Aircraft Slang Names
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In the troubled past of NI we had the company of Muppet and Wugga ( Wessex and Chinook ). The former because of its head-on likeness to the character Beaker and the latter due to its approach noise, heard for miles ahead.
Gazelles were usually just 'Gaz' but occasionally 'Drumstick' ( why?! ).
I don't remember any nicknames for Lynx or Puma, presumably those were short enough not to merit contraction.
Gazelles were usually just 'Gaz' but occasionally 'Drumstick' ( why?! ).
I don't remember any nicknames for Lynx or Puma, presumably those were short enough not to merit contraction.
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Always knew the 330 as Shed and 360 as Super shed. A couple of names for Dan Airs first two 146's Hatfield Trash (G-BKHT) and Mechanical Nightmare (G-BKMN).
1-11-200 Pocket Rocket.
Shakelton and Shorts Belfast 40,000 rivets flying in formation.
1-11-200 Pocket Rocket.
Shakelton and Shorts Belfast 40,000 rivets flying in formation.
Last edited by xtypeman; 26th Sep 2015 at 19:47. Reason: Corrected grammer
Having spotted this thread belatedly (see what I did there 
) I have to say "lump" for the 747 is a new one on me, even though I flew the thing for the best part of 20 years. Unlike Tower Dog I am a Brit, and a (lapsed) spotter 
but never heard the nickname once.
Then again I guess there might be alternative words for spotters that don't cross the boundary fence....
As for the F-4 - sometimes referred to as the "Rhino".
) I have to say "lump" for the 747 is a new one on me, even though I flew the thing for the best part of 20 years. Unlike Tower Dog I am a Brit, and a (lapsed) spotter but never heard the nickname once.Then again I guess there might be alternative words for spotters that don't cross the boundary fence....
As for the F-4 - sometimes referred to as the "Rhino".
Smaller Citations (C25A/B/C, C525, C550 etc) known as "Nearjets", because they are considered nearly a jet. Plenty of controllers have been caught out expecting them to climb like a Gulfstream. Heard an interesting story about a C525 being outclimbed by a Dornier 328 off an intersecting runway almost leading to a loss of separation from a colleague a few years ago, he turned the Nearjet back almost 180 degrees to cross the departure path of the Dornier below, expected it to climb way faster than it did....
Last edited by Una Due Tfc; 26th Sep 2015 at 21:27.
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Think chicken, rather than Dave Grohl, and it will make sense.
One other that occurred to me this morning was 'Mouse' for the AAC Sioux. Though they weren't anything as quiet as mice, clattering overhead...
'Robbo' for anything in the Robinson helicopter brochure. 'That Bloody Robbo Again' after a couple of hours of spotting.
'Belslow' occasionally encountered from ex-service personnel for the Belfast though the Shorts people I know boringly just called it 'Belfast' or 'her'.
'Bag' reportedly for RN Sea King AEW but I never encountered that one personally.
'Tiff' and 'Tiffie' rather unimaginatively for Typhoon.
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'Belslow' occasionally encountered from ex-service personnel for the Belfast
Light aircraft of the Piper/Cessna range are invariably known as Spamcans or Driller Killers. Driller being dentists.
Not a nickname but I'm reminded of the old Buccaneer joke,
'Where are my Buccaneers?'
'On the side of your Buccin' head sir.'
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DH Comet. coffin.
F-104, Zipper, Dusenjager, missile-with-a-man-in-it,
U-2 Dragon, Dragon Lady, Deuce.
B-1 Bone
F-105 Thud, Polish Glider
Trident, GroundGripper
VC-10 Duck
Lightning. Frightning
Aeronca, aero knocker
F-104, Zipper, Dusenjager, missile-with-a-man-in-it,
U-2 Dragon, Dragon Lady, Deuce.
B-1 Bone
F-105 Thud, Polish Glider
Trident, GroundGripper
VC-10 Duck
Lightning. Frightning
Aeronca, aero knocker
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Gazelle = drumstick: hadn't heard that one before, perfect!
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Lady L,
The Swearingen-Fairchild Metroliner has prior claim to that moniker.
BTW, I'd also heard it called, by an unimpressed pax, 'an economy-size toothpaste tube'.
The Swearingen-Fairchild Metroliner has prior claim to that moniker.
BTW, I'd also heard it called, by an unimpressed pax, 'an economy-size toothpaste tube'.
In German-speaking Europe, the Metroliner carried the not-too-flattering name of "Angströhre", loosely translated as "pipe of fear", which doubles as an old slang name for a stovepipe hat that seems to have been associated with unpopular situations.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Lady L,
The Swearingen-Fairchild Metroliner has prior claim to that moniker.
The Swearingen-Fairchild Metroliner has prior claim to that moniker.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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