Generic names for helos
 

Why do some helicopters have generic names and others not?

For example:

Puma
Gazelle
Colibri
TwinStar [Squirrel]


What about the :
902
135
S76
109

Who gives these names out?

109 - Power, Hirundo... but for the rest, i have no idea.

I participated in the naming efforts for a few Sikorsky types, it is not a game for the faint of heart, when closely scrutenized, every name sounds foolish! Names come from either the manufacturer (for civil aircraft like the TwinStar) or the military organization that paid for the design (like Black Hawk or Iriquois). Numbers come from the manufacturer when they designate the sequential model number (S-76) and come from the US military service when they are type/model specific (UH-60L, MH-60L, SH-60M).

I think the nick-names they get from their users are the more durable and memorable, like Huey and Snake, Jolly or Thud or Buff.

Nick

Didn't the S-76 used to be called the "Spirit" until some religious zealots decreed it disrespectful? I think it's a cool name and should have been kept pc or not.

W

It was Rolls-Royce who objected, successfully, to the name Spirit. Claimed it was 'theirs'.:confused:

tc

it was eurocopter [or predcessors] that gave them all names they must have thought yours did not warrant a name



What about the :
902 Explorer
135 billy no mates without a name .
S76 spirit
109 hirondo




any one think of a name for tc s helicopter

how about one of neds callendars[or a magazine for the winner let tc pick the winner come on ned

How about,



EC135 - Lizard ?


It seems to have PA News' vote!!!

http://www.circusmalabaristas.co.uk/.../RR-Lizard.jpg





;)
SS

Wunper,

The "Spirit" was the name of the S-76 (which started out as the S-74, but gained 2 "points" when the bicentennial of 1976 was being celebrated.)

Spirit was chosen in a contest among Sikorsky employees. The winner was Adoph Plenefishe, who was a worker on the VS-300 and the R-4. Talk about a pioneer, Dolf was the fellow who drove the parts car with the white bull's eye on the roof that the first delivery R-4 followed on its trip from Bridgeport Ct to Dayton, Ohio in 1943.

The Spirit name lasted about a year, but was dropped because the name was copywrighted by Spirit Helicopters in San Francisco,and Spirit wanted $500,000 to license the name to Sikorsky. Gerry Tobias refused to pay that much, so he had us drop the name. The ghost "spirit" story was used to avoid embarassment about not doing a careful enough name search, I believe.

Once an a*se always an *rse with you I think MD599 (1 short of a chopper).

There was a competition by ECD for the naming of the 135 but no-one got to know who won:confused:

Lynx
Cobra
Chinook
Labrador
Wasp
Apache
Comanche
Dauphin

R22
R44
206
139
BO105
117
MD600

TC,

Isn't the R44, or variant thereof, called the 'Raven'?

http://www.robinsonheli.com/r44ravenmain.htm
" The R44 Raven is offered in two models...Raven I...Raven II "


And the BH206, isn't that known as the Jetranger/Longranger?

http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.co...ft/commercial/
"The 206B-3 JetRanger III ......the 206B-3, the LongRanger IV"


:confused:
SS

Here's another one for the mix.. The R44 with floats was originally going to be called the Neptune (presumably to "rule the waves") but settled down for the Clipper. I guess that the final decision was made over a glass or two of Cutty Sark whiskey? "hey, that's a nice thing on the water on that there bottle, mate, it says it's a Clipper". OK, that's decided then...

the S-76 is also known as the Eagle in military form

the 109 was spelt both Hirundo and Hirondelle dependant on what country the brochure was printed in

I like the nickname Wokka for the Chinook, a very appropriate onomatopoeia which has been used in the domain name http://www.wokka.co.uk/ - an excellent site on UK Chinook photos and history.

I've heard a rumor about the rollout of the S76 Eagle. The rumor goes that it was an S76B Eagle, as it had the P&W engines. People at the rollout interpreted it as the S76 Beagle, and they had to redo the logo.

IFMU,

I was there and flew my share of the Armed S-76B tests and demos. That story isn't really true, but I do remember that we insiders did affectionately call it the "Beagle"

Designating and naming helicopters
 

With regard to aircraft, the Military Designation System follows these rules:

The letter to the immediate left of the dash is the BASIC MISSION symbol. This includes C for Transport (Cargo), F for Fighter and B for Bomber, etc.

If it’s a non-standard aerospace vehicle, this may be modified by the VEHICLE TYPE such as ‘H’ for Helicopter.

The number to the immediate right of the dash is the DESIGN NUMBER submitted to the organisation responsible for designation of military aerospace vehicles, HQ AFMC/LGSI. For example, F-16 means that it was the 16th design for a fighter aircraft submitted for designation.

The letter immediately after the design number is the SERIES DESIGNATOR. The British use the Mark system. For example, CH-47D is Transport (Cargo) Helicopter – 47th design submitted and fourth series in the design (ie D). The Brits would call it HC.1 Mk III Helicopter Cargo Type 1, third series. (Any pommies out there, correct me if this is not accurate.)

A POPULAR NAME for aerospace systems (including missiles, rockets, fixed wings, space vehicles) is decided upon after submissions from interested persons or units. These are then assessed and checked for suitability / PC / copyright, etc.

As for naming aircraft in the US Army, any helicopter (and FW I think) is normally given a name representing an Indian tribe;

Some great, and not so great, helicopters:

Mohave, Cayuse, Choctaw, Chikasaw, Creek, Apache, Cheyenne, Iroquois, Chinook, Black Hawk, Comanche, Kiowa, Sioux, and so on.

For more info on the MDS, go to the following website:
http://www.designation-systems.net/u...afji16-401.pdf

ConwayB (or anyone else who might know...),

Something that I've pondered in the past briefly but does anyone know why WWII-era Fighters used a 'P' prefix (whilst the Bombers were already using 'B')? eg P-51, P-47 etc vs B-17, B-24 etc.


:confused:
B73 (A very late model 'Bomber', it would appear...!)


PS Apologies for slight thread creep...

Bravo73,

P for Pursuit :ok:

It was because the P-47 was a 'Pursuit' Aircraft?

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/ind/pind.htm

USAF Museum Pursuit Aircraft Index

Curtiss P-6E "Hawk"
Boeing P-12E
Boeing P-26A
Seversky P-35A
Curtiss P-36A "Hawk"
Lockheed P-38L "Lightning"
Bell P-39Q "Airacobra"
Curtiss P-40E "Warhawk"
Republic P-47D "Thunderbolt" - Razorback version
Republic P-47D "Thunderbolt" - Bubble canopy version
North American P-51D "Mustang"
Bell P-59B "Airacomet"
Northrop P-61C "Black Widow"
Bell P-63E "King Cobra"
Fisher P-75A "Eagle"
Lockheed P-80R "Shooting Star"

Snap B73, with knobs!
:ok:
SS

Mystery solved!

Many thanks JE & SS :ok:

SS,

Your cut&paste from the Bell site is a bit misleading.

206B is Jet Ranger.
206L is Long ranger.

Full sentence under 206L-4 is:

"Like its predecessor, the 206B-3, the LongRanger IV began with all the best features, coupled with a stretched cabin"

MP

What's in a name?
 

Heard on the R/T at Port Stanley airfield November 1984

Squeaking 050 you are clear to join from the South, there's a Fat Albert climbing out an Eric on finals, two Teeny-Weenies hovering in the upwind areas, look out for the Woka-Woka shortly joining from the North and beware the Stovepipe on the threshold

Like Nick says - it's the nicknames that seem to be enduring.