Aircraft
(Year of First
Flight) |
Official Nicknames |
Real
Nicknames) |
Aircraft
(Year of First
Flight) |
Official Nicknames |
Real
Nicknames(s) |
US Air Force/Army |
Curtiss JN-4
(1914) |
None |
Jenny
Canuck (Canadian-
built version |
Convair TF-102
(1955) |
Delta
Dagger |
Tub (from bulged
cockpit) |
Boeing P-26
(1932) |
None |
Peashooter |
Lockheed U-2
(1955) |
None |
Dragon Lady
Deuce
Black Bird
Angel
x |
Douglas C-47
(1935) |
Skytrain |
Gooney Bird
Placid Plodder
"Dowager Duchess
Old Methuselah
Grand Old Lady
(names also applied
to DC-3, C-053,
and C-117) |
Republic F-105
(1955) |
Thunder-
chief |
Thud
Lead Sled
Thunderthud
Squash Bomber (if all
else fails, turn off the
engine and squash the
target)
Triple Threat (it had three ways it could kill the
pilot)
Ultra Hog
Iron Butterfly
x |
North American
AT-6
(1938) |
Texan |
Awful Terrible Six
Mosquito (Korean
War) |
Bell UH-1
(1956) |
Iroquois |
Huey (some
versions were called
"Slick" or "Hog"
x |
North American
B-25
(1939) |
Mitchell |
Billy's Bomber |
Boeing KC-135
(1956) |
Strato-
tanker |
Stratobladder
Flying Gas Station
Tank
GLOB (Ground-
Loving Old Bastard)
x |
Beech C-45
(1940) |
Expeditor |
Bug Smasher |
Convair B-58
(1956)
x |
Hustler |
Delta Queen |
Martin B-26
(1940) |
Marauder |
Widow-Maker
Flying Prostitute
(it had no visible
means of support)
Baltimore Whore |
Convair F-106
(1956) |
Delta Dart |
Six
Sixshooter (with gun
pod attached) |
Vultee BT-13
(1940) |
Valiant |
Vibrator
Bee Tee |
Cessna U-3
(1957) |
None |
Blue Canoe |
North American
P-51
(1941) |
Mustang |
'Stang
Peter-Dash-Flash
Spam Can |
Kaman HH-43
(1958) |
Huskie |
Flying S--house |
Republic P-47
(1941) |
Thunder-
bolt |
Jug
T-Bolt |
McDonnell Douglas
F-4
(1958) |
Phantom II |
Double Ugly
Rhino
Old Smokey
x |
Ryan PT-22
(1941) |
Recruit |
Maytag Messerschmitt
(Also a generic
reference to L-series
[Liaison] aircraft) |
Northrop T-38
(1958) |
Talon |
White Rocket |
Cessna UC-78
(1942) |
Bobcat |
Bomboo Bomber
Rhapsody in Glue
San Joaquin
Beaufighter
Useless 78
Double-Breasted Cub |
Boeing CH-47
(1961) |
Chinook |
S--thook
Hook |
Douglas A-26
(1942) |
Invader |
Li'l Racer
Li'l Hummer |
Hughes OH-6
(1963) |
Cayuse |
Loach (from original
LOH [Light Observation
Helicopter] designation
Egg
x |
Sikorsky R-4
(1942) |
Hoverfly |
Flying Eggbeater
Frustrated Palm Tree |
Lockheed C-141
(1963) |
Starlifter |
Starlizard (from its
camouflage paint
scheme)
T-Tailed Mountain Magnet |
Consolidate
C-109
(1943) |
Liberator |
Cee-One-Oh-Boom
(several of these cargo
B-24s exploded while
ferrying fuel over the
Hump to China) |
Cessna T-41
(1964)
(military 172
Skyhawk) |
Mescalero |
Chickenhawk
F-172 |
Curtiss XP-55
(1943) |
Ascender |
Ass-Ender (its canards
and rear-mounted
engine made it appear
to be flying backward) |
Douglas AC-47
(1964) |
Skytrain |
Puff the Magic
Dragon
Spooky
Dragon
(and Dragonship)
x |
Fairchild C-87
(1944) |
Packet |
Crowd Killer |
General Dynamics
F-111
(1964) |
None |
Aardvark
Flying Edsel
Widow-Maker
Switchblade
Swinger
x |
Douglas A-1
(1945) |
Skyraider |
Spad
Sandy (A-1H only) |
Lockheed SR-71
(1964) |
None |
Blackbird
Habu (an Okinawan
species of snake)
Lead Sled
x |
Convair B-36
(1946) |
Peacemaker |
Aluminum Overcast
Magnesium Overcast |
Sikorski CH-54
(1964) |
Tarhe |
Skycrane
Crane
x |
Republic F-84
(1946) |
Thunderjet |
Hog
Lead Sled
Lieutenant-Eater |
Bell AH-1
(1965) |
Huey
Cobra |
Snake |
Fairchild C-119
(1947) |
Flying
Boxcar |
Dollar Nineteen
Crowd Killer |
LTV A-7
(1965) |
Corsair II |
SLUF (Short Little
Ugly Feller--polite
form)
Man-Eater |
Lockheed T-33
(1948) |
Shooting
Star |
T-Bird |
Northrop M2-F2/M2-F3
(1966/1970) |
None |
Flying Bathtub
Cadillac (from its
1950s-style tail fins) |
Northrop F-89
(1948) |
Scorpion |
FOD Vacuum
(because of its low
intakes)
Stanley Steamer
(because of its
oversized main
landing gear) |
Cessna O-2
(1967) |
None |
Duck (from the way its
landing gear retracted)
Blow-Suck (from its
powerplant arrangement)
Pushme-Pullyu |
Douglas C-124
(1949) |
Globe-
master II |
Aluminum Overcast
Old Shaky |
Lockheed C-5
(1968)
x |
Galaxy |
Fat Albert |
North American
F-86D
(1949) |
Sabre |
Sabre Dog |
Martin-Marietta
X-24A
(1970)
x |
None |
Flying Potato |
Lockheed C-121
(1950) |
Constel-
lation |
Connie
Flying Speed Brake |
Fairchild A-10
(1972) |
Thunder-
bolt II |
Warthog
SLAT (Slow, Low,
Aerial Target)
Porker
Hog
x |
Republic F-84F
(1950) |
Thunder-
streak |
Super Hog
Lead Sled
Ground-Loving
Whore |
McDonnell Douglas
F-15
(1972) |
Eagle |
Great Bird Rodan
Big Bird
Tennis Court (a match
could be played on it
fuselage and wings)
Aluminum Overcoat
x |
Boeing B-52
(1952) |
Strato-
fortress |
BUFF (Big Ugly Fat
Feller--polite form)
Monkeyknocker
(Vietnam)
Coconutknocker
(Vietnam) |
Boeing T-43
(1973) |
None |
Gator (from Navigator)
Strike Pig |
Vertol CH-21
(1952) |
Workhorse |
Flying Banana |
Martin Marietta
X-24B
(1973)
x |
None |
Flying Flatiron |
Convair F-102
(1953) |
Delta
Dagger |
Deuce |
General Dynamics
F-16
(1974) |
Fighting Falcon |
Electric Jet
Viper
Lawn Dart
Little Hummer
x |
Martin B-57
(1953) |
Canberra |
Cranberry |
Rockwell B-1
(1974) |
Lancer |
Bone (from B-one)
Lawn Dart
The Jet
x |
North American
F-100
(1953) |
Super
Sabre |
Hun
Silver Dollar |
Sikorsky UH-60
(1974)
x |
Black
Hawk |
Catfish |
Cessna T-37
(1954) |
Tweet |
World's Largest Dog
Whistle
Converter (converts
fuel into noise)
Hummer
Tweety Bird
x |
Grumman EF-111
(1977) |
Raven |
Sparkvark
Electronic Fox |
Lockheed C-130
(1954) |
Hercules |
Herky Bird
Herk
Hog (ski-equipped
LC-130s are
Ski-Hogs |
Lockheed F-117
(1981) |
None |
The Black Jet
Nighthawk
Frisbee
F-19
(Note: "Wobbly
Goblin" is purely a
media creation) |
Lockheed F-104
(1954) |
Starfighter |
Missile with a Man
in it |
Grumman X-29
(1984)
x |
None |
Polecat |
McDonnell F-101
(1954) |
Voodoo |
One-Oh-Wonder |
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Generic References |
All rescue aircraft
(SB-17, SB-29,
SA-16, etc.) |
Various |
Dumbo |
All cargo aircraft |
Various |
Trashhauler
Trashcarrier |
|
|
|
|
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|
| US
Navy/Marine Corps |
Grumman FF-1
(1931) |
None |
FiFi |
Douglas A3D (A-3)
(1952) |
Skywarrior |
All Three Dead
(No ejection seats)
x |
Stearman N2S
(PT-17)
(1934) |
Kaydet |
Yellow Peril |
Grumman S2F (S-2)
(1952) |
Tracker |
Stoof (from
pronunciation of S-2-F) |
Consolidate PBY
(1935) |
Catalina |
Pigboat
P-Boat
Black Cat
(those aircraft
involved in a
specific, continuing,
night mission only) |
Lockheed WV-2
(EC-121)
(1953) |
Warning Star |
Willie Victor |
Naval Aircraft
Factory N3N
(1935) |
None |
Yellow Peril |
Douglas A-4
(1954) |
Skyhawk |
Scooter
Heinemann's Hot Rod
Tinker Toy
Bantam Bomber
Mighty Mite
Skyhog
x |
Vought SB2U
(1936) |
Vindicator |
Wind Indicator
Vibrator |
Vought F-8
(1955) |
Crusader |
MiG Master |
Douglas SBD
(A-24)
(1936) |
Dauntless |
Slow But Deadly |
Grumman WF-1 (E-1)
(1956) |
Tracer |
Willie Fudd
Stoof with a Roof
(because of the
large radome)
x |
North American
SNJ (AT-6)
(1936) |
Texan |
J-Bird |
Douglas EA-3
(1958)
x
x |
Skywarrior |
Electric Whale |
Beech SNB
(AT-11)
(1940) |
Kansan |
Slow Navy Bomber |
North American T-2
(1958) |
Buckeye |
Attack Guppy |
Vought F4U
(1940) |
Corsair |
Ben-Wing Bird |
Douglas ERA-3
(1960)
x |
Skywarrior |
Warbird |
Grumman TBF/
General Motors
TBM
(1941) |
Avenger |
Turkey |
Grumman E-2
(1960) |
Hawkeye |
Hummer |
McDonnell F2H
(1947) |
Banshee |
Banjo
Drut |
Grumman EA-6
(1963)
x |
Intruder/
Prowler |
Sterile Arrow |
Beech T-34
(1948) |
Mentor |
Radial Interceptor |
McDonnell
Douglas/British
Aerospace AV-8
(1966)
x |
Harrier |
Jump Jet
Whistling S--tcan
Scarier |
Douglas F3D
(F-10)
(1948) |
Skyknight |
Whale |
Grumman F-14
(1970) |
Tomcat |
Turkey |
North American
AJ-1
(1948) |
Savage |
Salvage |
Lockheed S-3
(1971) |
Viking |
Hoover (from sound of
its turbofan engines)
x |
Vought F7U
(1948) |
Cutlass |
Gutless Cutless |
Sikorsky CH-53E
(1974) |
Super Stallion |
Super S--tter (from its
tendency to leak
hydraulic fluid)
x |
Douglas F4D (F-6)
(1951) |
Skyray |
Ford (from
pronunciation of
F-4-D |
|
|
|
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|
|
Foreign |
Bristol Fighter
(1916)
x |
None |
Brisfit
Biff |
Westland Lysander
(1936) |
None |
Lizzie |
Royal Aircraft
Factory R.E.8
(1916)
x |
None |
Harry Tate |
Blohm & Voss BV-138
(1937) |
None |
Fliegender Holzschuh
(Flying Wooden Shoe) |
de Havilland DH-4
(1917)
x |
None |
Flaming Coffin
(from alleged tendency
to burn)
x |
Focke-Wulf FW-189
(1938) |
Uhu
(Owl) |
Fliegendes Auge
(Flying Eye) |
Junkers Ju-52
(1930)
x |
None |
Tante Ju
(Auntie Junkers)
Iron Annie
x |
Fairey Albacore
(1939) |
Greif
(Griffon) |
Luftwaffenfeuerzeug
(Luftwaffe's Lighter) |
Dornier Do-11
(1932)
x
x
x |
None |
Fliegender Sarg
(Flying Coffin) |
Mitsubishi G4M
(1939) |
None
(Allied
code name
"Betty") |
Hamaki
(Cigar) |
Heinkel He-51
(1933) |
None |
Caza de Cadena
(Chain Fighter, from
the Nationalists'
follow-the-leader
strafing tactics in the
Spanish Civil War)
x |
de Havilland
Mosquito
(1940) |
None |
Wooden Wonder
Mossie |
Supermarine
Walrus
(1933)
x |
None |
Shagbat |
Hawker Typhoon
(1940) |
None |
Tiffie |
Fairey Swordfish
(1934)
x |
None |
Stringbag |
Fiesler Fi-103 (V-1)
(1942) |
None |
Kirschkern
(Cherry Stone) |
Avro Anson
(1935) |
None |
Faithful Annie |
Messerschmitt
Me-262
(1942) |
Schwalbe
(Swallow)
Sturmvogel
(Storm Bird)
x |
Turbo |
Dornier Do-17
(1935) |
None |
Fliegender Bleistift
(Flying Pencil) |
Messerschmitt
Me-262
(1942) |
Gigant (Giant) |
Leukoplastbomber
(Adhesive Tape Bomber--it was mostly canvas) |
Hawker Hurricane
IIB
(1935) |
None |
Hurribomber
Hurricat (these were
catapulted from
merchant ships)
x
|
Dornier Do-335
(1943) |
Pfeil
(Arrow) |
Ameisenbaer
(Anteater--it had a long nose) |
Messerschmitt
Bf-109
(1935) |
None |
Usually called by
series name (e.g.
Bf-109E was Emil),
but Bf-109G
(Gustav) aso called
Beule (Boil) for
additional equipment
crammed in and
faired over
X
|
Gloster Meteor
(1943) |
None |
Meatbox |
Fairey Battle
(1936) |
None |
Fairly Rattle |
Gloster Meteor
(1943) |
None |
Dora
Ameisenbaer
(Anteater) |
Hadley Page
Hampden
(1936) |
None |
Flying Frying Pan |
Avro Shackleton
(1949) |
None |
100,000 Rivets Flying
in Loose Formation |
Vickers
Wellington
(1936) |
None |
Wimpy |
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