EF2000 Euroblighter was named 'Typhoon' after a meeting between the major European partners some years ago..........
UK: "We need a name for this new jet. We don't think that ‘Spitfire II’ would be terribly suitable, so we suggest following on the 'wind' tradition started by Tornado. How about 'Tempest'?"
Germany: "Nein! Ve are with this not happy being. Verdammte Englanders did my father in his Me262 mit ein Hawker Tempest shoot down. Ve suggest Sturm!"
UK: "No, sorry old chap. Too many memories of Storm Troopers goose-stepping across Europe..... We'd prefer 'Hurricane'"
Germany: "Nein. This is not possible."
UK: "OK - something else then. How about 'Typhoon'.....?"
Germany: "Nein! You also had those in the Second Weltkrieg. Ve do NOT vant unser aircraft so named being"
UK: "Ah - but you had a 'Typhoon' or rather 'Taifun' as well. Bf 108 Taifun, if you recall. In fact Lufthansa still have one in the Deutschen Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung....along with a Ju 52!"
Germany: "Ach Himmel! Sie haben recht. Ve did indeed. Perhaps ve can consider this?"
UK: "OK - perhaps. Or what about 'Cyclone'? No-one has ever had any aeroplane called 'Cyclone'?"
Germany: "Hmm. Sehr interesting. Zis ist perhaps OK. Ja - ve are liking 'Cyclone', oder, wie sagt man auf Deutsch, 'Zyklon'. Ve can fur das Singleseaterflugzeug 'Zyklon A' have, und für das Doppelseaterjagdbomberflugzeug, vielleicht 'Zyklon B'......"
UK: "Ahhh - we don't think that would be a terribly good name. We want to sell our jet overseas. We don't think that 'Zyklon B' would go down terribly well with some of our potential Middle Eastern customers......"
Germany: "Ach so. Perhaps then ve should agree on 'Taifun'!"
UK: "Yes. ‘Typhoon’ it is then. Spot of lunch, old chap?"
Germany: "Danke"
Italy: "Lunch? Si, we agree."
Spain: "¿Qué?"