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DarrylO
2nd Jul 2021, 16:23
Hi all. I've always found aircraft nicknames to be a source of amusement, so I've been copying and pasting a collection over the years from around the web. Here is what I found. Please add to it as you hear more!
Some make no sense. Some are hilarious. Caution younger readers, some of the names are on the blue side. But that's freedom of speech. And when some of these designs have killed dozens of people I think they've earned the right to me remembered in whatever way we say, whether that offends or not. History shouldn't be edited.

credit to B737.org and others: b737.org.uk and web.mit.edu/btyung/www/nickname




A10: Warthog

A318: Nanobus, Baby Bus

A319: Microbus, Shorty, Short Bus (Derogatory American phrase)

A320: MiniBus, NintendoJet, ScareBus, Chainsaw, Deathjet, Freddie Kruegers wet dream, Toulouse Grasscutter, The Strimmer, Fifi, Die-by-Wire, the French Bitch, Sully's Ark, Plastic Fantastic

A320 is known as 'The John Wayne' Because they 'Chop down trees, move mountains and kill Indians!'

A330: Slippy, The Aircraft in Plastic, The Bus, HalfPastThree

A340: Four-person Hair Dryer, LowRider (takes so long to get off the ground)

A340-400: the Noodle (as it's so long that it flexes like a noodle on takeoff)

A350: The Racoon

A380: Double Decker Bus, Megabus, Whalejet, the Wannabe Queen, Flying Forehead

A400M Atlas: Fatlass

Alouette: Chicken chaser

Antonov 2: Bumblebee, Annochka

Archer Maker: WidowMaker

AT6 Harvard: Halfard, Yellow Peril.

ATR: All Those Relays.

Avro Shackleton: Shacklecaster, flying Cow, Old Grey Lady, 10 Thousand rivets flying in loose formation

Avro Vulcan: Tin-triangle, Flat-iron, Mechanical Hang Glider

AW62 Argosy: Whistling Wheelbarrow (two tails makes it look like a wheelbarrow), Whistling/Flying Tit (because of the front nose profile), The Agony ( painful & noisy), The 40 ton converter (turns kerosene into noise)

BAC 111:Pocket rocket, Bone Vibrator.

BAe146: Viscount 900, Smurfjet with 5 APU's, The Gas Chamber, Bumble-et, Baby Jumbo, Bring Another Engine, 1-4-Sick, submarine- low slow and out of sight, Airborne Auschwitz, Barbie Jet, Tonka Toy/Jet, 4 oil leaks connected by an electrical fault, The Quadra-Puff, Lead Sled, Mini Galaxy, Sky Dozer, Fisher Price Starlifter, "1 aeroplane, 4 engines, needs 6", The Slug, Toxic Terror, Muffler (Because all the noise is on the inside), Fruit Bat, Flying cockroach, Dungbeetle, Jump Jet, The SUV of RJs, Jumbolino, Aluminum Buffalo, four hairdryers in close formation.

BAe ATP: Advanced/Another Technical Problem, The Parrot (cos it's just a big Budgie), Ancient Technology Perpetuated, Bat Pee, Skoda, 80p, Wigwam (A TeePee).

BAe Harrier: Leaping Heap

BAe Jetstream: Junkstream, Wetdream, Soda-stream, Sweatstream, Jetscream, J-Ball, Jizzstream

BAe Nimrod: Never Intended for Maritime Reconnaissance Or Development.

Beta: the MeatBeater

Bristol Beaufighter: Whispering Death

Bristol Freighter: Whispering Death, 10,000 rivets in close formation

Beech 18: Flying snag, Bugsmasher

Beech 76 Duchess: Dutch Ass, the Dutchy

Beech 99: 99-Liner

Beech Baron: Ball tearer

Beech Bonanza: Doctor killer (its reputation as such is ubiquitous)

Beech 200: Super K

Beech 1900: Flipper, Dolphin, Stonefish, Mini Guppy, Stretch King Air, Bitch 1900

Beech T-34: Radial Interceptor

Bell 206: Deathranger, Hydraulic palmtree

Bell UH-1: Huey, Hog, Dustoff

Beverly: Flying Longhouse

Bristol 188: The Mayfly

Bristol Britannia: The Whispering Giant (Was this the original WG?), Freighter version: The Whispering Warehouse

Bristol Freighter: Freightener

Boeing Stratocruiser: Stratoboozer (a reference to the bar these aircraft had on board), "The Best Three Engined Plane Crossing the Atlantic"

Boeing E4B: Doomsday Plane, The Ark, Double Humper

Boeing T43: Gator (for Navigator)

Boeing 707: Slush bucket, Water wagon

Boeing 727: 3 holer, Tri-jet, Trisaurus, Triple chrome-plated stovepipe, Jurassic Jet, Ear Blaster, The Scooter

Boeing 737: Tin mouse, Maggot, Pocket Rocket Socket, FLUF (Fat Little Ugly F**cker), Light Twin, Baby Boeing, Fat Freddy, Guppy, Thunder Guppy (series 1/200), Yuppy Guppy, Super Guppy (series 3/4/500), Pig, Bobby (BOeing BaBY), Rudder Rotor, Fat Albert, Dung Beatle.

Boeing 737NG: Super FLUF (Fat Little Ugly F**cker).

Boeing 747: Jumbo Jet, Whale, The Valiant, Upstairs and Downstairs, Lump, Humpback, Queen of the Skies (used for many aircraft but probably mostly the 747), the Aluminum Overcast.

Boeing 747SP: Short Plane, Stupid Purchase.

Boeing 757: Stick Insect, AtariFerrari, Slippery Snake, Flying Pencil, Long Tall Sally (long legs and two great big…engines.), Greased Bullet

Boeing 757-300: Long misery, Subway Train.

Boeing 767: Dumpster, Slug, Stumpy

Boeing 777: B737 on steroids, Cripple Seven (I.F.E. Problems??), Bigfoot (from the tripple bogey landing gear), Sasquatch, T7, Seventh Wonder, Trouble Seven, Grouper (the front end does look like one of those fish)

Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Tupperjet (plastic tupperware), Firebird (since several early on-board fires), Seven-Late-Seven, Bad Dream Liner, Flatliner, Sparky the Game Changer, Binliner, The microwave (cooks batteries).

Boeing C-17 Globemaster: The Moose. Barney (Fred’s fat little friend).

B24: The Crystal ****house

B52: BUMF (Big Ugly Mother f***er) or BUFF. (Big Ugly Fat F****er), BFiftyTwoManyWheels

BN 2 Islander: 225 - 2 wings, 2 engines(?) 5 Wheels, Slander, Bongo, Noise inducting sound machine, with a slow flying by-product

BN 2A Trislander: Try Harder, Bloody Nice Aircraft (!), Clockwork TriStar, Poor Man's 727

Bombardier Q400: Mega-Whacker

Bombardier CRJ: BarbieJet, Canuckjet, Canuckiejet, Ken&Barbie Dreamjet, Reset Jet, Replacement Jet, Climb Restricted Jet

Buccaneer: Buccanana (due to its banana like shape)

CA-15 Winjeel: The Ginwheel

CAC Wirraway: The "Flying Chaff-cutter" (due to its clattering engine noise)

Canberra T17: Warthog (due to its warty nose)

Casa: Christ A Sh***y Aeroplane

Cessna 150: One Filthy, the buck and a half, Cesspit.

Cessna A150 Aerobat: Aerosplat

Cessna 172 Cutlass: Strutless, Gutless, Flying Chevette (due to its lack of performance and Cessna’s efforts to make their aircraft similar to the cars of the era - that 1970’s upholstery!).

Cessna 177 Cardinal: The Pontif

Cessna 185: Buck eighty-five

Cessna 207: Crowdkiller, Slug, Moneymaker

Cessna 210 Centurian: Coffin, 2-Ton

Cessna 337 Sky Master: Sky Disaster, Sky Maggot, Push-me-Pull-you, Mix Master, Bug Smasher, Push-me-Pull-me, Blow-me-Suck-me, suck & blow job, two-toed tanglefoot.

Cessna 402 Utiliner: Undyliner.

Cessna Citation: Levitation, Crustacean, Mutation, Slowtation, Nearjet, Bugjet, Twin Hoover

Cessna T-37: Tweet, Tweety or Tweety Bird (because of its high, shrill engine sound)

CF100: The Lead Sled, Clunk

CH-47 Chinook: Two palm trees ******* a dumpster, Hooker, ****hook, RPG Magnet, Death Banana

Concorde: Great White, The Rocket, Rockership, Pocket Rocket, Paraffin Pencil

Convair B36: Aluminium overcast

Convair F102 Delta Dagger: The Deuce

Convair 580: Mountain Master, Vomit Comet

Convair 990: Coronado, Smoky Joe

CRJ: Canadair Rookie Jet

CRJ200: Shortdart, Lawndart, barbiejet

CRJ900: Longdart

CT-4A: (which was painted bright yellow and green in RAAF service) - the Plastic Parrot

Curtis SB2C Helldiver: the Beast, SonofaBitch2ndClass, Big-Tailed Beast and the 'Two-Cee'

DC 2: Deuce.

DC 3: Dak, Dakotasaurus Rex, Gooney Bird, Draggin' Wagon, Douglas Racer (compliments of late BC/A columnist Torch Lewis and the airplane's leisurely 140 KIAS cruise speed), Dakleton (South African built Daks as replacement for AVRO Shackletons), Dizzy Three, Dowager Dutchess, Duck

DC 6: Douglasaurus Rex

DC 7: Douglas Seven Seas (From DC-7C)

DC 8: DC Late, Old Smokey, Greasy8, Death Cruiser, Whiney Bird, Cigarette Jets (Long skinny fuselages and long thin engines that smoked), Santa Monica Anteater (for Douglas' HQ city and the airplane's loooong nose), The Long Beach Cable Car (If you look at the fuel panel, all those levers were connected to their respective valves by long cable runs. Same with the trim, flight controls and outflow valves)

DC 9-10/15: Pocket Rocket, Mini-Me, Baby Nine

DC 9: Greasy 9, Diesel 9, DC3-GT, Douglas Death Ship-(heard from a PSA pilot in the 1980s due the difficulties during FAA certification)

DC 10: Diesel 10, Death Contraption 10, Death Cruiser 10, Daily Crash 10, Donald's Disaster, Crowd Killer

MD 11: The Diva, More Death 2, I also like 'Scud' for the MD-11, once you launched it, you were not sure were it was going to land.

DH 82 Tiger Moth: Terror Moth.

DH Comet: Vomit

DH Vampire: The whistling pisscan.

DHC 1 Chipmonk: Chippie, Chukmonk.

DHC 3 Otter: Swine, Steam Otter.

DHC 4 Caribou: The Gravel Truck ("The only aircraft known to man that could suffer a birdstrike from behind".)

DHC 5 Buffalo: Barfalo

DHC 6 Twin Otter: Tin Otter, Twin Rotter, Twotter, Stoneboat, Twottercopter, noise powered aeroplane, Double Udder

DHC 7 Dash Seven: Quad Otter, Pogo Stick

DHC 8 Dash Eight: Dash Late, Crashbait, DashTrash, Trash8, Crash8, Trauma Tube, Dashidy Trashidy Boom, The Sausage

DO 17: Flying Pencil

DO 228: Doorknob, Gonzo (everything forward of the wing leading edge looks like a certain Muppet's head)

DO 328: Dork

DO 328J: Dorkjet

Douglas Maurader: Flying Prostitute

Douglas A1D Skyraider: The Spad

Douglas A4 Skyhawk: Bantam Bomber, Scooter

Douglas AC47 (DC3 Gunship): Spooky, Puff the Magic Dragon, Fantasma, Dragon Dak

Douglas C54 Skymaster: Biscuit Bomber (from Berlin Airlift days)

Douglas C124 Globemaster: Shakey Bird, "Old Shaky" due to its tendency to do a lot of that in flight, and "the Aluminium Cloud" because it was, with four props and a double high fuselage basically built on DC-6 / C-118 wings, the hugest return on anyone's radar

Douglas Skywarrior: 'All Three Dead' a mixture of its awful early safety record, three crew, and its US Navy designation of A-3D

eHang: eWang, Macerator

EMB110 Bandierante: Bandit, Randy Banty

EMB120 Brasillia: Garbage Can, Brakillya, Mexican King Air, The Bro, The Braz

EMB135: Scopebuster

EMB145: Jungle Jet, Barbie Jet, The Windows 98 Plane (seems like you spend more time rebooting the aircraft than actually flying it), Bendy Jet, Emb180 (taxi to the runway, then 180 for taxi back to ramp), WiSCOD (Whistling ****can of Death)

EMB ERJ: Brazillian Tube of Death, Jungle Jet, Brasilia Jet (Really p***es off the pilots...)

Ercoupe: Scarecoupe, Air Scoop

Fokker 27: The Dutch Dog Whistle, The Egg Beater, Whistle Pig, The Converter - (ie, it converted fuel into noise).

Fokker 28: WhisperJet, She Who's Afraid of Snow

Fokker 50: F**kin' Fifty, Little Fokker, Pinocchio

Fokker 100: The Scud Because they point them at Europe and they don't come back!, Dutch Oven (lousy air conditioning), Runway Hog, The Mother Fokker (as it is the largest Fokker)

FA 18: Bug, Rhino

Fairey Gannet: Converter of Kerosene to Noise

Fairey Swordfish: Stringbag

F-4 Phantom: Grey Geese, Double Ugly, Rhino

F-15A Eagle Steam Driven Eagle (for the old avionics compared to new C-models)

F-15E Eagle Mud Hen (self-explanatory)

F-86 Sabre Sword

F-100 Hun

F-102 Deuce

F-104 Starfighter Flying coffin, Widowmaker, Manned missile, Zipper, The Pregnant Hatpin, Erdnagel (literally "earth nail"), from the military term for "tent peg"

F-105 The Thud

F-106 Cadillac (smooth flyer, lots of power, fast, huge cockpit)

F-111: Aardvark, The Pig

F-117: Cockroach (because they only came out at night). NightHawk

Flutr Model 1: Daydream, the 4-Ring

Fouga: Dog-whistle, Converter, Whistling Turtle

HS121 Trident: Rodent, Ground Gripper

HS125: Pocket rocket

HS748: Paraffin Budgie, the Draggie, The Twenty Ton Dog Whistle.

GAF Nomad: Go-mad, Gonad

Gazelle: Chicken leg

Gloster Javellin: Flying Trowel, Harmonious drag master, Flat Iron

Gloster Meteor: Meatbox

Gulfstream I: G-String, G-Once

Gulfstream IV: Fourskin

Handley Page Hampden: Flying Suitcase

Hawker Hunter: Haunter

HP Halifax: Halibag

IAI Westwind: Lead Sled, Jew Canoe, Heebjet, Bagel Bomber, Yom Kippur Clipper

Jaguar: Septic Cat

Jet Provost: JP, The variable noise machine

Joby: Blowme

Katana DA20: Flying sperm

KittyHawk: PityHawk

Lake Amphibian: Doctor Killer

LearJet: FearJet, Noisemaker

Lilium: TheRanos

Lockheed Constellation: Connie, Cancellation, “the best tri-motor ever” so good that sometimes the 4th engine works!

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy: Cumulus Aluminus, FRED (F*cking Ridiculous Economic Disaster)

Lockheed C130 Hercules: Fat Albert, Trash hauler, Herkybird, Cessna 130

Lockheed F117: BatMobile

Lockheed Jetstar: Lawn Dart

Lockheed 1011 TriStar: Bistar (Had so many RB211-22B failures), El-10-Elemon, FrightStar, Tritanic, Swamp Eater, Swamp Buggy, DeathStar

Lockheed P38 Lightning: The Fork-Tailed Devil, Two planes one pilot

Lockheed SR71: Blackbird, was also often called "Habu" because of its frequent deployment to Okinawa (where the habu is a nasty pit viper).

Lockheed T-33: T Bird, Lockheed Racer (because it was anything but fast)

Lockheed YF12: The Thing

MD 11: Mad Dog, Mega Dog, Mechanical Disaster 11, More Death 11, MD-911, She Who Won't Land, She Who Won't Sell

MD 80: Mad Dog 80, Stupid 80 (They call them Super 80's), Minimum Delay 80 (Minutes), Super Tube, Super Slug, Douglas Death Tube, Long Beach Sewer Pipe, Lead sled (because it was underpowered)

MD 95: John Holmes condom

MD Demon: Screamin Demon

Mitsubishi Zero: type one lighter ( due to its ability to readily catch fire when attacked!)

Mitsubishi MU-2: Widow Maker, Hiroshima Screamer, Rice Rocket, Kill You - 2, Ice Magnet

Mohawk 298/Nord 262: Pteradactyl

Northrop T38: White Rocket

OH-58D Kiowa: Remote-Controlled Upside-Down Lawnmower, Kenny (the sight system looks like the South Park character)

Partenavia: Part-of-Mafia, Partial Aviator, Part Banana

PA-20 Pacer: The sled

PA-22 Tri Pacer: Pie Chaser, Fly Paper, Milk stool

PA-23 Aztec: Az-Truck, Azwreck, Flying Potato

PA-28 Arrow: Sparrow

PA-28 Cherokee: Cherry Tree, Chickopee

PA-28 Warrior: Worrier

PA-30 Twin Comanche: Twinkle

PA-31 Navajo: Never-go, Have-a-go, The Ho

PA-34 Seneca: Senekiller

PA-38 Tomahawk: Traumahawk, Terrahawk, SpinMaster, Rat**** Hatchet

PA-44 Seminole: Semenhole

PA-60: ScareOstar, Death Star.

PC12: Platypus.

PBY 5 Catalina: Pigboat, Dumbo.

Puma: Plastic pig, Percy.

Republic Thunderchief: Thud

RJ70/100: Real Jet

Robinson R22: The Happy Hopping Easter Egg (they're cute and colorful...and look like toys.)

SA 227 Metroliner: San-Antonio sewerpipe, Texas Sewer Pipe, Death pencil, The Screamin Weenie, Texas Lawn Dart, Swetro (It got very hot in the summer), Baltimore Whore (no visible means of support, skinny lil 'ol wings), Terror Tube, "That noisy ******* thing", Widow maker, Kerosene Crowbar, Fear tube, Necroliner, Buzzbomb, Metrowhiner, Death Tube, Turbo Dildo, San Antonio Sewer Rocket.... With Garrett Grenades, The Drainpipe

SAAB: Slaab, Swedes Aren't Airplane Builders, S.O.B

SAAB 35 Draken: Flying Trowel

SAAB J29: Flying Barrel

S3 Viking: Hoover

Shorts Belfast: Belslug, Belslow (because it was so slow), in the early days they were called 'Dragmasters' because they were so slow and after Shorts fixed them with the strakes either side of the rear ramp they were called 'Fastbacks'

Shorts Sandringham: The Triple Decker Bus

Shorts Skyvan: The Whispering Nissan Hut

Shorts 330: The Two Tailed Shed, Horse Float, Milk Carton, Winnebago, Box Car, Short Van, The Shed

Shorts 360: Box, Shoe Box, Barn, Shed, Long Short, The box that the Skyvan came in, Winnabego with Wings, The Irish Concorde

Sikorsky S61N: "Miss Piggy", (fat and ugly)

Socata Rallye: "tin parachute" for its near vertical descent into short fields, "tin parasol"-- for their reluctance to stall (with leading edge slats)--they just descend almost vertically

Sopwith Triplane: Tripehound

Strikemaster: Constant speed - variable noise machine.

Supermarine Scimitar: The Beast.

Supermarine Stranraer: Whistling ****house

Supermarine Walrus: Shagbat

T-21 Sedburgh: The Barge

TB-10 Tobago: Toboggan - because they only perform downhill!

Tornado: Tonka

TSR-2: Throw Some Rocks Two, Teararse

Tu144: Concordski

UH-60 Black Hawk: Lawn Dart, Crash Hawk

VC-9 Vanguard: Vickers Vibrator

VC-9 Vanguard Merchantman: The Guards Van, Whispering Warehouse, Shuddering ****house (because the crude crew toilet was in the entrance which was the forward service door on the original Vanguard. When the entrance door was open on the ground the whole world could see you having a pee!)

VC-10: Iron Duck, Vickers Knickers, The flying chandelier

Vickers Varsity: Flying pig

Vickers Wellington: Wimpey

Volocopter: DecapaCopter

Vultee BT13: Vultee Vibrator (due to shaking in a spin)

Westland Wessex: Walter Wessex or Wobbly Wessex

Self loading bear
2nd Jul 2021, 18:05
Shamelessly copied from the “Coffee break”
thread in the Rotorheads section:

OH6/Hughes 500 'Flying Egg'
Piasecki H21 'Flying Banana'
SA341/2 Gazelle 'Whistling Chicklen Leg'
Kamov KA32 'Helix'
Bell UH1 'Slick'
Bell AH1 'Snake'
HH-3 Sea King 'Big Mother'
CH46 Sea Knight 'Frog'
CH53 'Pave Low'
Mi12 'Homer'
AH1Z 'Viper'
CH47V 'Vampire Shredder'
CH37C 'Deuce'
MDX 'Explorer'
Sikorsky S72 'X Wing'
Kawasaki OH1 ‘Ninja’
MH60A ‘Velcro Hawk’

Recently I read
NH-90 ‘Naughty’
on this forum

Jhieminga
2nd Jul 2021, 18:16
I know, it's not the same, perhaps even cheating a bit... but I think you should get a copy of this book: https://amzn.to/3ymThox

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/393x572/screenshot_2021_07_02_at_20_15_21_c623a5bac58ddd6e9497162ad8 bf9f667ba4fac0.png
From this book:
Vickers VC10 - Vicky Ten, Big White Bird, Skoda

albatross
2nd Jul 2021, 18:31
Some other names
Beech 18 ….Expeditor, Beech Exploder
Bell 206 …Jet Ranger -, Death Ranger, Blade Slinger
Bell 206-L Long Ranger, Lots of Danger Ranger,
AS 350 Astar, Death Star, Falling Star, Disastar
DHC-3 Otter, Stone Boat, Young Pilot’s Dream ( Lots of Tail )
Hughes 269 Cabover Chain Saw
Hughes 500 Boiled Egg with a Hard On, LOACH ( Mark the target with a burning Loach)
PBY. Catboat, Black Cat, Canso, Pig boat
CL-215 ..Packing crate for a Canso.
DC-3 Greasy 3
S-92 in Air log colours ..School bus with a Rotor system.
WW2 Ryan PT-22 trainer..The Maytag Messerschmitt .
Of course all WW2 Trainers were called “Yellow Perils”


Of course the number of aircraft called Lawn Darts and Widow Makers are legion. Wasn’t there a USN aircraft nicknamed “The Ensign Killer”

DaveReidUK
2nd Jul 2021, 18:59
Several previous threads on aircraft nicknames that a forum search should unearth.

Pypard
2nd Jul 2021, 18:59
VC-10 was either Queen of the Skies, or The Big White Gozome Bird.

TCU
2nd Jul 2021, 19:29
L1011 - PFM. 1st word is Pure, 3rd is Magic. Work out the 2nd.

The C150/152 will forever be the ultimate Spam Can.

Musket90
2nd Jul 2021, 19:57
Dan-Air's Bae 146s G-BKMN and G-BKHT seemed to suffer a number of technical issues when first acquired, Some nicknamed MN "Mechanical Nightmare" and HT "Hatfield Trash."

I remember the British Midland ATPs at Heathrow being referred to as "Skodas" occasionally when ATC ground gave traffic information to other aircraft.

MENELAUS
2nd Jul 2021, 20:10
Westland Wasp or Scout. The whistling ****house

DogTailRed2
2nd Jul 2021, 20:40
Supermarine Walrus = Pussers Spitfire.

Fargo Boyle
2nd Jul 2021, 21:31
Martin B-26 Marauder - Martin Murderer, One a day in Tampa Bay
DH Mosquito - Wooden wonder

PAXboy
2nd Jul 2021, 21:59
Not to detract from the fabulous collection by DarryIO

A340-400: the Noodle (as it's so long that it flexes like a noodle on takeoff)
A340-600 I think??

Thread Drift
I remember standing at the very back of the Y cabin on a trip across the Pond and watched it flex. Better to be in the Premium Economy as then you were at the wing root. However, on a night trip back from JNB, I watched out the window as the stars went up and down. She was rolling side-to-side and I saw this on other journeys of the -600.

When it comes to the B17, my father taught us children:
"We're flying Flying Fortresses at 40 000 feet
"We've got bags of point five ammo and a teeny-weeny bomb"

Dorf
3rd Jul 2021, 01:03
T-37: Tweet, 6000lb Dog Whistle, The Air Force's experiment in converting JP-4 into noise.

Tomliner
3rd Jul 2021, 06:31
I’ve heard the Bristol 170 Freighter referred to as the Bristol Frightener.

DaveReidUK
3rd Jul 2021, 06:53
A340-400: the Noodle (as it's so long that it flexes like a noodle on takeoff)

The A340-400 was better known as the Hen's Tooth. :O

dixi188
3rd Jul 2021, 07:14
The A340-400 was better known as the Hen's Tooth. :O
I think he means the A340-600.

dixi188
3rd Jul 2021, 07:21
Taxiing out at Cologne one night, we were told to follow the line of 4 TNT 146s. The FO replied to the tower, " We'll follow the infestation of cockroaches".

Ex FSO GRIFFO
3rd Jul 2021, 08:32
In Its day, I can remember the Victa Airtourer being referred to as '20,000 rivets flying in close formation'......

and sounded like it too when doing 'stalls'.....all that 'rattling' from the back end....

Chiefttp
3rd Jul 2021, 12:43
When the C-17 was new us C-141 pilots used to be called it “Buddha” because it was big, fat, sat around doing nothing, and people worshipped it.

Duchess_Driver
3rd Jul 2021, 12:46
Apparently the C-17 is a “Moose” due to the noise it makes on startup.

In the spotter community the original 737 was a “pig” and the Embraer 170/190 was a “Womble” due to the shape of its nose.

tcasblue
3rd Jul 2021, 14:05
Sounds like a lot of these 'nicknames' are just silly terms created and known by a limited few over a bunch of beers. A few, like the Warthog are actually well-known. One need only look at the Katana and the GIV to prove me quickly correct.

condor17
3rd Jul 2021, 15:39
B 757 , Bendy toy .. Due to the ammount of Rudder trimming needed when going from 'slo to fast or vice verca .

rgds condor .

Setpoint99
3rd Jul 2021, 17:00
The straight-wing Republic F-84 Thunderjet = "Lieutenant Eater." Also called "The Hog," possibly because early engines were underpowered.
Also, the F-84B = "Mechanic's nightmare."
(Models A through E were straight-wing; the swept-wing derivative started with the F model, the "Thunderstreak").

brakedwell
3rd Jul 2021, 20:44
B 757 , Bendy toy .. Due to the ammount of Rudder trimming needed when going from 'slo to fast or vice verca .

rgds condor .

I flew the 757 from 1983 for eight years, but never came across this characteristic.

Compass Call
3rd Jul 2021, 22:19
Hawker Typhoon: Flying Death - by the Germans!

Sheko
4th Jul 2021, 07:42
L-1011 Tristar...... The Flying Marrow.

Andrew Heard
4th Jul 2021, 09:34
Embraer E-Jets;

Every Mechanical Breakdown Requires An Electrical Reset

Chiefttp
4th Jul 2021, 11:31
I flew the 757 from 1983 for eight years, but never came across this characteristic.

I currently fly them and agree with your post

anson harris
4th Jul 2021, 11:43
The MD-11 - also known by some as the Mega Death II.
Cripple 7 used to be a nickname for the 777 in BA, mainly because of the many technical problems with the GE engines when first introduced.
Ref the Blackburn Buccaneer - I believe it was known as the Banana because in development it was labelled the "Blackburn ANA" (Advanced Naval Aircraft". Hence Black Banana.

Una Due Tfc
4th Jul 2021, 13:42
I've heard the 787 referred to as the Screamliner.

G-ARZG
4th Jul 2021, 14:23
The MD-11 - also known by some as the Mega Death II.
Cripple 7 used to be a nickname for the 777 in BA, mainly because of the many technical problems with the GE engines when first introduced.
Ref the Blackburn Buccaneer - I believe it was known as the Banana because in development it was labelled the "Blackburn ANA" (Advanced Naval Aircraft". Hence Black Banana.


MD-11 aka 'Scud' (you never knew where it was going to land)
​​​​

CAEBr
4th Jul 2021, 18:11
Ref the Blackburn Buccaneer - I believe it was known as the Banana because in development it was labelled the "Blackburn ANA" (Advanced Naval Aircraft". Hence Black Banana.

It was actually the ARNA, standing for A Royal Naval Aircraft, this being an entry in an employee competition to suggest a name. Once it was spoken, and pronounced as the Black Banana, it wasn't chosen. It did however stick with many people, a sort of early Boaty McBoatface, and has stood the test of time.

dash7fan
4th Jul 2021, 20:46
Tupolew Tu 134 Fuel-Noise Converter

DarrylO
4th Jul 2021, 20:56
I think he means the A340-600.
yes sorry I meant the A340-600

dixi188
4th Jul 2021, 21:43
ISTR the Boeing 707 was known as the "Bendy Boeing".
Just watch the wing and engines in turbulence, or on landing with full reverse when the outboard engines start surging when they ingest the inboard engine's exhaust.

blabbel
4th Jul 2021, 22:02
CRJ is short for Combat Regional Jet

longer ron
5th Jul 2021, 08:20
ISTR the Boeing 707 was known as the "Bendy Boeing".
Just watch the wing and engines in turbulence, or on landing with full reverse when the outboard engines start surging when they ingest the inboard engine's exhaust.

Yes indeed - it was fun flying in a 707 and watch the engines/wing wobbling up and down - the DC8 was not as much fun in that respect :)

rich34glider
6th Jul 2021, 07:22
Dassault Mirage III was the "Miracle" in Australia ... it seemed to be a miracle it could fly

rich34glider
6th Jul 2021, 07:24
Chinook = "Chook"

Plane Speaker
6th Jul 2021, 09:35
ATP.......Yugo. "You go and tell the passengers we aren't flying anywhere soon"

ZeBedie
6th Jul 2021, 14:08
Fascinating that the Shackleton has only the same amount of rivets as a Bristol Freighter and that the Glos Airtourer has twice as many as either of those two

dixi188
6th Jul 2021, 15:21
Fascinating that the Shackleton has only the same amount of rivets as a Bristol Freighter and that the Glos Airtourer has twice as many as either of those two
But are we including the ones that fell out?:)

Lancman
7th Jul 2021, 17:26
But are we including the ones that fell out?:)
But do you remember where the last rivet went in a Shackleton? (Cat. Board question)

sablatnic
7th Jul 2021, 18:24
Am I the only one remembering the delightful Gloster Gormless?

Herod
7th Jul 2021, 18:31
But do you remember where the last rivet went in a Shackleton? (Cat. Board question)

Is that the Golden One?

megan
7th Jul 2021, 18:49
Fascinating that the Shackleton has only the same amount of rivets as a Bristol Freighter and that the Glos Airtourer has twice as many as either of those twoAh yes, that's because the Airtourer was aerobatic, all those g's ya know. :p

Shytehawk
8th Jul 2021, 10:12
CL-44 - Edsel

dixi188
8th Jul 2021, 10:55
CL-44 - Edsel
Any idea why?

BSD
8th Jul 2021, 11:42
[QUOTE=dixi188;11075285]Any idea why?

It wasn't a commercial success, neither was the Edsel - a car built by Ford.

Hence the -44 became ..... The Canadian Edsel.

a330pilotcanada
8th Jul 2021, 11:55
Good Morning DarrylO:

Thank you for this thread as I had a chuckle reviewing the nick names especially:

:DC 3: Dak, Dakotasaurus Rex, Gooney Bird, Draggin' Wagon, Douglas Racer (compliments of late BC/A columnist Torch Lewis and the airplane's leisurely 140 KIAS cruise speed), Dakleton (South African built Daks as replacement for AVRO Shackletons), Dizzy Three, Dowager Dutchess, Duck

As a young sprog a 1.000 years ago I enjoyed the writings of Torch Lewis in I believe it was "Greenhouse Patter" on the back page BC/A. Seeing his name again brought back fond memories of another era.

cpt
9th Jul 2021, 18:33
Off shore oil workers also had some sense of humor, to them the Bell 212 was "the solar energy helicopter" ("because we see them flying when its sunny"))) and the AS365 Dolphin was "Bubbles" ("because of the marked nose down attitude when it crosses the edge of helidecks and disappears below..." )

Winged Lion
23rd Jul 2021, 13:28
Turkish Airlines A340 TC-JDM was called "Deli Mayk" as an alternative for "Delta Mike". It means "Crazy Mike". It got its nickname due to all the weird things maintenance personnel encountered while in the fleet. Like exterior or interior lights randomly working etc. It had its own will is what they were telling others.

dixi188
23rd Jul 2021, 15:03
Had a Herald G-ATDS known as DOG SH1T.

Pypard
23rd Jul 2021, 18:35
Had a Herald G-ATDS known as DOG SH1T.

Either TDS or BEZB used to make a clanking noise as they went overhead: sounded like the big ends were on their way out. :)

letMfly
23rd Jul 2021, 20:30
ATP was also referred to as a sixteen bob by some BA crews (16 shillings = 80p)

dixi188
23rd Jul 2021, 21:46
Either TDS or BEZB used to make a clanking noise as they went overhead: sounded like the big ends were on their way out. :)
Zebedee (Blossom) was retired the week before I joined Channex so never had the pleasure.

Roebuck
1st Aug 2021, 16:52
F104 Starfighter - Lawn Dart

Pypard
1st Aug 2021, 19:11
Bellanca Cruisair - "The Cardboard Connie".

Shackeng
6th Aug 2021, 19:07
In a previous life, I was a fitter on Beverleys, which were known colloquially as Dragmasters, primarily due to its low cruising speed of about 150 kts. It was not uncommon when flying North against the mistral to watch trains overtaking us.

Dale Chatham
31st Aug 2021, 23:59
A little disappointed I did not see the Lockheed C-141. To those that worked on and around them, they were "****lifters".

dixi188
1st Sep 2021, 09:30
A little disappointed I did not see the Lockheed C-141. To those that worked on and around them, they were "****lifters".
60177 was the Hanoi Taxi.

albatross
1st Sep 2021, 16:17
Good Morning DarrylO:

Thank you for this thread as I had a chuckle reviewing the nick names especially:

:DC 3: Dak, Dakotasaurus Rex, Gooney Bird, Draggin' Wagon, Douglas Racer (compliments of late BC/A columnist Torch Lewis and the airplane's leisurely 140 KIAS cruise speed), Dakleton (South African built Daks as replacement for AVRO Shackletons), Dizzy Three, Dowager Dutchess, Duck

As a young sprog a 1.000 years ago I enjoyed the writings of Torch Lewis in I believe it was "Greenhouse Patter" on the back page BC/A. Seeing his name again brought back fond memories of another era.

DC-3 nickname …”Greasy Three” I always
chuckled at that one…in humour “Truth”. Check the fuel and fill the oil tanks.

compton3bravo
2nd Sep 2021, 14:26
In the UK the A321 is sometimes called by people of a certain age a 'Ted Rogers' after the compere of a TV programme of the same name in the 1980s.

Warmtoast
2nd Sep 2021, 15:29
When I was with 99 Sqn in the early 1960's we called our Bristol Britannias "The Whimpering Giant" - because it had major mechanical problems with the engines to start with (later corrected).

XXmet
6th Sep 2021, 05:39
Grumman S2F: Stoof
MD Phantom II, (F4): Lead Sled, Smokey
Mitsubishi MU2: Rice Rocket
TBM/TBF: Turkey
Fairchild C-119: Boom Tailed Widow Maker
Kaman (any): Barely Got There, Thumper
Bell 206B, B3 Jetranger, L1/L2 Longranger: Death Ranger
Douglas A3: A3 Whale
P2V Neptune: Two Turn'n and Two Burn'n
Cessna 500: Near Jet
A1D Sky Raider: Spad, (my favorite)
C-124 Globe Master: Shaky, (First Flight by Bob Morrisey (RIP) Chief test pilot Douglas Aircraft, (taught me to fly, one great man)
Air Force Thunderbirds F-16: Lawn Darts, (by Navy F-18 Pilots)
Beach 18: Twin Bitch
Cessna UC78B: Bamboo Bomber
Boeing B52: Be Filthy Too

Cornish Jack
6th Sep 2021, 09:32
Warmtoast -
The Bristol Britannia - "the Whispering Giant, powered by 4 Bristol Proteus engines"
This became "The Whimpering Giant, powered by 4 Bristol Protest engines, goes around the world in 80 delays"