighters?

Lockheed fighters are generally named after aerospace phenomena (Lightning, Shooting Star, Starfighter). American fighters in general also were named after predatory birds (Eagle, Fighting Falcon, Raptor).

Boeing obviously stuck "-fortress" onto two generations of bombers after the press first coined it, but there doesn't seem much rhyme nor reason to American bombers in general.

 

[SaparotRob]

Gotta' admit, marketing dropped the ball with "Lancer." I think B-1 "Fastest Fortress" would've been better.

 

[Sabrejet]

Gotta' admit, marketing dropped the ball with "Lancer". I think B-1 "Fastest Fortress" would've been better.

On this occasion I'd say the marketing folks got it right.

 

[Barrett]

The Navy issued two lists of popular names for aircraft in 1941. Both are online, but it's most interesting to see the original suggestions including Mohave (SBD) and Comet (F4U?)
The second list, c. October, contained the names we've all known for so long.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Gotta' admit, marketing dropped the ball with "Lancer." I think B-1 "Fastest Fortress" would've been better.

And pay royalties to Boeing? Perish the thought!

 

[SaparotRob]

I just wanna' keep the name going.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The US Army has a long standing tradition to name all its helicopters after native American tribes or famous native Americans (minus the AH-1 Huey Cobra)

UH-1 Iroquois (It became the Huey later, I can tell you that story if you like)

OH-58 Kiowa

CH-47 Chinook

UH-60 Black Hawk

AH-64 Apache

H-13 Sioux

H-19 Chickisaw

H-21 Shawnee

CH-37 Mojave

H-34 Choctaw

CH-54 Tarhe

OH-6 Cayuse

AH-56 Chayenne

RAH-66 Commanche

UH-72 Lakota

 

[SaparotRob]

The US Army has a long standing tradition to name all its helicopters after native American tribes or famous native Americans (minus the AH-1 Huey Cobra)

UH-1 Iroquois (It became the Huey later, I can tell you that story if you like)

OH-58 Kiowa

CH-47 Chinook

UH-60 Black Hawk

AH-64 Apache

H-13 Sioux

H-19 Chickisaw

H-21 Shawnee

CH-37 Mojave

H-34 Choctaw

CH-54 Tarhe

OH-6 Cayuse

AH-56 Chayenne

RAH-66 Commanche

UH-72 Lakota

Now how about what you guys actually called them?

 

[GrauGeist]

Did you know that the B-52's official name is "Stratofortress"?

And the B-1 Lancer was originally designed and built by Rockwell, not Boeing.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Now how about what you guys actually called them?

I passionately called the Chinook the CH-47 Shithook.

Granted they called us the UH-60 Crash Hawk or Lawn Dart.

 

[SaparotRob]

Did you know that the B-52's official name is "Stratofortress"?

And the B-1 Lancer was originally designed and built by Rockwell, not Boeing.

Yes.
Correct.

 

[Venomstick121]

UH-1 Iroquois (It became the Huey later, I can tell you that story if you like)

I would love to hear the story

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I would love to hear the story

Its not really anything exciting.

So originally the utility helicopter designation was HU-1 Iroquois (eventually it was changed to UH-1 Iroquois in 1962). The crews and passengers would affectionately call them "Huey's" when talking about them because of the HU designation. Eventually the name Huey stuck, to the point that the manufacturer Bell even put it on the pedals.

So despite official name of the UH-1 being the Iroquois, it is known by everyone and called by everyone the Huey.

Source of picture: Bell Huey Helicopter US AirCraft Pedals Set For Model 204B 1967(Ser#204-001-702)

 

[Venomstick121]

Its not really anything exciting.

So originally the utility helicopter designation was HU-1 Iroquois (eventually it was changed to UH-1 Iroquois in 1962). The crews and passengers would affectionately call them "Huey's" when talking about them because of the HU designation. Eventually the name Huey stuck, to the point that the manufacturer Bell even put it on the pedals.

So despite official name of the UH-1 being the Iroquois, it is known by everyone and called by everyone the Huey.

View attachment 757192

Source of picture: Bell Huey Helicopter US AirCraft Pedals Set For Model 204B 1967(Ser#204-001-702)

Thanks for the interesting story