F-35B - RAF/RN designation?

[Underbolt]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere (I did try and check), but do we yet know what the F-35B will be called - formally, at least - in UK service?


To the best of my knowledge we've never stuck a 'II' at the end of a name, either when using one for the second (or third?) time, or when buying an American type like the Phantom II. In the former case, the original almost always pre-dated the current designation system, so there wasn't any problem making the new one F.1 or GR.1, with the exception of the Harrier II, which jumped straight in as Harrier GR.5.


On that basis is it fair to expect the Lightning FGR.7 (or FGR.8 if it's deemed that the F.7 did actually exist on paper), or is it going to be a law unto itself?

[Heathrow Harry]

Fairey IIIF anyone??

[PDR1]

Well for its last few types (Hawk, Tornado, Typhoon) the RAF has been reviving old Hawker names. SO I'd assumed the UK F-35 would be called the Tempest, or perhaps the Hart/Hind/Demon.

PDR

[Martin the Martian]

I expect it will be the Lightning FG.1, unless we accept it as the F-35B. Remember that the C-17 is still the C-17, even after we bought it outright, and never became the Globemaster C.1.

[Treble one]

Of course the RAF can change their mind in naming new types-IIRC the Airbus A400M was originally to be known as the Grizzly in RAF service (now the Atlas of course).


Or am I having a senior moment?

[Underbolt]

I expect it will be the Lightning FG.1, unless we accept it as the F-35B.


But surely you can only use each mark number once, and Mk 1 was the F.1? Hence Tornado GR.1 and F.2, Typhoon T.1 and F.2 etc.


Remember that the C-17 is still the C-17, even after we bought it outright, and never became the Globemaster C.1.

I did remember that, but haven't we called 51 Sqn's new toys Airseeker R.1 instead of sticking with RC-135W?

[Martin the Martian]

You are correct, as Grizzly was the Airbus name for it. I understand that the then-CAS was heard to mention something like 'over my dead body' before the RAF adopted the name.

[Lonewolf_50]

Why not call it the F-35 the Vampire? It's so stealthy and lowly observable that it can't see its own reflection in a mirror. :E (Not to mention how its cost may suck the blood out of a defense budget ... :} :cool: )

[Wander00]

Canberra II.................hat, coat.........

[GeeRam]

I thought we did a vote thread on this years and years ago......and we ended up with it being called Dave....... :) despite whatever official name the MOD may bestow on the thing :E

[PDR1]

Well yes, but it's a yank. So rather than "Dave" surely we'd call it something like "Hiram T. Lightningsun"

PDR

[pr00ne]

Lightning FG1.

[Tankertrashnav]

As long as they don't call it Planey MacPlaneface I don't really care!

[Wrathmonk]

Planey MacPlaneface

Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. Close the thread. ;)

[Tourist]

:D+1..................

[Davef68]

But surely you can only use each mark number once, and Mk 1 was the F.1? Hence Tornado GR.1 and F.2, Typhoon T.1 and F.2 etc.




I did remember that, but haven't we called 51 Sqn's new toys Airseeker R.1 instead of sticking with RC-135W?
Underbolt,

You can reuse the mark numbers when the aircraft is a new type - the Harrier was a greatly updated version, but still a Harrier. The F-35 has no progressional relationship with the old EE product, so it's a new type.

(Actually can't think on an example where the RAF/UK has re-used a name in recent times that was relatively recently in being out of service - several WW2 and earlier ones, but not any in service in the last 50 years or so)

[MPN11]

The English vocabulary is surely sufficiently extensive to allow a new name? Do we have to live in the past?

[Union Jack]

The English vocabulary is surely sufficiently extensive to allow a new name? Do we have to live in the past? - MPN11

It certainly is, so perhaps, certainly so far as future squadron service in the new carriers is concerned, it might almost be named "Mirage" - Oh! hang on.....:=

Jack

[skydiver69]

The English vocabulary is surely sufficiently extensive to allow a new name? Do we have to live in the past?
Lets resurrect 'Dave' which was doing the rounds on PPRuNe a couple of years ago.

[PDR1]

I think we should follow the late and much missed Iain M Banks' concept in naming military equipment. OK, so it may not adapt so well to the naming of aircraft types, but I still think the two CVFs should have been named "HMS Diplomacy Has Failed" and "HMS No More Mr Nice Guy".

PDR

[The B Word]

Jump Jet F@nny and her Hawker-Siddeley Tw@t?

[Tourist]

I think we should follow the late and much missed Iain M Banks' concept in naming military equipment. OK, so it may not adapt so well to the naming of aircraft types, but I still think the two CVFs should have been named "HMS Diplomacy Has Failed" and "HMS No More Mr Nice Guy".

PDR

Great idea!

I think that there are plenty of suitable Culture names for F35, starting with "Grey Area" and of course it's pseudonym!

[Buster Hyman]

The Pretty Gannet for RN?

[FinelyChopped]

PDR1, surely those names would be lacking in sufficient gravitas?

[Tourist]

"Slightly more Gravitas than we hoped"?

[VX275]

The real problem is that this aircraft will not be the second type called Lightning by the RAF, its the third. Of course the first type was only fit to be used as ground targets on the Ashley Walk range.

[airborne_artist]

"Slightly more Gravitas than we hoped"

Jaguar II then? :E

[Heathrow Harry]

Overstrand II

[Davef68]

I'd be surprised if we call it anything other than Lightning, but the mark designator may be fun - do we go RAF style FG mk1 or Navy Style FA mk1?

Or do we use mk 2 to avoid confusing the Colonial Cousins (with it being equivalent to their 'B') - a precedent for out-of-sequence marks having been established with the Voyager.

[ORAC]

Since one of its attributes is reconnaissance, surely that should be FGR.1?

[Martin the Martian]

With regard to reusing old names, the Americans seem to like that sort of thing:

Phantom II, Tiger II, Globemaster III, Thunderbolt II ad nauseam.

And as fr as the RC-135 is concerned, I think I am right in saying that Airseeker was the overall project name, but it is known as the RC-135 in service.

[Less Hair]

How about the Cyclone? (the next storm name)

[MPN11]

Is that the Wright idea, though? ;)

As it's going to be a FBAR type, what else did all those things ... such as the Mosquito?

[Courtney Mil]

Meteorological associations seem popular: Tornado, Typhoon, Hurricane, Wirlwind, Rafale, Lightning, etc. So we could have:

Thunderclap - easily shortened to "The Clap"

Shower - in honour of its development

Damp with Sunny Intervals - reflecting its progress so far.

[MPN11]

Being low-observable, surely the Fog FGR1 ?

[Out Of Trim]

Maybe the Aussies will call their's a Willy-Willy ;):E

[Lonewolf_50]

Being low-observable, surely the Fog FGR1 ?
Why not just call it that (expensive) Fogger, DR 1? :}

[chopper2004]

How about the Cyclone? (the next storm name)
COuld be confused with the RCAF CH-148 Cyclone new all singing all dancing maritime helo,

We could base it on an old iconic workhorse like Scimitar, Swordfish, Javelin, Swift,

cheers

[Lonewolf_50]

COuld be confused with the RCAF CH-148 Cyclone new all singing all dancing maritime helo,

We could base it on an old iconic workhorse like Scimitar, Swordfish, Javelin, Swift,

cheers Given that it's all stealthy, why not something like a ninja weapon:
Shuriken, Wakizashi, or Chokutō?

[Genstabler]

****ehawk FG1.

[riff_raff]

The US kept the name Harrier for their VTOL jet aircraft and the name Pegasus for its engine. The US kept the name Merlin for their R-R designed, but domestically produced V-12 piston engines used in WWII aircraft. On the other hand, the UK kept the name Apache for the AH-64 helos procured from the US.

[TBM-Legend]

Indulgence FGR-1

[Heathrow Harry]

The USAAF also kept the RAF name "Mustang" back in WW2 - they'd planned on "Apache" but it didn't happen

[Martin the Martian]

The Apache was the official name given to the A-36 dive bomber version of the Mustang. In practice it was rarely used, particularly once the P-51 was in widespread use. Boscombe Down had one for evaluation, though it was never given a British mark number.

[cattletruck]

Bumsteer FGR-1

Not just because it has a directional nozzle.

[MPN11]

I will stick to Mosquito. You can't see it but you can certainly hear it ... and then it bites.

And is the F-35 a Bomber or Ground Attack? ... doesn't bombing attack the ground anyway?

Mosquito FBR Mk 1, please ;)

[Lonewolf_50]

I will stick to Mosquito. You can't see it but you can certainly hear it ... and then it bites.

And is the F-35 a Bomber or Ground Attack? ... doesn't bombing attack the ground anyway?

Mosquito FBR Mk 1, please ;)
How about Mosquitwo?


(Mosquito II being incorrect RAFish).

[TBM-Legend]

Don't forget the ladies and those in the middle who might fly them>>

Princess FGRLBGT Mk 1