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bonzaman
13th Mar 2006, 20:46
I have just been asked to explain why US Military aircraft are designated with a P. IE P51 etc. Can anybody help me with an explanation?

4Greens
13th Mar 2006, 20:52
P stands for Pursuit, nowadays replaced with F for Fighter or FA for Fighter Attack as in FA 18.

Tarnished
13th Mar 2006, 21:01
The full current designation system is here. P was Pursuit, it is now Patrol

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/aircraft.html

Tarnished

bonzaman
13th Mar 2006, 21:02
Thanks 4 Greens for your prompt reply.

Evileyes
13th Mar 2006, 21:30
And in the USN/USMC "PT" was "Primary Trainer" as in PT-22

rigpiggy
14th Mar 2006, 15:06
don't forget bt and at ie: bt13 or at6 harvard

chevvron
15th Mar 2006, 12:05
And A for attack was replaced by B for bomber eg A26 (Invader)became B26, which was confusing cos there already was a B26 (Marauder)!!

barit1
16th Mar 2006, 01:42
And in the USN/USMC "PT" was "Primary Trainer" as in PT-22

Not quite!

PT-13, -15, -19, -22 etc. were USAAC (later USAAF) designations, not USN/USMC. The PT-22 in Navy colors was known as NR-1 (i.e. trainer, Ryan)