US Military Aircraft Names

[smutny]

Also, not all U.S. Army types use tribal names, like Venom, Viper, Cobra, Defender, Little Bird, etc.

Venom and Viper are the US Marine versions of upgraded H-1's.

Cobra is really the only standout in official Army names.

Defender is the manufacturer's marketing name of the H-6 while Little Bird is the nickname of the A/MH-6.

Most airframes get nicknames from their crews over time.

F-16 - Viper
A-10 - Warthog, Bionic Turtle
B-52 - BUFF
A-7 - SLUF
B-1 - Bone
F-4 - Double Ugly, Rhino, Smokey
etc.. etc...

 

[SaparotRob]

I like bionic turtle.

 

[GrauGeist]

I like bionic turtle.

I always liked "Whistling Shitcan"

 

[SaparotRob]

I always liked "Whistling Shitcan"

Which one was that again?

 

[GrauGeist]

Which one was that again?

The Douglas A3D, though the AV-8 was given that nickname as well.

 

[special ed]

USN aviation knew the A3D as all three dead,