USAF aircraft designation
Discussion
A question I've long wondered - how does the USAF designate their aircraft?
Not only do the various categories not go at all in order of aircraft chronology, but several aircraft have the same code designation (F4 Corsair, F4 Phantom etc).
On a related note, what differentiating factors led to a fighter plane being either F for fighter or P for Pursuit? What even is Pursuit?
Any answers glady appreciated!
Thanks,
Matt
Not only do the various categories not go at all in order of aircraft chronology, but several aircraft have the same code designation (F4 Corsair, F4 Phantom etc).
On a related note, what differentiating factors led to a fighter plane being either F for fighter or P for Pursuit? What even is Pursuit?
Any answers glady appreciated!
Thanks,
Matt
The USAF only came into being in 1947, Prior to that, the USA's land based aircraft were flown by the US Army.
It was the US Army who decided that fighter aircraft be prefixed with the letter "P" , for pursuit. The US Navy had a very different system based on separate designators for the aircraft based on the manufacturer and the role of the aircraft.
When the USAF came into being in 1947, they changed the "P" designator to "F" for fighter. Any previously "P" designated aircraft still in service in 1947 were redesignated "F". For example, the P-51, P-84 and P-86 all were all "rebranded" F-51, F-84 and F-86.
All new aircraft received the "F" prefix from the start.
The next major change was in the early 1960s. In an effort to streamline the procurement system, and to try and stamp out expensive and duplicated projects caused by rivalry between the US Navy and US Air Force, the Kennedy administration decided to scrap the separate designator systems used by the USAF and the Navy and came up with a new combined services system.
From the start, the plan was to restart the sequences with F1 for the fighters and B1 for the bombers. However, the bombers continued with the original sequence for a few more years until the Rockwell B1 project emerged in 1969/70.
By 1960, the fighter designations had made it up to F-110 - the F-110 being the Air Forces designation for the US Navy's Phantom II. However, the Phantom was redesignated F-4 and F-110 was never really used. However, F-111 WAS - and, strangely enough, F-117 was also used for the Lockeed Stealth Fighter (which was really a bomber - so a bit of disinformation going on there).
So, there was logic to the various systems used, but a lot of inconsistency also crept in.
It was the US Army who decided that fighter aircraft be prefixed with the letter "P" , for pursuit. The US Navy had a very different system based on separate designators for the aircraft based on the manufacturer and the role of the aircraft.
When the USAF came into being in 1947, they changed the "P" designator to "F" for fighter. Any previously "P" designated aircraft still in service in 1947 were redesignated "F". For example, the P-51, P-84 and P-86 all were all "rebranded" F-51, F-84 and F-86.
All new aircraft received the "F" prefix from the start.
The next major change was in the early 1960s. In an effort to streamline the procurement system, and to try and stamp out expensive and duplicated projects caused by rivalry between the US Navy and US Air Force, the Kennedy administration decided to scrap the separate designator systems used by the USAF and the Navy and came up with a new combined services system.
From the start, the plan was to restart the sequences with F1 for the fighters and B1 for the bombers. However, the bombers continued with the original sequence for a few more years until the Rockwell B1 project emerged in 1969/70.
By 1960, the fighter designations had made it up to F-110 - the F-110 being the Air Forces designation for the US Navy's Phantom II. However, the Phantom was redesignated F-4 and F-110 was never really used. However, F-111 WAS - and, strangely enough, F-117 was also used for the Lockeed Stealth Fighter (which was really a bomber - so a bit of disinformation going on there).
So, there was logic to the various systems used, but a lot of inconsistency also crept in.
They don't always follow their own rules - which is a bit annoying.
The old US Navy's designation system (prior to 1962) was even more tortuous.
Each airframe manufacturer was given a company code letter.
Each aircraft role was given a code letter or letters.
And each individual aircraft was given a number based on the number of different types that had been ordered from the particular manufacturer.
For instance, Grumman had the letter "F". Thus the Wildcat was designated the F4F which worked out as "F" for Fighter, "4" for the 4th Grumman design ordered by the Navy and "F" for Grumman.
The Douglas Devastator was the TBD, with "TB" for Torpedo Bomber and "D" for Douglas.
The Avenger was TBF, if built by Grumman or TBM, if built by General Motors.
The famous DC-3 was known as the R4D in Navy service. It was the C-47 in USAAF service.
The old US Navy's designation system (prior to 1962) was even more tortuous.
Each airframe manufacturer was given a company code letter.
Each aircraft role was given a code letter or letters.
And each individual aircraft was given a number based on the number of different types that had been ordered from the particular manufacturer.
For instance, Grumman had the letter "F". Thus the Wildcat was designated the F4F which worked out as "F" for Fighter, "4" for the 4th Grumman design ordered by the Navy and "F" for Grumman.
The Douglas Devastator was the TBD, with "TB" for Torpedo Bomber and "D" for Douglas.
The Avenger was TBF, if built by Grumman or TBM, if built by General Motors.
The famous DC-3 was known as the R4D in Navy service. It was the C-47 in USAAF service.
Eric Mc said:
By 1960, the fighter designations had made it up to F-110 - the F-110 being the Air Forces designation for the US Navy's Phantom II. However, the Phantom was redesignated F-4 and F-110 was never really used. However, F-111 WAS - and, strangely enough, F-117 was also used for the Lockeed Stealth Fighter (which was really a bomber - so a bit of disinformation going on there).
Wasn't also the "100" series reserved to designate supersonic fighters? Or is it something I had dreamt of?
AlexIT said:
Eric Mc said:
By 1960, the fighter designations had made it up to F-110 - the F-110 being the Air Forces designation for the US Navy's Phantom II. However, the Phantom was redesignated F-4 and F-110 was never really used. However, F-111 WAS - and, strangely enough, F-117 was also used for the Lockeed Stealth Fighter (which was really a bomber - so a bit of disinformation going on there).
Wasn't also the "100" series reserved to designate supersonic fighters? The F-86 itself was supersonic in a dive. The F-117 was not supersonic.
AlexIT said:
Should have been indeed.
However already back then the possibility to have a shared fighter for both the AF and the Navy fell apart (history teaches us nothing, eh?).
And wouldn't it be a bit strange that the reason it retained an "old school" USAF style fighter designation was due to the fighter requirement of the US Navy. The USAF only wanted it as a bomber.However already back then the possibility to have a shared fighter for both the AF and the Navy fell apart (history teaches us nothing, eh?).
If it had entered service with the US Navy, it would have been the only US Navy aircraft to operate under a USAF designator (excluding the "joint" designations in use after 1962).
Because in the 1920s they were separate US Government Departments with their own independent civil service and their own procurement methods, rules and regulations.
There was no Department of Defense back then. There was the Department of the Navy (which also controlled the US Marines) and the War Department which controlled the US Army.
There was no Department of Defense back then. There was the Department of the Navy (which also controlled the US Marines) and the War Department which controlled the US Army.
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