Combat Aircraft Projects & Designs - Index in 2nd post

[Manticore]

Å*ta domaća pamet napravi: Primer borbenog aviona | Vesti011.com - Pouzdane vesti
What has developed in the plane

Aeorodinamika aircraft there. One version is made after the model of Rafal (because many of the aircraft, called mini Rafal) and another concept resembles the Lavi (ie F-16, Eurofighter 2000, J-10). For both models is made scale model was tested in a wind tunnel. The model is developed functional cabin, a flight simulator is made, as well as some aircraft systems such as HUD (transparent display that the pilot does not have to look down, and later built similar to the J-22), FBW (electrical flight controls), Hotasa ( system where almost all controls placed on two planes stick control plane), the asylum for the reduction of size and weight cables, etc.. And all of this has made "domestic intelligence".

First five years preparing to make aircraft, especially landing gear and hydraulics, having already had experience from previous projects (J-22 and G-4).

Technical and technological documentation was brought almost to the end and there is still so nothing gained is not lost. The project is outdated and development of computer systems today make the project more quickly to an end. The project was stopped 1990th If at that time the first flight scheduled later than 1995. Today, the subcontractors would not be more than 5 years, because this is not a project that starts "from scratch", but at the end. Multipurpose aircraft to the idea toward which the country, the purchase or development.

Says the act

Is size important for this project? No! Yes, for example. North Korea and Israel have been thinking this way, you would never have developed their nuclear programs. That David was thinking in terms of size, the duel never Goliath would come out. Serbian people and the Serbian today would not even exist, that our ancestors used the pretext size.

Subcontractors

You need to find a partner, it is true, but he will not tell us walks into the house and forcing us to do things. The partner does not have to be a country that needs these planes, but a country that can sell us the technology as cheaper. To remind ourselves that this project is driven by the Geodesy and British, who already had their own programs, as well as money to buy new planes. Subcontractor does not have to be just one country, but may be more of them. Projects on the development came almost to a prototype.

Someone will say, 'Well we do not have a radar and electronics, and even a jet engine. " This is true, and this is why we need partners who help us to provide all.

Who does not need to be a partner

Our partner does not need to be members of NATO, and not just because they invaded our country and what their interests are directed against the survival of Serbia. Should not we be partners or because their technology is very expensive, and often not at the very top in offering quality. But because they are often very expensive and the technology is not at the top of today. What are the countries that could be partners?

Chinese example

When China developed its aircraft J-10 major aid them came from Russia and Israel. Russia sold them technology for the manufacture of jet engines Saturn AL-31F used by the Su-27 and China later developed its own engine. Radar is razijen the Israeli ethnology and aeorodimika is also taken by Israel as can be seen in the great similarities aircraft J-10 and IAI Lavi.

The Chinese have taken the best from razičitih page. But we are at an advantage compared to the Chinese. They had Russia and Israel, and we have Russia and Israel and their experience at your disposal. Construction planes make their own, and electronics can be completed with the help of the Israeli airline industry, the motor can take on Russia, radar from Russia or Israel.

Russia and Israel as subcontractors

Why Russia and Israel? Because both countries have good and friendly relations and they have everything you need to complete this project. A tradition of friendship with Russia is not necessary to speak. Of course, to support the implementation of the project is crucial to concur and Russian national leadership.

Israel's people like Serbs, constantly haunted, in a hostile environment, and makes a special bond shared suffering in World War II. Serbs and Jews have no competing interests and do not threaten each other.

That Russia and Israel are good partners for this project are not only proof of friendship and good relations. Tangible evidence of the Chinese J-10 and other programs where the two countries have worked together: K-50-2 "Erdogan" version Kamovog helicopter K-50, for the Turkish army together modified Russian and Israeli experts. This helicopter is equipped with almost all avionics, electronics and computers Israeli industry.

Another reason why Israel should offer decorating for the project is just their plane Lavi, whose dimensions and similar performance as planned for NA.

Where to find the money

Someone will say, 'It's all right, but where do we find the money.' And where is the money to buy a car that costs the state officials 600,000 euros each, or for the purchase of aircraft of the Government of Serbia, which cost 30 million euros, while the investments in the defense industry barely 20 million. The Serbian government in a variety of agencies and services that do not know the final number of spending almost a billion euros, and all of this work can be completed several services with no more than $ 100 million.

Government is too big, fictional ministries and departments, the overall redundancy of employees of party members in the state institutions swallow huge amounts of money, which could be channeled into the development. How much money is lost by taking only the largest of enterprises to "SICU" (Sartid, Zastava cars, Belgrade port, etc.).? For some of them today, the state has to pay more to get them redeemed. How much money is dispersed subsidy to investors at any time may flee the country, the opening of the plant and the opening of fictitious jobs? And, taking grants and loans expensive, which would be the end of writing

It is estimated that the cost for AT SFRY about $ 4 billion, most of which is invested part of Serbia. Such costs of this government, but also those previous ones, and (in) famous successes "economic experts" are much more cost Serbia and in euros annually.

Who would be a buyer

Well, what we get with this project, and where our customers? One big buyer is there, and it was the Serbian Army, which has been deprived of modern combat aircraft, with the exception of three MiG - 29, who remained in the squadron of 14 he just bought Yugoslavia to "bridge" the period until the new plane take off.

Customers can easily be "third countries" who do not have the money for expensive products of the West and wanted to be independent.

However, potential customers can call to buy something that was not produced. So, to start the project, and at the same time, these countries represent Procurement of the advantages of this product. The project brings big gains through the acquisition of new knowledge and technologies that can be applied to other projects both in military and civilian industry, can bring a revival of industry and law, not invented, new jobs.

So what's the problem with "domestic cleverness"

It may seem that this project is too etuzijastičan, but did not. There are problems of money and knowledge, but the will to achieve something, selfishness, and thinking about the current and quick use. Reflecting the current "elite" that is not worth anything long run, because they will benefit from the results of someone else, leaving little (or no) room for patriotism. The easiest way is to buy something and depend on someone else's technology and willingness to sell you something stranger.

Prokekat new plane is an example of what domestic intelligence can do, and is an indicator of the moral state of our society. This is another unborn child because of our sins, but there is hope for him, as long as there is hope for the survival and spiritual rebirth of Serbs and Serbia will be for everything else.

 

[Manticore]

 

[Manticore]

Early artist concept of the J-10 with a round inlet like the F-16

 

[Fsjal]

Early artist concept of the J-10 with a round inlet like the F-16

Should of chose this design instead, but oh well. There is the j-10B now.

 

[sancho]

Ive posted more novi avion posts in this thread.. but not of stealthy version

Thanks, I knew about the fighter, but not about the stealthy concept, which is interesting since it includes the latest Rafale stealthy concepts as well.

Great work with the thread btw, lot of interesting designs!

 

[Manticore]

Chinese Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIG) has modifed one of the prototypes of L-15 Supersonic Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) to use it as an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Test Platform.
Chinese L-15 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Test Platform ~ Chinese Military Review



Project CAVA (sometimes "Carver") was started in the '80s to replace the Canberra , Buccaneer , and Mirage 111 in the South African fleet.The Cheetah was a total upgrade of the Mirage 111 and was always supposed to be an interim type to serve until the late 90's until CAVA would come into service.The reasons for the project was that under Apartheid , South Africa was under an arms embargo.There was some speculation that a twin engined design would be produced , either as an upscaled attack variant with the single engined type . or possibly instead of it.This was done under the instigation of the SAAF chief , an ex buccaneer man and a firm advocate of twin engines.


This aircraft was NOT a modellers excercise.Pres. FW De Klerk mentioned its cancellation in parliament along with the 6 nuclear weapons in the early 90's.Upwards of 10 billion Rand had been spent on the project already as well as a mock-up to test systems placement.Comprehensive wind tunnel tests and a host of related work had been completed.Apparently a prototype was either beginning to be constructed or was just about to commence.Towards the end of the research and test phase , quite a few Israeli engineers made redundant from the Lavi cancellation joined from 1987 onwards , leading to speculation that it would be a Lavi lookalike , ala the J-10


The design was to be a Fly by Wire (FBW) unstable design with a large percentage of composites in its construction.There is evidence that the Advanced Composite Evaluator (ACE) constructed by Atlas/Denel in the late 80's early 90's was part of the R&D into aircraft composites.The Ace was a turbo prop trainer in the class of the Pilatus PC-9 or Tucano.It had at the time the highest percentage of composites in a military type aircaft in the world at the time.


One of the most interesting aspects was to be the powerplant.It was said that it would be an engine "based on or using the Atar 9k50 as a starting point but considerably different." The project was cancelled as the end of Apartheid did not justify its continued development.I think that this was a mistake as it would have been in the class of the Gripen and would have probably entered service possibly a little sooner.The aircraft was to incorporate a high degree of composites as well as it's small size would have made it slightly "stealthy" in clean config.

The Bristol 188.








Chengdu J-9, This multi-role fighter project (Project 33) began in 1973. It would have been the ultimate development of the J-7 (MiG-21 “Fishbed&#8221 airframe, with bifurcated variable inlets, fly-by-wire controls, and canards. The design was completed in 1975; however Chinese metallurgy, electronics, and machining skills in the mid-seventies were not up to the task and the project was cancelled in 1980. The much simpler J-8 “Finback” instead filled it’s intended niche in the PLAAF.



This is the Messenger prototype which was used to test an arrestor system for use on the Mariner.




A more radical approach on the Mariner was the use of a skid undercarriage, as seen in this diagram. To take off, the Mariner would employ a four wheel trolley.

Tsybin NM-1, aerodynamic prototype of the Tsybin RSR.


F-106/Sky Scorcher


credits
thounaojamtom

 

[500]

Then:

Now:

 

[Manticore]

Human Powered Aircraft
http://aerosociety.com/Assets/Docs/About_us/HPAG/Papers/HP_toucan.pdf
http://aerosociety.com/Assets/Docs/About_us/HPAG/Papers/HP_puffin.pdf

 

[Manticore]

1. An alternate configuration for the lightweight fighter dated 13 August 1971.

2. Configuration 300-B for an advanced tactical fighter had variable wings and six engines. These early ATF studies emphasized short-field operations. Drawing dated 10 December 1964.

3. Configuration 506 for an advanced tactical fighter had variable wings and six engines (two for thrust and four for vertical lift). These early ATF studies emphasized short-field operations. Drawing dated 20 January 1965.

4. This design for an enlarged F-111 variant was fourteen feet longer than a standard F-111. The lower bulge provided space for a rotating weapon pallet. The drawing is dated 4 March 1970.

5. Drawing of F-16 SCAMP Model 400-1. Dated September - December 1978. SCAMP stood for supersonic cruise and manuever prototype. The design led to the F-16XL.

6. Jiminy Cricket was a General Dynamics design concept for an advanced tactical fighter that featured a multiple-engine vertical lift system and variable-sweep wings. The design had two main lift-cruise engines that provided thrust for lift and for up-and-away flight. It had four auxiliary engines mounted near vertically that provided lift for takeoffs and landings. The aircraft had both short and vertical takeoff capability, depending on the size of the engines. Configuration 508A, shown here, was drawn in April 1965. An artist sketch of Jiminy Cricket can be found in the first part of the F-22 design evolution article found in the Featured Articles section of this website.

 

[Manticore]

11. Subsonic design for B-1. Drawing dated 15 January 1970.

13. An alternate twin-tail configuration for the lightweight fighter dated 6 April 1971. Note the side-hinged canopy

14. Configuration 503 was part of the design studies that led to the YF-16. Drawing dated 20 January 1972.

http://p-d-m.livejournal.com/213938.html

 

[Manticore]

Lockheed Martin's early bomber design exposure

 

[Manticore]

2008 advanced grippen model

 

[Manticore]

 

[Manticore]

Subject: 3.1. What jet aircraft were the Germans working on during WW2?

* Arado Ar 234 Blitz (Lightning): The world's first jet bomber. First
flight, 15 June 1943; service entry, September 1944. The two versions to
see service, the Ar 234B-1 unarmed reconnaissance aircraft and B-2 bomber,
were single-seat aircraft powered by two 8.83 kN thrust Jumo 004B
turbojets. The Ar 234C series, with four 7.85 kN BMW 003A-1 turbojets,
never reached service, although several prototypes flew. 210 Ar 234s were
completed before the end of the war; the Ar 234 was involved in the Battle
of the Bulge, the destruction of the Remagen bridge, and several other
battles. Plans included the Ar 234C-1 reconnaissance plane, C-2 bomber,
and C-3 in bomber, ground attack, and night fighter subtypes; a C-3 variant
carrying a V-1 cruise missile on its back was also planned. Other
proposals included the Ar 234D (two Heinkel HeS 011A turbojets), Ar 234E
(fighter based on Ar 234D), Ar 234P (night fighter), and Ar 234R (rocket
engines).

Vital statistics (Ar 234B-2): length 12.65 m, span 14.20 m, empty weight
5200 kg, max weight 8410 kg, max speed 742 km/h, range 1630 km; armament:
two 20mm cannon, 1500 kg bomb load.

* Bachem Ba 349 Natter (Viper): This was a tiny, extremely short-range
rocket-powered interceptor. It was designed to be launched vertically,
fire its rocket armament into a bomber formation, and then come apart in
mid-air; the forward section would be thrown away, the rear section would
descend by parachute to be re-used, and the pilot, released from between
the two, would descend on his own parachute. The initial version, the Ba
349A, was powered by four 11.77 kN Schmidding 109-533 booster rockets and
one 16.67 kN Walter 109-509A-2 sustainer rocket; 20 of this version were
built, of which only one made a single manned flight. Part of the forward
fuselage broke away prematurely, and the aircraft crashed, killing the
pilot. There were plans for a Ba 349C with a more powerful rocket and a
larger tail for better control.

Vital statistics (Ba 349B): length 6.10 m, span 3.60 m, max weight 2200
kg, max speed 800 km/h, range 40 km; armament: 24 Föhn rockets.

* DFS 228: High-altitude, air-launched reconnaissance aircraft with a
rocket engine, in development during 1945. Claimed are a ceiling of 20000
m, a speed of 1000 km/h, and a range of 720 km -- but no DFS 228, and few
documents, survived the war.

* DFS 346: A 1945 design for an aircraft with two 20 kN Walter rocket
engines, swept wings and a prone pilot position. It had an estimated top
speed of Mach 2.6 at 30500 m. The incomplete prototype was captured by the
USSR and test flown, with one of the interned B-29s as launch aircraft.

* Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg: Basically a manned version of the V-1 (Fi
103) flying bomb (the first cruise missile). In theory, this wasn't a
Kamikaze-style suicide weapon, since the pilot was intended to bail out
after aiming the aircraft/missile at its target. In practice, this would
have presented certain difficulties, since the cockpit was placed directly
underneath the jet intake! The engine was the same one used on the V-1,
one 2.94 kN As 109-014 pulse-jet. Versions planned were the Fi 103R-I and
R-II training gliders, R-III powered trainer, and R-IV operational version.
About 175 were built, and a few test flights were made by the R-III, but
none flew operationally.

Vital statistics (for the V-1; the Fi 103R-IV would have been very
similar): length 7.90 m, span 5.30 m, weight 2180 kg, max speed 645 km/h,
range 240 km; armament: 850 kg warhead.

* Focke-Wulf Ta 183: All I know about this one is that it was selected for
production in place of the Messerschmitt P-1101, and was apparently similar
in design apart from having fixed wings.

* Heinkel He 162 Salamander: A tiny, single-engine fighter, famous for the
speed of the development programme -- the first prototype flew on 6
December 1944, less than three months after the requirement was issued! It
was intended to be a "Volksjäger" (people's fighter) that could be flown by
Hitler Youth volunteers after minimal training; fortunately for the youths
concerned, the war ended before this plan could be put into action. 280
aircraft were completed before the end of the war (and another 800 were
found in various stages of completion in the factories), but only a handful
actually saw combat, in the hands of expert pilots. By all accounts the
Salamander had lousy handling characteristics and was difficult for even
experienced pilots to fly. Versions built were the He 162A-1 and A-2, both
powered by one 7.85 kN BMW 003E-1 or E-2 turbojet (differing only in being
armed with two 30mm or two 20mm cannon, respectively); proposals included
the He 162B (one or two pulse-jet engines), He 162C (forward-swept wings),
He 162D (swept-back wings), and various combinations of jet and rocket
propulsion.

Vital statistics (He 162A-2): length 9.00 m, span 7.20 m, empty weight
2180 kg, max weight 2695 kg, max speed 784 km/h, range 695 km; armament:
two 20mm cannon.

* Heinkel He 280: The first jet fighter to fly, the He 280 was powered by
two 8.24 kN Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets. Development was delayed, and
eventually abandoned in favour of the superior Me 262.

Vital statistics (He 280 V6): max speed 817 km/h; armament: three 20mm
cannon.

* Henschel Hs 132: A dive bomber powered by a single 7.85 kN BMW 003A-1
turbojet, the Hs 132 was built along the same general lines as the He 162,
with the engine mounted dorsally on the fuselage. The unique feature was a
prone pilot position, intended to improve G tolerance. The factory was
overrun by the Soviet Army shortly before the first flight was planned.

Vital statistics: Max speed 700 km/h; armament: one 500 kg bomb.

* Horten Ho IX (also known as Gotha Go 229): A flying wing fighter of
futuristic and elegant appearance. It had a flat, tailless design, and was
intended to be constructed mainly of wood, with special glues and lacquers
to minimise radar signature -- in other words, it was the first stealth
fighter! Only one prototype flew, the Ho IX V2, making its first and only
powered flight in January 1945; unfortunately it crashed on landing. The
prototype was powered by two 8.73 kN Jumo 004B turbojets (which would also
have powered the production Go 229 versions). Production of the fighter
was assigned to the Gotha factory; versions planned were the single-seat Go
229A day fighter, and the two-seat, radar-equipped Go 229B night fighter.

Vital statistics (Go 229A-0): empty weight 4600 kg, max weight 7507 kg,
max speed 977 km/h, range 1900 km; armament: four 30mm cannon; 2000 kg
bomb load.

* Horten Ho X: Single-engined flying wing fighter, basically a slightly
scaled-down Ho IX. None were built.

* Horten Ho XVIII "Amerika bomber": Six-engine flying wing bomber. Apart
from the curved trailing edge, this design bore an amazing resemblance to
the Northrop B-2. None were built, although the first prototype was under
construction at the end of the war. Rumour has it this aircraft was
intended to carry the German atomic bomb to America.

Vital statistics: range 11900 km; armament: 3600 kg bomb load.

* Junkers Ju 287: A heavy jet bomber, unusual in having forward swept
wings. A single prototype flew before the end of the war (a second was
completed and flown in Russia after the war). The prototype was powered by
four turbojets, one under each wing and one on either side of the nose;
planned versions included several different arrangements of two, four, or
six engines.

* Lippisch P13a: This one takes the prize (any prize). It was a
ramjet-powered, sharply swept delta, with the cockpit built into the tail
fin. It was powered by coal gas generated from solid fuel, and had a
nominal design speed of 1650 km/h. Yes, you read that right -- a
coal-powered supersonic fighter. A small rocket engine was provided for
take-off. Alas, it never flew. The DM-1 glider, built along the same
general lines and intended to validate the airframe design, was completed
after the war and test-flown in the US; I have no idea what the results
were.

Vital statistics: length 6.7 m, span 6.0 m, max speed 1650 km/h (Mach
1.55; this was the original design speed, although wind tunnel tests went
up to Mach 2.6), range 1240 km; armament: two cannon.

* Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet: The only rocket-powered aircraft ever to
enter service. First flight, early 1941; service entry, May 1944. Unusual
in appearance as well as propulsion, it had a short fuselage with swept
wings and no horizontal tail; despite the tailless design, it had excellent
flight characteristics and was reportedly very easy to fly. Landing was a
different matter, though -- the awkward centreline skid arrangement (to
save weight, the wheeled trolley used for take-off was jettisoned once the
plane was airborne), combined with the presence of highly volatile and
explosive rocket fuel, resulted in many Komets living up to their name and
ending their days as fireballs. In the air, however, the combination of
tremendous speed, small size, and the element of surprise made them
reasonably successful against American bomber formations, on the few
occasions they entered combat. There was only one service version, the Me
163B-1, powered by one 16.67 kN Walter HWK 509A-2 liquid fuel rocket; about
370 of these saw service. Plans existed for a greatly improved version,
the Me 263 (also known as the Junkers Ju 248; Junkers did much of the
development work), with a new engine (16.67 kN Walter HWK 109-509C-4, with
separate boost and cruise chambers, giving a 15-minute endurance), more
fuel, and a real landing gear, but none were built by the end of the war.

Vital statistics (Me 163B-1): length 5.69 m, span 9.30 m, empty weight
1905 kg, max weight 4110 kg, max speed 960 km/h, range 100 km; armament:
two 30mm cannon.

* Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow): The first jet fighter to enter
service with any country. First flight, 4 April 1941; service entry, 30
June 1944. The Me 262 was much faster and more heavily armed than the
contemporary Gloster Meteor, and could have had a much greater effect on
the war than it actually did if Hitler had not crippled it by insisting
that it be used only as a bomber! Problems with engine development were
another delaying factor. The Me 262 was also the first aircraft in service
with swept wings, although this came about by accident -- a redesign of the
fuselage happened to move the centre of gravity further back than had
originally been intended, and the wings were angled slightly back to
compensate; it was only later that it was discovered that this had
fortuitously improved the aerodynamics. Variants to see service were the
Me 262A-1a fighter, A-2a fighter-bomber, B-1a two-seat trainer, and B-1a/U1
radar-equipped night fighter, all powered by two 8.83 kN Junkers Jumo 004B
turbojets. Although 1433 Me 262s had been delivered by VE day, shortage of
fuel (and pilots) meant that only about 100 of them ever saw active
service. Plans included the Me 262B-2a night fighter with enlarged
fuselage carrying more fuel and Schräge Musik upward-firing cannon, and Me
262C with rocket boosters (a few prototypes flew before the war ended).

Vital statistics (Me 262A-1a): length 10.60 m, span 12.50 m, empty weight
4000 kg, max weight 7045 kg, max speed 870 km/h, range 1050 km; armament:
four 30mm cannon.

* Messerschmitt Me 328: This was a short-lived design, powered by two 2.94
kN Argus As 014 pulse-jets and intended to be a cheap and quickly-built
ground attack aircraft, with a secondary role as a day fighter. Only one
prototype flew, sometime in 1944; this was enough to convince even the
desperate Germans that a pulse-jet powered fighter was a Dumb Idea.

Vital statistics (Me 328A-1): max speed 755 km/h; armament: two 15mm
machine guns.

* Messerschmitt P-1101: Jet fighter powered by one Junkers Jumo 004B
turbojet, mounted in the lower forward fuselage and fed by a nose inlet, in
a design similar to the post-war Yak-17 or Saab 29. The unique feature was
the variable geometry wings, the first time "swing wings" had been tried on
an aircraft. Only one prototype was completed before the P-1101 was
cancelled in favour of the Focke-Wulf Ta 183; it was never flown during the
war, but was taken back to the US and fitted with an Allison J35 turbojet.
Unfortunately it was damaged in the only attempt to take off. The Bell X-5
was based on the P-1101's design, and was successfully used to investigate
variable sweep. The P-1101 prototype (like the X-5) lacked true variable
geometry; the sweep angle could only be adjusted on the ground, and could
not be varied in flight. The cancelled production version would have had
true variable sweep.

* Mistel 5: This was an unmanned flying bomb, intended to carry an He 162
fighter piggyback, in the same way as the Me 109 or Fw 190 was coupled with
a warhead-carrying Ju 88 in the original Mistel versions. The He 162 pilot
would aim the missile at its target, then separate the two aircraft and fly
his fighter back home. The unmanned component is referred to by different
sources as either the Arado E-377a or the Junkers Ju 268. Power plant was
two BMW 003 turbojets. This one never left the drawing board.

For those interested in plastic modelling, the Dragon line of kits includes
many of the above types (Ar 234B/C/C+V1, Ba 349, Fi 103, Go 229A/B, He 162,
Me 163, Me 262A/B, Mistel 5, P-1101) in 1/48 or 1/72 scale; the Japanese
company Mauve produce a 1/48 kit of the Lippisch P13a.

Two other projects are worthy of note. The A9/A10 was a planned two-stage
missile; the first stage would have been basically a scaled-up V-2, while
the second stage would have been a winged skip-glide re-entry vehicle that
could have carried a massive warhead (I don't know exactly how massive) to
the United States. Prototype versions of the two components were tested
separately, but not together; the winged rocket, with no booster, reached
4340 km/h (Mach 4.1)! There were also plans for a manned version.

The Sänger-Bredt "spaceplane" was a design for a manned craft launched by a
captive rocket booster on rails; the booster remained on the ground after
the spaceplane separated (at about Mach 1.5!). The 100-tonne plane (of
which 90 tonnes was fuel) would not reach orbit, but would attain a maximum
altitude of 185 kilometres in a series of boosts and glides which would
carry it all the way around the world. It was designed as a bomber, but
could easily have been adapted for other purposes. An orbital version,
although not officially investigated, must surely have been on the minds of
the designers, Eugen Sänger and Irene Bredt.

[Most of the above is from Bill Gunston's _Encyclopaedia of the World's
Combat Aircraft_ and Kenneth Munson's _German War Birds_; also thanks to
Steve Malikoff for further information on the Lippisch deltas, and Emmanuel
Gustin for much additional information]


https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/rec.answers/3oD1OWSC37o

 

[Manticore]

Subject: 6.1. American aircraft designations

The US Air Force (and its predecessor, the US Army Air Force) has used
several aircraft designation systems in its history. The three most
important are the USAAF system adopted in 1924 and used through World War
II and up to 1948; the USAF system used from 1948 to 1962; and the
Tri-Service system adopted in 1962 to provide a common system for USAF, US
Army, and US Navy aircraft. The three systems are similar enough that they
can conveniently be described together.

A designation consists of a letter (or set of letters) indicating the type
and mission of the aircraft, and a sequence number indicating a specific
aircraft within a category, separated by a hyphen. The number may be
followed by a series letter to indicate a variant of an aircraft. Most
aircraft are also given a proper name, but this is not part of the formal
designation.

Mission codes used in the USAAF system included the following:

A = Attack
AT = Advanced trainer
B = Bomber
C = Cargo
CG = Cargo glider
F = Photographic reconnaissance
G = Glider
L = Liaison
O = Observation
P = Pursuit
PT = Primary trainer
R = Rotorcraft
UC = Utility cargo

The first version of a type had no series letter; the second was suffixed
with "A", the third with "B", and so on. For obvious reasons, the letters
"I" and "O" are usually skipped. For example, the B-29A is the second
version of the 29th bomber aircraft identified by the USAAF.

The USAF system (1948) was similar to the USAAF system; it retained the
three-part code, although the series letters now started with "A" for the
first version rather than the second. The mission codes were rationalised
somewhat; in particular, "F" for "Fighter" replaced "P" for "Pursuit", the
existing P-series aircraft being redesignated, and new aircraft receiving
F-series numbers continuing the old P-series. Similarly, "H" for
"Helicopter" replaced "R" for "Rotorcraft".

The Tri-Service system (1962) underwent further changes, although it still
retained the basic scheme of the older systems. The most important changes
were that the system now included Navy aircraft as well as USAF and Army,
and that most of the numeric sequences were restarted from 1, since some
were now well past 100 and were becoming unwieldy.

Starting from the central dash and moving *left*, the letter codes now
consist of up to four letters (although only the "basic mission" code is
mandatory, and I've never seen a real designation with more than three
letters).

(1) Vehicle type (optional; indicates something other than a conventional
fixed-wing aircraft):

G = Glider
H = Helicopter
V = VTOL or STOL
Z = Lighter than air

(2) Basic mission:

A = Attack
B = Bomber
C = Cargo transport
E = Special electronics
F = Fighter
O = Observation
P = Maritime patrol
R = Reconnaissance
S = Anti-submarine warfare
T = Trainer
U = Utility
X = Research

(3) Modified mission (optional; indicates that a type originally designed
for the mission indicated by its "basic mission" code has been modified for
a different mission); includes the A, C, E, F, O, P, R, S, T, and U mission
codes, plus:

D = Drone control
H = Search and rescue
K = Tanker
L = Cold weather
M = Multi-mission
Q = Drone
V = VIP or staff transport
W = Weather observation

(4) Status (optional; indicates any unusual status):

G = Permanently grounded
J = Temporary special test
N = Permanent special test
X = Experimental
Y = Prototype
Z = Planning

The sequence numbers are based on the vehicle type (if present) or the
basic mission. For example, all helicopters (vehicle type "H") are
numbered in a single sequence regardless of the basic mission code, while
conventional aircraft (with no vehicle type code) follow separate sequences
for attack aircraft, bombers, transports, and so on. There are a few
oddities here; for example, the AV-8 Harrier seems to have taken the number
8 slot in both the "A" and "V" sequences. For some reason, the "T"
(trainer) sequence, last seen in the Cessna T-47 in 1984, was restarted
with the Beech T-1 Jayhawk in 1990.

The system has not been followed perfectly; exceptions include the A-37
Dragonfly (attack version of T-37 trainer; should have been AT-37), F/A-18
Hornet (should have been just F-18, or possibly AF-18), FB-111 (bomber
version of the F-111; should have been BF-111), SR-71 (the letters indicate
"strategic reconnaissance", not an anti-submarine modification, and the
number is actually from the pre-1962 bomber series!), and a few others.

------------------------------

Subject: 6.2. US Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)

Before the adoption of the Tri-Service system in 1962, the US Navy had its
own system of aircraft designations, completely different from that used by
the USAAF and USAF. This consisted of up to five parts:

(1) One or two letters to indicate the function. These included:

A = Attack
BF = Fighter-bomber
F = Fighter
HC = Transport helicopter
HO = Observation helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
J = Utility
N = Trainer
O = Observation
P = Patrol
PB = Patrol bomber
R = Transport
SB = Scout bomber
T = Trainer
TB = Torpedo bomber
W = Airborne early warning

(2) A sequence number, to distinguish between aircraft of the same function
built by the same manufacturer. The number was left out if it was 1.

(3) A letter to indicate the manufacturer. Because the US Navy used
aircraft from considerably more than 26 different manufacturers, most of
the letters of the alphabet were shared between several companies; the same
company frequently used more than one letter at various times. If the same
aircraft was built by more than one firm, the designation was changed to
reflect the individual manufacturers (for example, the Chance-Vought F4U
Corsair was also built by Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG).
Some of the most important manufacturers were:

A = Brewster, Noorduyn
B = Beechcraft, Boeing
C = Cessna, Curtiss
D = Douglas, McDonnell
E = Cessna, Piper
F = Fairchild, Grumman
H = McDonnell
J = North American
K = Fairchild, Kaman
L = Bell
M = Bell, Martin
O = Lockheed, Piper
Q = Fairchild
S = Sikorsky, Stearman
T = Northrop
U = Chance-Vought
V = Lockheed, Vultee
W = Wright
Y = Consolidated, Convair

(4) After a dash, a number to indicate a subtype.

(5) Optionally, a letter to indicate a minor variation on a subtype.

For example, the F4U was the fourth fighter designed by Chance-Vought for
the US Navy. The F4U-1A was a modified version of the first subtype of the
F4U. The F4U was commonly known as the Corsair, but, as with Air Force
types, the name was not part of the formal designation (Vince Norris, who
has quite a few hours in USN aircraft, reports that they were always
referred to by their designations, not the proper names; using names
instead of numbers was the mark of a civilian).

When the Tri-Service system was adopted in 1962, aircraft then in USN
service (as well as some under development or recently retired) were
redesignated under the new system. These included:

Convair F2Y Sea Dart = F-7
Douglas AD Skyraider = A-1
Douglas A3D Skywarrior = A-3
Douglas A4D Skyhawk = A-4
Douglas F3D Skyknight = F-10
Douglas F4D Skyray = F-6
Grumman A2F Intruder = A-6
Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar = F-9
Grumman F11F Tiger = F-11
Grumman S2F Tracker = S-2
Grumman W2F Hawkeye = E-2
Lockheed P2V Neptune = P-2
Lockheed P3V Orion = P-3
Lockheed T2V Seastar = T-1
Martin P5M Marlin = P-5
McDonnell F2D/F2H Banshee = F-2
McDonnell F3H Demon = F-3
McDonnell F4H Phantom II = F-4
North American AJ Savage = A-2
North American A3J Vigilante = A-5
North American FJ Fury = F-1
North American T2J Buckeye = T-2
Vought F8U Crusader = F-8

------------------------------

Subject: 6.3. USAF/USN fighters and attack aircraft

A complete list of US aircraft would take up far too much space; instead,
I've listed only the post-war "F" and "A" series, the ones most often asked
about.

One star indicates a type that existed only as one or more prototypes and
never entered service; two stars indicate a type that never left the
drawing board; three stars indicate that the number was never assigned at
all (as far as I could determine).

USAF fighter designations, since the initiation of the "F" series in 1948:

F-80: Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
F-81: * Convair XF-81 (experimental mixed-power jet/turboprop fighter)
F-82: North American F-82 Twin Mustang
F-83: * Bell XF-83
F-84: Republic F-84 Thunderjet/Thunderstreak/RF-84 Thunderflash
F-85: * McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (parasite fighter experiment)
F-86: North American F-86 Sabre
F-87: * Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk
F-88: * McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo
F-89: Northrop F-89 Scorpion
F-90: * Lockheed XF-90
F-91: * Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor
F-92: * Convair XF-92
F-93: North American YF-93 (F-86 derivative)
F-94: Lockheed F-94 Starfire (F-80/T-33 derivative)
F-95: North American YF-95 (redesignated F-86D)
F-96: Republic YF-96 (redesignated F-84F)
F-97: Lockheed YF-97 (redesignated F-94C)
F-98: Hughes F-98 Falcon (air-to-air missile; redesignated GAR-1,
later AIM-4)
F-99: Boeing F-99 Bomarc (ground-to-air missile; redesignated IM-99,
later CIM-10)
F-100: North American F-100 Super Sabre
F-101: McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
F-102: Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
F-103: ** Republic XF-103 (turbojet/ramjet hypersonic interceptor)
F-104: Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
F-105: Republic F-105 Thunderchief
F-106: Convair F-106 Delta Dart
F-107: * North American YF-107 (F-100 derivative)
F-108: ** North American XF-108 Rapier (long range interceptor and
XB-70 escort)
F-109: *** (never used)
F-110: McDonnell F-110 Spectre (designation used briefly for USAF
version of F4H/F-4 Phantom II)
F-111: General Dynamics F-111 (the common name "Aardvark" is
unofficial)
F-112: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-113: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-114: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-115: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-116: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-117: Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

USAF/USN fighter designations, since the adoption of the Tri-Service
designations in 1962:

F-1: North American F-1 Fury (formerly FJ)
F-2: McDonnell F-2 Banshee (formerly F2H)
F-3: McDonnell F-3 Demon (formerly F3H)
F-4: McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (formerly F4H, briefly F-110)
F-5: Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II
F-6: Douglas F-6 Skyray (formerly F4D)
F-7: * Convair F-7 Sea Dart (formerly F2Y)
F-8: Vought F-8 Crusader (formerly F8U)
F-9: Grumman F-9 Panther/Cougar (formerly F9F)
F-10: Douglas F-10 Skyknight (formerly F3D)
F-11: Grumman F-11 Tiger (formerly F11F)
F-12: * Lockheed YF-12 (A-12/SR-71 derivative)
F-13: *** (never used)
F-14: Grumman F-14 Tomcat
F-15: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
F-16: General Dynamics (now Lockheed) F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-17: * Northrop YF-17 Cobra (lost to F-16 in Lightweight Fighter
contest)
F-18: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (YF-17 derivative)
F-19: *** (never used, at least officially)
F-20: * Northrop F-20 Tigershark (F-5 derivative)
F-21: IAI F-21 Lion (leased Kfirs, used as Aggressors in training)
F-22: Lockheed/Boeing F-22 Lightning II
F-23: * Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 (lost to F-22 in Advanced
Technology Fighter contest)

The Rockwell XFV-12 was number 12 in the "V" series, not part of the "F"
series.

USAF/USN attack designations, since the adoption of the Tri-Service
designations in 1962:

A-1: Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly AD)
A-2: North American A-2 Savage (formerly AJ)
A-3: Douglas A-3 Skywarrior (formerly A3D)
A-4: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (formerly A4D)
A-5: North American A-5 Vigilante (formerly A3J)
A-6: Grumman A-6 Intruder (formerly A2F)
A-7: Vought A-7 Corsair II (F-8 derivative)
A-8: British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier
A-9: ** Northrop YA-9 (lost to A-10 in AX contest)
A-10: Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-11: ***? (apparently never used)
A-12: ** McDonnell Douglas A-12 (cancelled A-6 replacement)

The designation A-12 for the original, single-seat version of the aircraft
that became the SR-71/YF-12/M-21 was an internal Lockheed designation, not
an official USAF one (the A-12s were operated by the CIA and never
officially entered military service). The designation A-37 for the attack
version of Cessna's T-37 was derived from the trainer version of the
aircraft and was not part of the real "A" series.
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/rec.answers/3oD1OWSC37o

Subject: 6.5. Russian aircraft designations

In the 1920s and 1930s, many different designation systems were used for
Russian aircraft; the People's Comissariat of Defence had its own system,
and each manufacturer had another, usually based on the initials of the
designer or organisation (for example, A N Tupolev's ANT-6 was also known
as the TB-3).

Prefixes used included:

A = Autogyro
ARK = Arctic coastal reconnaissance
B = Bomber
BB = Short-range bomber
BSh = Armoured attack aircraft (Sh = Shturmovik)
DAR = Long-range arctic reconnaissance
DB = Long-range bomber
DVB = Long-range high-altitude bomber
DI = Two-seat fighter
DIS = Twin-engined escort fighter
G = Paratroop transport
I = Fighter (Istrebitel; literally "destroyer")
KOR = Ship-borne reconnaissance
M = Seaplane
MA = Amphibian
MBR = Short-range maritime reconnaissance
MDR = Long-range maritime reconnaissance
MI = Fighter seaplane
MK = Maritime cruiser (heavily armed seaplane)
MP = Transport seaplane
MR = Reconnaissance seaplane
MTB = Maritime heavy bomber
MU = Trainer seaplane
P = Mailplane
PB = Dive bomber
PI = Single seat fighter
PL = Transport
PS = Mail/passenger transport
R = Reconnaissance
ROM = Open sea reconnaissance
SB = High-speed bomber
SCh = Low-level attacker
SChR = Attack fighter/reconnaissance
SPB = Fast dive bomber
TB = Heavy bomber
TSh = Heavy attack aircraft
U = Primary trainer
UT = Basic trainer (Uchebnotrenirovochny)
UTI = Fighter trainer
V = Airship
VI = High-altitude fighter
VIT = High-altitude tank destroyer
VT = Supervised design

In the early years of WW2, a new systematic designation scheme was set up
for all Soviet aircraft (military and civil), based on (usually) the first
two letters of the designer's name; this replaced the former military
designation system. Later, as the original designers became the heads of
design bureaus (OKBs), and eventually retired or died, the original
initials were retained for all aircraft produced by each OKB.

The full designation consists of the OKB initials, a dash, a number to
indicate a particular aircraft type designed by that OKB, and optionally a
letter or letters (and sometimes numbers) to indicate a subtype. Unlike
the American system, subtype letters are not a simple alphabetic sequence,
but are assigned arbitrarily, sometimes to indicate some particular feature
of the subtype. Common suffix letters include "D" (long-range), "K" (which
can mean export, ground attack, or naval), "M" (modified), "P"
(interceptor), "R" (reconnaissance), "T" (transport), and "U" (trainer).

Stalin decided that fighters would be given odd numbers, while bombers and
transports would get even numbers; this rule largely fell out of use after
his death.

OKB abbreviations include the following (for those still in use I've added
a description of what the letters look like in the Cyrillic (Russian)
alphabet, since you will often see an aircraft's designation written on
it):

An = Antonov (AH)
Be = Beriev ([broken B] [reversed E])
Il = Ilyushin ([reversed N] [linked JI or inverted V])
Ka = Kamov (KA)
La = Lavochkin
M = Myasishchyev (M)
Mi = Mil (M [reversed N])
MiG = Mikoyan-Gurevich (M [reversed N] [gamma])
Pe = Petlyakov
Po = Polikarpov
Su = Sukhoi (CY)
Tu = Tupolev (TY)
Yak = Yakovlev ([reversed R] K)

The Lavochkin OKB still exists, but switched from aircraft to missile and
space technology in the 1950s. The Petlyakov and Myasishchyev OKBs are
really the same bureau, which was headed by Myasishchyev after Petlyakov's
death in 1942, disbanded in 1946, but revived in 1952 under Myasishchyev's
name. Polikarpov's OKB was disbanded after his death in 1944.

The remaining OKBs recently became companies in the wake of perestroika.
With the breakup of the USSR, Antonov is now a Ukrainian company; the rest
are Russian. Beriev has been renamed Taganrog (after the city in which the
new company is based), and Mikoyan-Gurevich is now just Mikoyan, but the
original abbreviations are retained in their aircraft designations.

One special case is the A-50 AWACS aircraft ("Mainstay"). This was a joint
venture of the Ilyushin and Beriev OKBs (providing the airframe and
electronics, respectively); the A-series designation, normally used by
Beriev to indicate a prototype or experimental aircraft, has been retained
for the production aircraft. Ilyushin used the designation Il-82 for the
airframe (following the Il-76 transport, Il-78 tanker, and cancelled Il-80
SLAR reconnaissance aircraft, all based on the same airframe); Beriev
argued that they had designed the most important part of the aircraft, so
an Ilyushin designation was inappropriate. They were still arguing when
the aircraft entered service, so its internal name of A-50 went to the
print shop.

A few cases where confusion has reigned should be mentioned; the present
climate of openness has allowed these to be settled. All Sukhoi "Flagon"
versions carried Su-15 designations; the later versions were not Su-21
(which in fact referred to Sukhoi's Su-27-derived supersonic bizjet
project, now abandoned). The designation Tu-20 was used for the early
"Bear" bombers ("Bear-A/B"), but was changed back to Tupolev's internal
designation, Tu-95, from "Bear-C" onwards (some later versions were
Tu-142). The Tupolev "Backfire" bomber is Tu-22M, not Tu-26 (this error
probably arose because the first prototype was designated Tu-126). The
"Fiddler", Tupolev's only production fighter, was Tu-128, not Tu-28 or
Tu-102. The Yakovlev "Freestyle" V/STOL fighter is Yak-41, not Yak-141
(the latter was a single prototype modified for record attempts).

Subject: 6.6. Russian aircraft codenames

During the Cold War, it was common for the West to know (or suspect) that
an aircraft existed in the Soviet inventory, but not know its correct
designation. Even when the USSR released publicity pictures of their
aircraft (or allowed Western journalists to film them flying past during
displays), the aircraft's name was usually never mentioned. Because of
this, a system of codenames was invented by NATO.

Each type was given a name starting with B for bombers, C for cargo or
passenger transports, F for fighters, H for helicopters, or M for
miscellaneous (everything else). Fixed-wing aircraft received names with
one syllable if they were propeller-driven, two syllables if they were jets
(there is no rule for the number of syllables in a helicopter's codename).
Variants were indicated by suffix letters (e.g. the fourth version of the
MiG-25 "Foxbat" to be identified became "Foxbat-D").

With the modern opening up of the Russian military, it's becoming more
common to refer to Russian aircraft by their real designations (now better
known in the West). Some recent types haven't been given codenames, and
the system seems likely to disappear altogether in the near future.

Four foreign-built aircraft have been given codenames: The Czech-built
Aero L-29 Delfin ("Maya"), at one time the standard Warsaw Pact jet trainer
(oddly, its successor, the L-39 Albatros, was never assigned a codename);
the US-built North American B-25 Mitchell ("Bank"), used by the Soviet air
forces for a while after World War II; and two Chinese types (see below).

Antonov An-2/3 = Colt
Antonov An-8 = Camp
Antonov An-10 = Cat
Antonov An-12 = Cub
Antonov An-14 = Clod
Antonov An-22 = ****
Antonov An-24 = Coke
Antonov An-26 = Curl
Antonov An-28 = Cash
Antonov An-30 = Clank
Antonov An-32 = Cline
Antonov An-72/74 = Coaler
Antonov An-74AEW = Madcap
Antonov An-124 = Condor
Antonov An-225 = Cossack
Beriev Be-2 = Mote
Beriev Be-6 = Madge
Beriev Be-8 = Mole
Beriev Be-10 = Mallow
Beriev Be-12 = Mail
Beriev Be-30 = Cuff
Beriev Be-40/42/44 = Mermaid
Chetverikov Che-2 = Mug
Ilyushin Il-2 = Bark
Ilyushin Il-4 = Bob
Ilyushin Il-10 = Beast
Ilyushin Il-12 = Coach
Ilyushin Il-14 = Crate
Ilyushin Il-18/20 = Coot
Ilyushin Il-28 = Beagle
Ilyushin Il-28U = Mascot
Ilyushin Il-38 = May
Ilyushin Il-40 = Brawny
Ilyushin Il-54 = Blowlamp
Ilyushin Il-62 = Classic
Ilyushin Il-76 = Candid
Ilyushin Il-78 = Midas
Ilyushin Il-86 = Camber
Ilyushin/Beriev A-50 = Mainstay
Kamov Ka-10 = Hat
Kamov Ka-15 = Hen
Kamov Ka-18 = Hog
Kamov Ka-20 = Harp
Kamov Ka-22 = Hoop
Kamov Ka-25 = Hormone
Kamov Ka-26/126/128/226 = Hoodlum
Kamov Ka-27/28/29/32 = Helix
Kamov Ka-50 = Hokum
Lavochkin La-7 = Fin
Lavochkin La-9 = Fritz
Lavochkin La-11 = Fang
Lavochkin La-15 = Fantail
Lisunov Li-2 = Cab
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 = Fargo
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 = Fagot
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15U = Midget
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 = Fresco
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 = Farmer
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 = Fishbed
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21U = Mongol
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 = Flogger
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23-01 = Faithless
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 = Foxbat
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29/30/33 = Fulcrum
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 = Foxhound
Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-2A = Faceplate
Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-152A = Flipper
Mil Mi-1 = Hare
Mil Mi-2 = Hoplite
Mil Mi-4 = Hound
Mil Mi-6/22 = Hook
Mil Mi-8/9/17/171 = Hip
Mil Mi-10 = Harke
Mil Mi-12 = Homer
Mil Mi-14 = Haze
Mil Mi-24/25/35 = Hind
Mil Mi-26 = Halo
Mil Mi-28 = Havoc
Mil Mi-34 = Hermit
Myasishchyev M-3/4 = Bison
Myasishchyev M-17/55 = Mystic
Myasishchyev M-50/52 = Bounder
Petlyakov Pe-2 = Buck
Polikarpov Po-2 = Mule
Sukhoi Su-7/17/20/22 = Fitter
Sukhoi Su-7U = Moujik
Sukhoi Su-9/11 = Fishpot
Sukhoi Su-11U = Maiden
Sukhoi Su-15 = Flagon
Sukhoi Su-24 = Fencer
Sukhoi Su-25/28 = Frogfoot
Sukhoi Su-27/30/33/34/35 = Flanker
Tupolev Tu-2/6 = Bat
Tupolev Tu-4/80 = Bull
Tupolev Tu-10 = Frosty
Tupolev Tu-14/89 = Bosun
Tupolev Tu-16 = Badger
Tupolev Tu-20/95/142 = Bear
Tupolev Tu-22 = Blinder
Tupolev Tu-22M = Backfire
Tupolev Tu-70 = Cart
Tupolev Tu-82 = Butcher
Tupolev Tu-85 = Barge
Tupolev Tu-91 = Boot
Tupolev Tu-98 = Backfin
Tupolev Tu-104 = Camel
Tupolev Tu-110 = Cooker
Tupolev Tu-114 = Cleat
Tupolev Tu-124 = Cookpot
Tupolev Tu-126 = Moss
Tupolev Tu-128 = Fiddler
Tupolev Tu-134 = Crusty
Tupolev Tu-144 = Charger
Tupolev Tu-154 = Careless
Tupolev Tu-160 = Blackjack
Yakovlev Yak-6/8 = Crib
Yakovlev Yak-7U = Mark
Yakovlev Yak-9 = Frank
Yakovlev Yak-10 = Crow
Yakovlev Yak-11 = Moose
Yakovlev Yak-12 = Creek
Yakovlev Yak-14 = Mare
Yakovlev Yak-15/17 = Feather
Yakovlev Yak-16 = Cork
Yakovlev Yak-17U = Magnet
Yakovlev Yak-18 = Max
Yakovlev Yak-23 = Flora
Yakovlev Yak-24 = Horse
Yakovlev Yak-25/27 = Flashlight
Yakovlev Yak-25RV = Mandrake
Yakovlev Yak-27R = Mangrove
Yakovlev Yak-28 = Brewer
Yakovlev Yak-28P = Firebar
Yakovlev Yak-28U = Maestro
Yakovlev Yak-30 = Magnum
Yakovlev Yak-32 = Mantis
Yakovlev Yak-36 = Freehand
Yakovlev Yak-38 = Forger
Yakovlev Yak-40 = Codling
Yakovlev Yak-41/141 = Freestyle
Yakovlev Yak-42 = Clobber

Subject: 6.8. British aircraft designations

Unlike the US system, the proper name is the principal part of an
aircraft's formal designation in British service. The full designation
consists of the name, a letter or set of letters indicating the role, and a
mark number; in a few cases the mark number is followed by a letter
indicating a modification. The full designation is written as, for
example, "Tornado GR.1A", or sometimes "Tornado GR Mk 1A" (the Tornado GR.1
is the ground attack/reconnaissance version of the Tornado; the GR.1A is a
variant in which one of the two guns is replaced by reconnaissance gear).

For export versions, the role letters are usually left out, and the mark
numbers are restarted from a high number, usually 50 (for example, the
Indian Navy's Sea Harriers are Mk 51).

Before WW2, mark numbers alone were used, and were written in Roman
numerals; during the war, the role letters were added, and conventional
numerals were used for mark numbers above 20. The Roman numerals were
dropped altogether after the war; apart from that, the system has remained
largely unchanged.

Role letters (an asterisk indicates an obsolete code):

AEW = Airborne early warning
AH = Army helicopter
AL = Army liaison
AS = Anti-submarine (*)
B = Bomber
B(I) = Bomber/interdictor
B(K) = Bomber/tanker
B(PR) = Bomber/photo-reconnaissance
C = Cargo transport
CC = Communications (also used for VIP transports)
E = Electronic warfare
F = Fighter
F/A = Fighter/attack
FAW = All-weather fighter (*)
FB = Fighter/bomber (*)
FG = Fighter/ground attack
FGA = Fighter/ground attack
FGR = Fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance
FR = Fighter/reconnaissance
FRS = Fighter/reconnaissance/strike
GA = Ground attack
GR = Ground attack/reconnaissance
HAR = Search and rescue helicopter
HAS = Anti-submarine helicopter
HC = Cargo helicopter
HCC = Communications helicopter (also used for VIP transports)
HT = Training helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
K = Tanker
KC = Tanker/transport
Met = Weather reconnaissance (*)
MR = Maritime reconnaissance
NF = Night fighter (*)
PR = Photographic reconnaissance
R = Reconnaissance
S = Strike
SR = Strategic reconnaissance
T = Trainer
TF = Torpedo fighter (*)
TT = Target tug
U = Unmanned drone
W = Weather reconnaissance

------------------------------

Subject: 6.9. Canadian aircraft designations

The Canadian designation system is based on a simplified version of the
American system. A designation consists of the letter "C" (for Canadian),
a letter to indicate the aircraft's role, a dash, and a number, sometimes
followed by a letter to indicate a modification (usually "A" for a modified
version, or "D" for a dual-control trainer). The numbers are assigned in a
single sequence for all types in Canadian service, and are always over 100.

This has led to a few aircraft having a real designation that differs from
the one they're commonly known by; for example, the F-5 and F/A-18 in
Canadian service are usually referred to as the CF-5 and CF-18, but the
correct designations are CF-116 and CF-188, respectively.

Role letters:

C = Cargo transport
F = Fighter
H = Helicopter
P = Maritime patrol
T = Trainer

Types in current Canadian service:

CC-109 Cosmopolitan = Convair 440
CH-113 Labrador = Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
CT-114 Tutor = Canadair CL-41 Tutor
CC-115 Buffalo = De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
CF-116 = Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
CH-118 Iroquois = Bell UH-1 Iroquois
CH-124 Sea King = Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
CC-130 Hercules = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
CT-133 Silver Star = Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
CH-135 = Bell 212
CH-136 Kiowa = Bell OH-58 Kiowa
CC-137 = Boeing 707
CC-138 Twin Otter = De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
CH-139 Jetranger = Bell 206 Jetranger
CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus = Lockheed P-3 Orion derivative
CC-142/CT-142 = De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8
CC-144 Challenger = Canadair CL-601 Challenger
CH-146 = Bell 412
CC-150 Polaris = Airbus A310
CF-188 Hornet = McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

------------------------------

Subject: 6.10. Chinese aircraft designations

Chinese aircraft use a fairly simple system consisting of a letter or
letters to indicate the role, a dash, and a number, sometimes followed by
additional letters or numbers to indicate subtypes. The role letters are
often replaced by their English equivalents for export versions (for
example, the export version of the Q-5 (Qiang = Attack) is the A-5).

The numeric sequences always start with 5. Oddly enough for the last
bastion of Communism, this is the result of superstition; 4 is considered
an unlucky number in China (because the Chinese words for "four" and
"death" are very similar). The designation "J-2" for the licence-built
MiG-15 is an exception, probably allocated retrospectively, after the
Chinese and Soviet governments parted ways.

Role letters:

CJ (export PT) = Chujiao (basic trainer)
H (export B) = Hong (bomber)
J (export F) = Jian (fighter)
JJ (export FT) = Jianjiao (fighter trainer)
Q (export A) = Qiang (attack)
SH (export PS) = Shuihong (maritime bomber)
Y = Yun (transport)
Z = Zhi (vertical, i.e. helicopter)

Many Russian, and more recently Western, aircraft have been manufactured in
China and given Chinese designations. These include:

CJ-5 = Yakovlev Yak-18 "Max"
H-5 = Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle"
H-6 = Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger"
J-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15 "Fagot"
J-5 = Mikoyan MiG-17 "Fresco"
J-6 = Mikoyan MiG-19 "Farmer"
J-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21 "Fishbed"
JJ-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15UTI "Midget"
JJ-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21U "Mongol" (but see below)
Y-5 = Antonov An-2 "Colt"
Y-7 = Antonov An-24/26 "Coke/Curl"
Y-8 = Antonov An-12 "Cub"
Z-5 = Mil Mi-4 "Hare"
Z-8 = Aérospatiale AS.321 Super Frelon
Z-9 = Aérospatiale AS.365 Dauphin 2

Training versions of the J-5 and J-6 were built (JJ-5 and JJ-6); these had
no Russian counterparts (there was no MiG-17U or MiG-19U). Equating the
JJ-7 to the MiG-21U in the list above is slightly misleading, since the
trainer version was developed independently, not based on the Russian
trainer. Indigenous Chinese fighter designs have gone up to at least J-12,
although only the J-8 has entered service so far (see 2.3).

Two Chinese aircraft have been given NATO codenames: J-8 "Finback" and Q-5
"Fantan".

------------------------------

Subject: 6.11. German aircraft designations (WW2)

German aircraft were identified by two letters denoting the manufacturing
company, a number denoting the aircraft type (separated from the letters by
a space), and various modifiers for subtypes.

Manufacturer codes:

Ar = Arado
Ba = Bachem
Bf = Messerschmitt
Bü = Bücker
Bv = Blohm und Voss
Do = Dornier
Fa = Focke-Achgelis
Fi = Fieseler
Fl = Flettner
Fw = Focke-Wulf
Go = Gotha
Ha = Blohm und Voss
He = Heinkel
Ho = Horten
Hs = Henschel
Ju = Junkers
Me = Messerschmitt
Ta = Focke-Wulf

"Bf" for Messerschmitt came from Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, the company's
name before Willy Messerschmitt took over. "Ha" for Blohm und Voss came
from Hamburger Flugzeugbau, the name of the aircraft division of the Blohm
und Voss shipbuilding company. "Ta" for Focke-Wulf was used in honour of
designer Kurt Tank.

Type numbers were assigned by the RLM (air ministry); a single sequence was
used for all manufacturers. Related types were often given numbers
differing by 100; for example, the Messerschmitt Me 210 was designed as a
replacement for the Bf 110, and was developed into the Me 310 (abandoned
before flight) and Me 410.

Prototype aircraft had a "V" followed by a number identifying individual
aircraft, separated from the main designation by a space (e.g. Me 262 V1).
Major variants were denoted by a letter immediately following the type
number (e.g. Me 262A), minor variants by a number separated from the major
variant letter by a dash (e.g. Me 262A-1). Pre-production aircraft had a
zero in this position (e.g. Me 262A-0). Further variations on a subtype
could be denoted by a lower case letter attached to the variant number
(e.g. Me 262A-1a). Modified aircraft were indicated by "/R" or "/U" and a
number (e.g. Me 262A-1a/U5), or by "/Trop" (which I assume indicated a
tropical climate adaption).

------------------------------

Subject: 6.12. Japanese aircraft designations and codenames (WW2)

Japanese aircraft designations are a highly confusing subject, since four
different systems were in use simultaneously in Japan, in addition to the
codenames used by the Allies. The Japanese Army and Navy each used two
systems to identify the same aircraft, so a type used by both services
(there were a few) could theoretically have up to five different
designations -- Japanese Army Kitai number, Army type number, Navy
designation code, Navy type number, and Allied codename!

Just to confuse matters a bit further, a few types were known best by
nicknames that had no official status. The Mitsubishi A6M fighter, also
known as the Carrier-Borne Fighter Type 0, had the official Allied codename
of "Zeke"; but it went down in history under the unofficial nickname used
by both sides: "Zero".

The Japanese Army Air Force identified aircraft by "Kitai" (airframe)
numbers, which simply consisted of "Ki", a dash, and a number. Originally
the numbers were a simple numeric sequence; later, some randomisation was
added, as a security measure. Gliders received "Ku" ("Guraida") numbers
instead. Subtypes or variants were indicated by Roman numeral suffixes, or
by various Japanese abbreviations (a common one was "Kai" (for "Kaizo"),
indicating a major modification).

In addition to Kitai numbers, most Army aircraft also received a second
designation in a parallel system based on role and the year of entry into
service. Originally this was the last two digits of the year; 100 was used
for the Japanese year 2600 (1940), then the numbers were restarted from 1.

Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft received a designation code very similar to
those used by the US Navy. This consisted of a letter to indicate the
aircraft's function, a sequential number to indicate a specific aircraft
type (unlike the USN system, the number 1 was left in), and a letter to
indicate the manufacturing company. This was followed by a dash and a
number to indicate a subtype, plus an optional letter or letters for
further variations.

Function letters:

A = Carrier-borne fighter
B = Carrier-borne torpedo bomber
C = Carrier-borne reconnaissance
D = Carrier-borne dive bomber
E = Reconnaissance seaplane
F = Observation seaplane
G = Land-based bomber
H = Flying-boat
J = Land-based fighter
K = Trainer
L = Transport
M = Special-purpose seaplane
N = Fighter seaplane
P = Bomber
Q = Patrol
R = Land-based reconnaissance
S = Night fighter

Some manufacturer letters:

A = Aichi
D = Showa
K = Kawanishi
M = Mitsubishi
N = Nakajima
P = Nihon
V = Seversky
W = Kyushu, Watanabe
Y = Yokosuka

The IJN also used a parallel system based on role description and year
number, similar to (but independent of) the Army's, except that the year
2600 (1940) became 0 instead of 100. This system was abandoned in 1943,
when it was decided that revealing the year of an aircraft's entry into
service might give useful information to the enemy. Aircraft were then
given proper names instead.

Because the correct designations of Japanese aircraft were often not known
(and, as you've probably gathered by now, difficult to keep straight
anyway), the Allies assigned codenames to them. The basic rules for these,
not always followed, were:

Bombers, dive bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, seaplanes, torpedo
bombers -- Girls' names
Fighters, reconnaissance seaplanes -- Boys' names
Gliders -- Names of birds
Trainers -- Names of trees
Transport aircraft -- Girls' names beginning with "T"

The following list gives various designations for some of the more
important Japanese aircraft of WW2:

Aichi D3A = Navy Type 99 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Val
Kawanishi H8K = Navy Type 2 Flying-Boat = Emily
Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shinden = George
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu = Navy Type 2 Heavy Fighter = Nick
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien = Navy Type 3 Fighter = Tony
Kawasaki Ki-100 = Navy Type 5 Fighter
Kyofu N1K = Rex
Mitsubishi A5M = Navy Type 96 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Claude
Mitsubishi A6M = Navy Type 0 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Zeke
Mitsubishi F1M = Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane = Pete
Mitsubishi G4M = Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber = Betty
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden = Jack
Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane = C5M = Babs
Mitsubishi Ki-21 = Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber = Sally
Mitsubishi Ki-30 = Army Type 97 Light Bomber = Ann
Mitsubishi Ki-46 Shitei = Army Type 100 Reconnaissance Aircraft = Dinah
Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu = Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber = Peggy
Nakajima B5N = Navy Type 97 Carrier-Borne Bomber = Kate
Nakajima B6N Tenzan = Jill
Nakajima J1N Gekko = Irving
Nakajima Ki-27 = Army Type 97 Fighter = Nate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa = Army Type 1 Fighter = Oscar
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki = Army Type 2 Fighter = Tojo
Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu = Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber = Helen
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate = Army Type 4 Fighter = Frank
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei = Judy
Yokosuka P1Y Ginga = Frances

------------------------------

Subject: 6.13. Swedish aircraft designations

The aircraft designations used by the Swedish armed forces consist of a set
of letters to indicate the role, and a number to indicate an aircraft type,
with a space between them. A letter may be added after the number to
indicate subtypes.

The numbers are assigned in a single sequence for all types of aircraft.
The same number is always used for the same basic aircraft type, but the
prefix may be changed to indicate different roles.

Role codes (these may be combined, e.g. "JA" for fighter/attack):

A = Attack
B = Bomb
Fpl = Flygplan (aeroplane; used for multirole light aircraft)
Hkp = Helikopter
J = Jakt (fighter)
S = Spaning (reconnaissance)
SF = Spaning foto (photographic reconnaissance)
SH = Spaning havsövervakning (maritime reconnaissance)
Sk = Skol (trainer)
T = Torped (torpedo bomber) (obsolete)
Tp = Transport
The following types are currently in Swedish service:

Hkp 3 = Agusta/Bell AB-204 Iroquois
Hkp 4 = Boeing/Kawasaki KV-107 Sea Knight
Hkp 5 = Schweizer (Hughes) 300
Hkp 6 = Agusta/Bell AB-206 Jetranger
Hkp 9 = MBB BO 105
Hkp 10 = Aérospatiale AS.332 Super Puma
J 32 = Saab Lansen
J/Sk 35 = Saab Draken
AJ/AJS/JA/SF/SH/Sk 37 = Saab Viggen
JAS 39 = Saab Gripen
Sk 50 = Saab Safir
Fpl 53 = Dornier 27
Tp 54 = Piper PA-31 Navajo
Sk 60 = Saab 105
Fpl/Sk 61 = BAe Bulldog
Tp 84 = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Tp 86 = Rockwell Sabreliner
Tp 88 = Fairchild Metro
SH 89 = CASA C-212 Aviocar
Tp 100 = Saab 340
Tp 101 = Beech Super King Air
Tp 102 = Gulfstream IV

Subject: 6.8. British aircraft designations

Unlike the US system, the proper name is the principal part of an
aircraft's formal designation in British service. The full designation
consists of the name, a letter or set of letters indicating the role, and a
mark number; in a few cases the mark number is followed by a letter
indicating a modification. The full designation is written as, for
example, "Tornado GR.1A", or sometimes "Tornado GR Mk 1A" (the Tornado GR.1
is the ground attack/reconnaissance version of the Tornado; the GR.1A is a
variant in which one of the two guns is replaced by reconnaissance gear).

For export versions, the role letters are usually left out, and the mark
numbers are restarted from a high number, usually 50 (for example, the
Indian Navy's Sea Harriers are Mk 51).

Before WW2, mark numbers alone were used, and were written in Roman
numerals; during the war, the role letters were added, and conventional
numerals were used for mark numbers above 20. The Roman numerals were
dropped altogether after the war; apart from that, the system has remained
largely unchanged.

Role letters (an asterisk indicates an obsolete code):

AEW = Airborne early warning
AH = Army helicopter
AL = Army liaison
AS = Anti-submarine (*)
B = Bomber
B(I) = Bomber/interdictor
B(K) = Bomber/tanker
B(PR) = Bomber/photo-reconnaissance
C = Cargo transport
CC = Communications (also used for VIP transports)
E = Electronic warfare
F = Fighter
F/A = Fighter/attack
FAW = All-weather fighter (*)
FB = Fighter/bomber (*)
FG = Fighter/ground attack
FGA = Fighter/ground attack
FGR = Fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance
FR = Fighter/reconnaissance
FRS = Fighter/reconnaissance/strike
GA = Ground attack
GR = Ground attack/reconnaissance
HAR = Search and rescue helicopter
HAS = Anti-submarine helicopter
HC = Cargo helicopter
HCC = Communications helicopter (also used for VIP transports)
HT = Training helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
K = Tanker
KC = Tanker/transport
Met = Weather reconnaissance (*)
MR = Maritime reconnaissance
NF = Night fighter (*)
PR = Photographic reconnaissance
R = Reconnaissance
S = Strike
SR = Strategic reconnaissance
T = Trainer
TF = Torpedo fighter (*)
TT = Target tug
U = Unmanned drone
W = Weather reconnaissance

------------------------------

Subject: 6.9. Canadian aircraft designations

The Canadian designation system is based on a simplified version of the
American system. A designation consists of the letter "C" (for Canadian),
a letter to indicate the aircraft's role, a dash, and a number, sometimes
followed by a letter to indicate a modification (usually "A" for a modified
version, or "D" for a dual-control trainer). The numbers are assigned in a
single sequence for all types in Canadian service, and are always over 100.

This has led to a few aircraft having a real designation that differs from
the one they're commonly known by; for example, the F-5 and F/A-18 in
Canadian service are usually referred to as the CF-5 and CF-18, but the
correct designations are CF-116 and CF-188, respectively.

Role letters:

C = Cargo transport
F = Fighter
H = Helicopter
P = Maritime patrol
T = Trainer

Types in current Canadian service:

CC-109 Cosmopolitan = Convair 440
CH-113 Labrador = Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
CT-114 Tutor = Canadair CL-41 Tutor
CC-115 Buffalo = De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
CF-116 = Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
CH-118 Iroquois = Bell UH-1 Iroquois
CH-124 Sea King = Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
CC-130 Hercules = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
CT-133 Silver Star = Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
CH-135 = Bell 212
CH-136 Kiowa = Bell OH-58 Kiowa
CC-137 = Boeing 707
CC-138 Twin Otter = De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
CH-139 Jetranger = Bell 206 Jetranger
CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus = Lockheed P-3 Orion derivative
CC-142/CT-142 = De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8
CC-144 Challenger = Canadair CL-601 Challenger
CH-146 = Bell 412
CC-150 Polaris = Airbus A310
CF-188 Hornet = McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

------------------------------

Subject: 6.10. Chinese aircraft designations

Chinese aircraft use a fairly simple system consisting of a letter or
letters to indicate the role, a dash, and a number, sometimes followed by
additional letters or numbers to indicate subtypes. The role letters are
often replaced by their English equivalents for export versions (for
example, the export version of the Q-5 (Qiang = Attack) is the A-5).

The numeric sequences always start with 5. Oddly enough for the last
bastion of Communism, this is the result of superstition; 4 is considered
an unlucky number in China (because the Chinese words for "four" and
"death" are very similar). The designation "J-2" for the licence-built
MiG-15 is an exception, probably allocated retrospectively, after the
Chinese and Soviet governments parted ways.

Role letters:

CJ (export PT) = Chujiao (basic trainer)
H (export B) = Hong (bomber)
J (export F) = Jian (fighter)
JJ (export FT) = Jianjiao (fighter trainer)
Q (export A) = Qiang (attack)
SH (export PS) = Shuihong (maritime bomber)
Y = Yun (transport)
Z = Zhi (vertical, i.e. helicopter)

Many Russian, and more recently Western, aircraft have been manufactured in
China and given Chinese designations. These include:

CJ-5 = Yakovlev Yak-18 "Max"
H-5 = Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle"
H-6 = Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger"
J-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15 "Fagot"
J-5 = Mikoyan MiG-17 "Fresco"
J-6 = Mikoyan MiG-19 "Farmer"
J-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21 "Fishbed"
JJ-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15UTI "Midget"
JJ-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21U "Mongol" (but see below)
Y-5 = Antonov An-2 "Colt"
Y-7 = Antonov An-24/26 "Coke/Curl"
Y-8 = Antonov An-12 "Cub"
Z-5 = Mil Mi-4 "Hare"
Z-8 = Aérospatiale AS.321 Super Frelon
Z-9 = Aérospatiale AS.365 Dauphin 2

Training versions of the J-5 and J-6 were built (JJ-5 and JJ-6); these had
no Russian counterparts (there was no MiG-17U or MiG-19U). Equating the
JJ-7 to the MiG-21U in the list above is slightly misleading, since the
trainer version was developed independently, not based on the Russian
trainer. Indigenous Chinese fighter designs have gone up to at least J-12,
although only the J-8 has entered service so far (see 2.3).

Two Chinese aircraft have been given NATO codenames: J-8 "Finback" and Q-5
"Fantan".

------------------------------

Subject: 6.11. German aircraft designations (WW2)

German aircraft were identified by two letters denoting the manufacturing
company, a number denoting the aircraft type (separated from the letters by
a space), and various modifiers for subtypes.

Manufacturer codes:

Ar = Arado
Ba = Bachem
Bf = Messerschmitt
Bü = Bücker
Bv = Blohm und Voss
Do = Dornier
Fa = Focke-Achgelis
Fi = Fieseler
Fl = Flettner
Fw = Focke-Wulf
Go = Gotha
Ha = Blohm und Voss
He = Heinkel
Ho = Horten
Hs = Henschel
Ju = Junkers
Me = Messerschmitt
Ta = Focke-Wulf

"Bf" for Messerschmitt came from Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, the company's
name before Willy Messerschmitt took over. "Ha" for Blohm und Voss came
from Hamburger Flugzeugbau, the name of the aircraft division of the Blohm
und Voss shipbuilding company. "Ta" for Focke-Wulf was used in honour of
designer Kurt Tank.

Type numbers were assigned by the RLM (air ministry); a single sequence was
used for all manufacturers. Related types were often given numbers
differing by 100; for example, the Messerschmitt Me 210 was designed as a
replacement for the Bf 110, and was developed into the Me 310 (abandoned
before flight) and Me 410.

Prototype aircraft had a "V" followed by a number identifying individual
aircraft, separated from the main designation by a space (e.g. Me 262 V1).
Major variants were denoted by a letter immediately following the type
number (e.g. Me 262A), minor variants by a number separated from the major
variant letter by a dash (e.g. Me 262A-1). Pre-production aircraft had a
zero in this position (e.g. Me 262A-0). Further variations on a subtype
could be denoted by a lower case letter attached to the variant number
(e.g. Me 262A-1a). Modified aircraft were indicated by "/R" or "/U" and a
number (e.g. Me 262A-1a/U5), or by "/Trop" (which I assume indicated a
tropical climate adaption).

------------------------------

Subject: 6.12. Japanese aircraft designations and codenames (WW2)

Japanese aircraft designations are a highly confusing subject, since four
different systems were in use simultaneously in Japan, in addition to the
codenames used by the Allies. The Japanese Army and Navy each used two
systems to identify the same aircraft, so a type used by both services
(there were a few) could theoretically have up to five different
designations -- Japanese Army Kitai number, Army type number, Navy
designation code, Navy type number, and Allied codename!

Just to confuse matters a bit further, a few types were known best by
nicknames that had no official status. The Mitsubishi A6M fighter, also
known as the Carrier-Borne Fighter Type 0, had the official Allied codename
of "Zeke"; but it went down in history under the unofficial nickname used
by both sides: "Zero".

The Japanese Army Air Force identified aircraft by "Kitai" (airframe)
numbers, which simply consisted of "Ki", a dash, and a number. Originally
the numbers were a simple numeric sequence; later, some randomisation was
added, as a security measure. Gliders received "Ku" ("Guraida") numbers
instead. Subtypes or variants were indicated by Roman numeral suffixes, or
by various Japanese abbreviations (a common one was "Kai" (for "Kaizo"),
indicating a major modification).

In addition to Kitai numbers, most Army aircraft also received a second
designation in a parallel system based on role and the year of entry into
service. Originally this was the last two digits of the year; 100 was used
for the Japanese year 2600 (1940), then the numbers were restarted from 1.

Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft received a designation code very similar to
those used by the US Navy. This consisted of a letter to indicate the
aircraft's function, a sequential number to indicate a specific aircraft
type (unlike the USN system, the number 1 was left in), and a letter to
indicate the manufacturing company. This was followed by a dash and a
number to indicate a subtype, plus an optional letter or letters for
further variations.

Function letters:

A = Carrier-borne fighter
B = Carrier-borne torpedo bomber
C = Carrier-borne reconnaissance
D = Carrier-borne dive bomber
E = Reconnaissance seaplane
F = Observation seaplane
G = Land-based bomber
H = Flying-boat
J = Land-based fighter
K = Trainer
L = Transport
M = Special-purpose seaplane
N = Fighter seaplane
P = Bomber
Q = Patrol
R = Land-based reconnaissance
S = Night fighter

Some manufacturer letters:

A = Aichi
D = Showa
K = Kawanishi
M = Mitsubishi
N = Nakajima
P = Nihon
V = Seversky
W = Kyushu, Watanabe
Y = Yokosuka

The IJN also used a parallel system based on role description and year
number, similar to (but independent of) the Army's, except that the year
2600 (1940) became 0 instead of 100. This system was abandoned in 1943,
when it was decided that revealing the year of an aircraft's entry into
service might give useful information to the enemy. Aircraft were then
given proper names instead.

Because the correct designations of Japanese aircraft were often not known
(and, as you've probably gathered by now, difficult to keep straight
anyway), the Allies assigned codenames to them. The basic rules for these,
not always followed, were:

Bombers, dive bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, seaplanes, torpedo
bombers -- Girls' names
Fighters, reconnaissance seaplanes -- Boys' names
Gliders -- Names of birds
Trainers -- Names of trees
Transport aircraft -- Girls' names beginning with "T"

The following list gives various designations for some of the more
important Japanese aircraft of WW2:

Aichi D3A = Navy Type 99 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Val
Kawanishi H8K = Navy Type 2 Flying-Boat = Emily
Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shinden = George
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu = Navy Type 2 Heavy Fighter = Nick
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien = Navy Type 3 Fighter = Tony
Kawasaki Ki-100 = Navy Type 5 Fighter
Kyofu N1K = Rex
Mitsubishi A5M = Navy Type 96 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Claude
Mitsubishi A6M = Navy Type 0 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Zeke
Mitsubishi F1M = Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane = Pete
Mitsubishi G4M = Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber = Betty
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden = Jack
Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane = C5M = Babs
Mitsubishi Ki-21 = Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber = Sally
Mitsubishi Ki-30 = Army Type 97 Light Bomber = Ann
Mitsubishi Ki-46 Shitei = Army Type 100 Reconnaissance Aircraft = Dinah
Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu = Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber = Peggy
Nakajima B5N = Navy Type 97 Carrier-Borne Bomber = Kate
Nakajima B6N Tenzan = Jill
Nakajima J1N Gekko = Irving
Nakajima Ki-27 = Army Type 97 Fighter = Nate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa = Army Type 1 Fighter = Oscar
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki = Army Type 2 Fighter = Tojo
Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu = Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber = Helen
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate = Army Type 4 Fighter = Frank
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei = Judy
Yokosuka P1Y Ginga = Frances

------------------------------

Subject: 6.13. Swedish aircraft designations

The aircraft designations used by the Swedish armed forces consist of a set
of letters to indicate the role, and a number to indicate an aircraft type,
with a space between them. A letter may be added after the number to
indicate subtypes.

The numbers are assigned in a single sequence for all types of aircraft.
The same number is always used for the same basic aircraft type, but the
prefix may be changed to indicate different roles.

Role codes (these may be combined, e.g. "JA" for fighter/attack):

A = Attack
B = Bomb
Fpl = Flygplan (aeroplane; used for multirole light aircraft)
Hkp = Helikopter
J = Jakt (fighter)
S = Spaning (reconnaissance)
SF = Spaning foto (photographic reconnaissance)
SH = Spaning havsövervakning (maritime reconnaissance)
Sk = Skol (trainer)
T = Torped (torpedo bomber) (obsolete)
Tp = Transport
The following types are currently in Swedish service:

Hkp 3 = Agusta/Bell AB-204 Iroquois
Hkp 4 = Boeing/Kawasaki KV-107 Sea Knight
Hkp 5 = Schweizer (Hughes) 300
Hkp 6 = Agusta/Bell AB-206 Jetranger
Hkp 9 = MBB BO 105
Hkp 10 = Aérospatiale AS.332 Super Puma
J 32 = Saab Lansen
J/Sk 35 = Saab Draken
AJ/AJS/JA/SF/SH/Sk 37 = Saab Viggen
JAS 39 = Saab Gripen
Sk 50 = Saab Safir
Fpl 53 = Dornier 27
Tp 54 = Piper PA-31 Navajo
Sk 60 = Saab 105
Fpl/Sk 61 = BAe Bulldog
Tp 84 = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Tp 86 = Rockwell Sabreliner
Tp 88 = Fairchild Metro
SH 89 = CASA C-212 Aviocar
Tp 100 = Saab 340
Tp 101 = Beech Super King Air
Tp 102 = Gulfstream IV