After at least four rounds of suggestions and reviews
over eight years, the Rockwell B-1 bomber was officially
nicknamed "Lancer" this spring. That may
catch on as an everyday flight-line reference, or it
may not. The airmen who fly and fix airplanes have
a long history of deciding for themselves what they
will call their machines.
In the list that follows, by no means complete (either
in terms of aircraft that have had unofficial nicknames
or as a complete list for a given aircraft, some aircraft
will be seen to have several "real" (flight-line)
nicknames, some affectionate, others derogatory. In
some cases, the disrespectful appelations are the work
of rivals who fly some other airplane. In other instances,
the tough-sounding name was awarded with fondness and
used with considerable pride. Still others were given
because the airplane was regarded as a "dog."
Aircraft are listed by the date of first flight of
the prototype (or specific model), except for such
planes as the C-47, which moved over from the commercial
world. The dates for those reflect when they joined
the military. (Another exception: The SR-71 date is
first takeoff of the SR-71--not the A-12--from the
Lockheed Skunk Works.)
Aircraft
(Year of First
Flight) |
Official
Nicknames |
Real
Nicknames(s) |
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 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Generic
References |
All
rescue aircraft
(SB-17, SB-29,
SA-16, etc.) |
Various |
Dumbo |
All
cargo aircraft |
Various |
Trashhauler
Trashcarrier |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
| |
| 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 |
|
|
|
