What should I call an aircraft?
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What should I call an aircraft?
Evening All,
I am in the process of writing an article about a number of aircraft flying cargo during the 1970s.
Do I refer to each aircraft as 'her/she' or 'it'?
I usually go for 'her/she', but when used tens of times in an article I think it looks a bit poncey. . . however 'it' looks too 'cold' and sterile.
What's the general consensus of opinion?
I am in the process of writing an article about a number of aircraft flying cargo during the 1970s.
Do I refer to each aircraft as 'her/she' or 'it'?
I usually go for 'her/she', but when used tens of times in an article I think it looks a bit poncey. . . however 'it' looks too 'cold' and sterile.
What's the general consensus of opinion?
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'It', 'aircraft', or 'aeroplane'. Nothing else.
And forgive me if you know this but if you want to refer (say) to its colour (or whatever) then it is 'its' not 'it's'.
And forgive me if you know this but if you want to refer (say) to its colour (or whatever) then it is 'its' not 'it's'.
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And forgive me if you know this but if you want to refer (say) to its colour (or whatever) then it is 'its' not 'it's'.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I started a thread about this a couple of years ago, on another site. saying that the Vulcan was an 'it' not a 'she'. I felt that people were being oversentimental about it. Boy,was I in trouble!!. 4 pages of verbal abuse !!.
If you use slang in an area you're not quite sure of you will inevitably get it wrong (as in Americans saying "I paid one quid for it" etc). Therefore avoid all slang terms such as crate, ship, machine, etc and I'd go along with all the others who recommend "it" instead of he or she. And definitely aircraft (or a/c), not plane. Airplane fine for a US readership of course.
Well, was common parlance in aviation circles in 14-18 I think, but imagine a Typhoon pilot saying he was going out to check over his machine!
I rest my case!
I rest my case!
