British Aircraft Names

[Guest]

Just wonder if you have wondered on the incredible name of British Aircraft.

No F14 F16 Mig this Mig that no no such thing here.

We have.

Spitfire, Hurricane, Mosquito, Hawk, Typhoon, Jaguar, Beaufighter, Buccaneer, Moth, Comet, Defiant, Harrier, Hercules, Horsa, Lightening, Merlin, Nimrod, Phantom, Tempest, Vampire.

Many more but what an array I think it just shows the dreamy mind of the British and I like it very much. What do you think.

Laurie

[stona]

I've always liked our system. It often gives a clue to the manufacturer by alliteration too (as in Blackburn Botha, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane).

I was horrified some years ago to discover that the Aussie code word for the Spitfire was 'Capstan'.............Ouch!

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

I like the way that the bombers are named after towns. Lancaster, Halifax, Manchester and so on.

Steve, you might already know but in Denmark the Spitfire was called Arrigtrold; An angry troll.!

Ian M

[Guest]

Mustang, Thunderbolt, Invader, Lightning, Tomcat, Eagle, Falcon, Liberator, Thunderchief, for a few American aircraft names ... ok there's the Aardvark but that's a NATO designation surely!

I agree Laurie that our aircraft are more in keeping with our country's romantic nature - the names we gave our trains are part of that tradition.

Cheers

Patrick

[Ian M]

Ah but they all have a number, P51-Mustang. F14-tomcat.....

Ian M

[stona]

And at least in the case of the WW" examples the name is that given to the type by the British. We flew Mustangs and Thunderbolts, not P-51s and P-47s. This is reflected in the title pages of everything from technical manuals to pilot's notes.

For example, US



And British



The two are mutually exclusive. The US document never refers to a 'Mustang' and neither does the British one refer to a P-51.

Cheers

Steve

[flyjoe180]

A tradition that continues even today:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/9788464/Airlander-worlds-largest-aircraft