....diplomatic blunder of naming the Eurofighter "Typhoon"
Actually, the EF2000 Euroblighter was named 'Typhoon' after a meeting between the 4 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 those in the Second Weltkrieg had. 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:
"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 für 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?"