United States of America military aircraft designation systems

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The United States Military Aircraft Designation System was first designed in 1919 when the US Army's Aeronautical Division became the United States Army Air Service. Before this aircraft were put into service under their manufacturers designation.[1]

Contents

History

Air Force

From 1920 to 1947 the United States Army Air Service, United States Army Air Corps, and United States Army Air Forces used a designation system based on mission category, with each model in a category numbered sequentially.[2]

From 1947 to 1962 the United States Air Force used a mission-based system derived from the 1920-1947 system. For instance, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Pursuit) was redesignated as F-80 (Fighter), but the Convair B-36 bomber kept its previous designation.[3]

Navy system

Main article: 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system

From 29 March 1922 to 18 September 1962 the United States Navy (including United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard) used a completely separate designation system, based on both mission and manufacturer.[4]

Tri-service system (Air Force/Navy/Army)

Main article: 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system

Since 18 September 1962 a joint system of mission-based designations has been used, with most of these restarting from 1.[5] Various previously-designated models from the pre-1962 Army-Air Force system (such as the F-111) were not redesignated. All in-use aircraft from the pre-1962 Navy-Marine Corps system were redesignated, except for the McDonnell F4H Phantom II/F-110 Spectre which was re-designated the "F-4 Phantom II" in all services.

Individual system pages

References

  1. ^ Angelucci, 1987. p. 9.
  2. ^ Angelucci, 1987. p. 9.
  3. ^ Angelucci, 1987. p. 10.
  4. ^ Angelucci, 1987. p. 10.
  5. ^ Angelucci, 1987. p. 11.

Bibliography

  • Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books. 

See also

External links

A comprehensive explanation can be found at Systems of Designation.
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