View Full Version : Why do Americans not like names for aircraft?
Carbon Life Form
20th Apr 2002, 02:29
Anyone have an opinion on this?
They just don't like to use names for planes even if its given one,
ever heard an L1011 called a Tristar, a 747, Jumbo
in the USA?
Nothing personal, just wondered why?
In the slot
20th Apr 2002, 05:24
Yup, generally your statement seems true for commercial aircraft, though have often heard the news reporting a Jumbo jet and seen anything from a B767 in size and up pictured!
Consider, however, light aircraft. Normally names are used rather than numbers, eg Piper Arrow rather than PA28, Beech Baron rather than BE-55 0r 58, etc. That adds to the strength of your query.
Robert Vesco
20th Apr 2002, 07:19
Well, please donīt be as stupid as here in Switzerland where an AVRO is a "Jumbolino" :rolleyes: , a Saab 340 is a "Cityliner" :rolleyes: and a Saab 2000 is a "Concordino" :rolleyes:
Duuuuh !
Bigmouth
20th Apr 2002, 11:12
Same goes for military aircraft.
P40 in the U.S., Kitty- or Warhawk elsewhere
AT-6.... , Harvard... (Texan in the U.S., but nobody used it).
A-20... , Boston... (Havoc ...)
Why do they call them apartments when they put them so close together?
I donīt know
RRAAMJET
22nd Apr 2002, 17:21
US Navy usually uses names:
Hellcat, Wildcat, Dauntless, Intruder, Vigilante, Tomcat, blahblah
Indeed, many of my colleagues use the un-official names for the Airbus products:
"babe" - pig that thinks it's a dog
#40 FPS/ #30 FPS - French piece of ****
etc :p
underboost
22nd Apr 2002, 21:23
Methinks American pilots almost always have names for their airplanes. However, they're unlikely to use the cutesy names dreamed up by the manufacturers. Everyone knows what a Diesel-8 is, and most are familar with the Guppy, Whale, and Three-Holer.
Flathatter
24th Apr 2002, 09:16
Gooney bird, Bandit, Mixmaster, Thud, Jug, Dumbo, Lead Sled, ...
GlueBall
25th Apr 2002, 19:26
Pan Am had put names on all of its "Jet Clippers."
Eastern Airlines identified its airplanes as "Whisperjet" and "Whisperliner." :eek:
...and TWA called the 1649A the "Starliner"
Ah....Lockheed !!
ICT_SLB
26th Apr 2002, 04:17
Latest airplane name from inside the Lazy B:
"Chronic Snoozer"