Author Topic: Mis-Designated (Read 8200 times)

alert5 · « **on:** February 02, 2006, 01:02:54 PM »

I was reading a small article recently about the F-117 Stealth Fighter, and to be honest I've thought about this for years - but why is it designated F for fighter when it isn't one? Also do you know of any other military aircraft that have been 'mis-designated'?

casper · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2006, 03:32:07 PM »

Was the SR-71 not mis-designated? Was there not something about it being called the RS-71 and whoever announced it to the world misread the press release and announced it as the SR-71?

alert5 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2006, 07:27:35 PM »

Hi Casper,

If this was the case with the Blackbird it was still designated 'R' for recon. I'm talking about were an aircraft has a designation that has no relevence to its job as in the stealth fighter example given.

Another one that I can think of is the F-15E Strike Eagle - it's primarily a strike aircraft but still retains its fighter (F) designation.

Tomcatboy48237 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2006, 05:16:57 PM »

I've always heard that the Air Force brass decided to call it a fighter because at the time (and probably still today) everyone wanted to fly fighters, and no one wanted to fly bombers. When they went out to recruit pilots for the program, they figured no self-respecting fighter jock would give up his fast jet to fly a 'bomber', so they called it a fighter instead.

Could be wrong, but thats just what I've heard.

alert5 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2006, 11:03:16 AM »

Why give up your Porche to drive a family saloon :lol:

casper · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2006, 12:34:41 PM »

Another one was the F-111. Designated 'Fighter' but was a bomber and Electronics Warefare aircraft it's whole career.

Tomcatboy48237 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2006, 09:38:39 PM »

The F-111 was actually designed for the Navy to be a large fighter based on aircraft carriers. It didn't have the required performance (I think it was too heavy) and the Navy scrapped it. The Air Force then picked it up as a tactical bomber.

By the way, the F-14 was then designed to fill the Navy's requirement that the F-111 couldn't.

alert5 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2006, 11:21:28 AM »

The F-111B - started out as a joint navy/airforce project to develop a common fighter and as you said Tomcat it was to heavy for the navy so the airforce carried on with it alone. It also turned out to have the best safety record of any combat type in the USAF.

News:

Author Topic: Mis-Designated (Read 8200 times)