List of military aircraft of the United States

United States military aircraft
Active aircraft Future aircraft
Airships Anti-submarine aircraft Bomber aircraft Attack aircraft Command and control aircraft Electronic warfare aircraft Experimental aircraft Fighter aircraft Patrol aircraft Reconnaissance Tankers Trainers Transport aircraft Utility aircraft Military helicopters UAVs

This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and are often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed with "Y".

The United States military employs a designation and naming system to provide identifications to all aircraft types. Until 1962, the United States Army, United States Air Force (formerly Army Air Force), and United States Navy all maintained separate systems. In September 1962,^[1] these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.

This list does not include aircraft used by the U.S. military services prior to the establishment of a numerical designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (1909–1919). It also does not include aircraft designated under the pre-1962 United States Navy designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (naval).

A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including (clockwise from left) the X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.

Prior to 1919

Main article: List of military aircraft of the United States (1909-1919)

Prior to 1919, all planes flown by the Army Air Service and the Navy were referred to by the designation given to them by their manufacturer. A variety of both domestic and foreign types were operated, with the latter being the primary front-line types during the First World War.

Army Air Service, 1919–1924

Curtiss PW-8

In September 1919, the Army Air Service decided that it needed an organized designation sequence, and adopted fifteen classifications, designated by Roman numerals. Several other unnumbered designations were added later. Each designation was assigned an abbreviation, and each design a number within that abbreviation. Variants were designated by alphabetically appending letters to the design number.

Type O: Foreign-Built Pursuit Aircraft

Fokker D.VII – Fokker
Fokker D.VIII – Fokker

Type I: Pursuit, water-cooled

PW-1 – Engineering Division
PW-2 – Loening
PW-3 – Orenco
PW-4 – Gallaudet
PW-5 – Fokker
PW-6 – Fokker
PW-7 – Fokker
PW-8 – Curtiss
PW-9 – Boeing

Type II: Pursuit, night

PN-1 – Curtiss

Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled

PA-1 – Loening

Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922

PG-1 – Aeromarine

Type V: Two-seat pursuit

TP-1 – Engineering Division

Type VI: Ground attack, 1920–1922

GA-1 – Boeing
GA-2 – Boeing

Type VII: Infantry liaison

IL-1 – Orenco

Type VIII: Night observation

NO-1 – Douglas
NO-2 – Douglas

Type IX: Artillery observation

AO-1 – Atlantic

Type X: Corps observation

CO-1 – Engineering Division
CO-2 – Engineering Division
CO-3 – Engineering Division
CO-4 – Atlantic
CO-5 – Engineering Division
CO-6 – Engineering Division
CO-7 – Boeing
CO-8 – Atlantic

Type XI: Day bombardment

DB-1 – Gallaudet

Type XII: Night bombardment, short range

NBS-1 – Martin (originally designated MB-2)
NBS-2 – Lowe-Willard-Fowler
NBS-3 – Elias
NBS-4 – Curtiss

Type XIII: Night bombardment, long range

NBL-1 – Witteman-Lewis
NBL-2 – Martin

Type XIV: Trainer, air-cooled

TA-1 – Elias
TA-2 – Huff-Daland
TA-3 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
TA-4 – Engineering Division
TA-5 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
TA-6 – Huff-Daland

Type XV: Trainer, water-cooled

TW-1 – Engineering Division
TW-2 – Cox-Klemin
TW-3 – Dayton-Wright Aircraft
TW-4 – Fokker
TW-5 – Huff-Daland

Ambulance, 1919–1924

A-1 – Cox-Klemin
A-2 – Fokker

Messenger

M-1 – Engineering Division/Sperry

Pursuit, special

PS-1 – Dayton-Wright

Racer

Verville-Sperry R-3

R-1 – Alfred V. Verville
R-2 – Thomas-Morse
R-3 – Verville-Sperry
R-4 – Loening
R-5 – Thomas-Morse
R-6 – Curtiss
R-7 – Engineering Division
R-8 – Curtisss

Seaplane

S-1 – Loening

Transport

T-1 – Martin
T-2 – Fokker
T-3 – Lowe-Willard-Fowler

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force 1924–1962

A-3 Falcon

Attack, 1924–1948

A-1 – skipped to prevent confusion with Cox-Klemin XA-1
A-2 – Douglas
A-3 Falcon – Curtiss
A-4 Falcon – Curtiss
A-5 Falcon – Curtiss
A-6 Falcon – Curtiss
A-7 – Fokker
A-8 – Curtiss
A-9 – Lockheed
A-10 Shrike – Curtiss
A-11 – Consolidated
A-12 Shrike – Curtiss
A-13 – Northrop
A-14 – Curtiss
A-15 – Martin
A-16 – Northrop
A-17 Nomad – Northrop
A-18 Shrike – Curtiss
A-19 – Vultee
A-20 Havoc – Douglas (redesignated as B-20 in 1948)
A-20 Havoc
A-21 – Stearman
A-22 – Martin (assigned but none served with AAF)
A-23 Baltimore – Martin
A-24 Banshee – Douglas (redesignated as F-24 in 1948)
A-25 Shrike – Curtiss
A-26 Invader – Douglas (redesignated as B-26 in 1948, then as A-26 in 1966)
A-27 – North American
A-28 Hudson – Lockheed
A-29 Hudson – Lockheed
A-30 – Martin (assigned to allow supply to the UK under Lend-lease)
A-31 Vengeance – Vultee
A-32 – Brewster
A-33 – Douglas
A-34 – Brewster
A-35 Vengeance – Vultee
A-36 Apache/Invader – North American
A-37 – Hughes
A-38 Grizzly – Beechcraft
A-39 – Kaiser-Fleetwings
A-40 – Curtiss
A-41 – Vultee
A-42 Mixmaster – Douglas
A-43 Blackhawk – Curtiss-Wright
A-44 – Convair
A-45 – Martin

Bomber

Huff-Daland LB-1

Until 1926, the Army Air Service had three sequences for bombers. Light bombers were indicated by the LB- prefix, medium bombers by the B- prefix, and heavy bombers by the HB- prefix. In 1926, the three-category system was scrapped and all bombers subsequently built were placed in the B- sequence.

Light Bomber, 1924–1926

LB-1 – Huff-Daland (later Keystone)
LB-2 – Atlantic Aircraft Corporation (Fokker Aircraft Corp after 1925)
LB-3 – Keystone
Martin LB-4 – serial number assigned but prototype not built
LB-5 – Keystone
LB-6 – Keystone
LB-7 – Keystone
LB-8 – Keystone
LB-9 – Keystone
LB-10 – Keystone
LB-11 – Keystone
LB-12 – Keystone
LB-13 – Keystone
LB-14 – Keystone

Medium Bomber, 1924–1926

B-1 – Huff-Daland
B-2 Condor – Curtiss

Heavy Bomber, 1924–1926

HB-1 – Huff-Daland
HB-2 – Atlantic/Fokker
HB-3 – Huff-Daland

Unified bomber sequence, 1926–1962

Martin B-10B

B-1 – Huff-Daland/Keystone
B-2 Condor – Curtiss
B-3 – Keystone
B-4 – Keystone
B-5 – Keystone
B-6 – Keystone
B-7 – Douglas
B-8 – Fokker
B-9 – Boeing
B-10 – Martin
B-11 – Douglas
B-12 – Martin
B-13 – Martin
B-14 – Martin
B-15 – Boeing
B-16 – Martin
B-17 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-18 Bolo – Douglas
B-19 – Douglas
B-20 – Boeing
B-20 Havoc – Douglas (designation of A-20 Havoc from 1948 to 1949)
B-21 – North American
B-22 – Douglas
B-23 Dragon – Douglas
B-24 Liberator – Consolidated
B-24 Liberator
B-25 Mitchell – North American
B-26 Marauder – Martin
B-26 Invader – Douglas – designation of A-26 Invader from 1948 to 1966
B-27 – Martin
B-28 Dragon – North American
B-29 Superfortress – Boeing
B-30 – Lockheed
B-31 – Douglas
B-32 Dominator – Consolidated
B-33 Super Marauder – Martin
B-34 Lexington – Lockheed
B-35 – Northrop
B-36 Peacemaker – Convair
B-37 – Lockheed
B-38 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-39 Superfortress – Boeing
B-40 Flying Fortress – Boeing
B-41 Liberator – Consolidated
B-42 Mixmaster – Douglas
B-43 Jetmaster – Douglas
B-44 Superfortress – Boeing
B-45 Tornado – North American
B-46 – Convair
B-47 Stratojet – Boeing
B-48 – Martin
B-49 – Northrop
B-50 Superfortress – Boeing
B-51 – Martin
B-52 Stratofortress – Boeing
JB-52E Stratofortress
B-53 – Convair
B-54 – Boeing
B-55 – Boeing
B-56 – Boeing
B-57 Canberra – Martin
B-58 Hustler – Convair
B-59 – Boeing
B-60 – Convair
B-61 Matador – Martin (redesignated as TM-61, then MGM-1)
B-62 Snark – Northrop (redesignated as SM-62)
B-63 RASCAL – Bell (redesignated as GAM-63)
B-64 Navaho – North American (redesignated as SM-64)
B-65 Atlas – Convair (redesignated as SM-65)
B-66 Destroyer – Douglas
B-67 Crossbow – Radioplane (redesignated as GAM-67)
B-68 – Martin
B-68 Titan – Martin (redesignated as SM-68)
B-69 Neptune – Lockheed
B-70 Valkyrie – North American
B-71 Blackbird – Lockheed^[2]

Beginning with #69, the "M-" (missile) and "B-" (bomber) series diverged. The missiles designated M-69 to M-92, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, never used a "B-" series designation.

Bomber, long range, 1935–1936

A short-lived designation used from 1935–1936 to refer to three long-range bomber projects commissioned by the Army Air Corps. Most of the bombers were night bombers.

BLR-1 – Boeing (redesignated as XB-15)
BLR-2 – Douglas (redesignated as XB-19)
BLR-3 – Sikorsky

Cargo, 1924–1962

Douglas C-1 refueling Fokker C-2

C-1 – Douglas
C-2 – Fokker
C-3 – Ford
C-4 – Ford
C-5 – Fokker
C-6 – Sikorsky
C-7 – Fokker
C-8 – Fairchild
C-9 – Ford
C-10 Robin – Curtiss-Wright
C-11 Fleetster – Consolidated
C-12 Vega – Lockheed
C-13 – not used
C-14 – Fokker
C-15 – Fokker
C-16 – Fokker
C-17 Super Vega – Lockheed
C-18 Monomail – Boeing
C-19 Alpha – Northrop
C-20 – Fokker
C-21 Dolphin – Douglas
C-22 Fleetster – Consolidated
C-23 Altair – Lockheed
C-24 – American/Fairchild
C-25 Altair – Lockheed
C-26 Dolphin – Douglas
C-27 Airbus – Bellanca
C-28 – Sikorsky
Sikorsky C-28
C-29 Dolphin – Douglas
C-30 Condor – Curtiss-Wright
C-31 – Kreider-Reisner
C-32 – Douglas
C-33 – Douglas
C-34 – Douglas
C-35 Electra – Lockheed
C-36 Electra – Lockheed
C-37 Electra – Lockheed
C-38 – Douglas
C-39 – Douglas
C-40 Electra – Lockheed
C-41 – Douglas
C-42 – Douglas
C-43 Traveller – Beechcraft
C-44 – Messerschmitt
C-45 Expeditor – Beechcraft
C-46 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-47 Skytrain – Douglas
C-47 Skytrain
C-48 Skytrain – Douglas
C-49 Skytrain – Douglas
C-50 Skytrain – Douglas
C-51 Skytrain – Douglas
C-52 Skytrain – Douglas
C-53 Skytrooper – Douglas
C-54 Skymaster – Douglas
C-55 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-56 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-57 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-58 Bolo – Douglas
C-59 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-60 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-61 Forwarder – Fairchild
C-62 – Waco
C-63 Hudson – Lockheed
C-64 Norseman – Noorduyn
C-65 Skycar – Stout
C-66 Lodestar – Lockheed
C-67 Dragon – Douglas
C-68 – Douglas
C-69 Constellation – Lockheed
C-70 Nightingale – Howard
C-71 Executive – Spartan
C-72 – Waco
C-73 – Boeing
C-74 Globemaster – Douglas
C-74 Globemaster
C-75 – Boeing
C-76 Caravan – Curtiss-Wright
C-77 – Cessna
C-78 Bobcat – Cessna
C-79 – Junkers
C-80 – Harlow
C-81 Reliant – Stinson
C-82 Packet – Fairchild
C-83 Coupe – Piper
C-84 – Douglas
C-85 Orion – Lockheed
C-86 Forwarder – Fairchild
C-87 Liberator Express – Consolidated
C-88 – Fairchild
C-89 – Hamilton
C-90 – Luscombe
C-91 – Stinson
C-92 – Akron-Funk
C-93 Conestoga – Budd
C-94 – Cessna
C-95 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
C-96 – Fairchild
C-97 Stratofreighter – Boeing
C-97 Stratofreighter
- KC-97 Stratofreighter – Boeing
C-98 Clipper – Boeing
C-99 – Convair
C-100 Gamma – Northrop
C-101 Vega – Lockheed
C-102 Sportster – Rearwin
C-103 – Grumman
C-104 – Lockheed
C-105 – Boeing
C-106 – Cessna
C-107 Skycar – Stout
C-108 Flying Fortress – Boeing
C-109 Liberator Express – Consolidated
C-110 – Douglas
C-111 Super Electra – Lockheed
C-112 – Douglas
C-113 Commando – Curtiss-Wright
C-114 Skymaster – Douglas
C-115 Skymaster – Douglas
C-116 Skymaster – Douglas
C-117 Super Skytrain – Douglas
C-118 Liftmaster – Douglas
C-119 Flying Boxcar – Fairchild
C-120 Packplane – Fairchild
C-121 Constellation – Lockheed
- YC-121F Constellation – Lockheed
C-122 Avitruc – Chase
C-123 Provider – Fairchild
- XC-123A – Chase
C-124 Globemaster II – Douglas
From left to right: C-141, C-130, and C-124 with Mt. St. Helens in the background
C-125 Raider – Northrop
C-126 – Cessna
C-127 – Boeing
C-128 Flying Boxcar – Fairchild
C-129 Super Skytrain – Douglas
C-130 Hercules – Lockheed
C-131 Samaritan – Convair
C-132 – Douglas
C-133 Cargomaster – Douglas
C-134 – Stroukoff
C-135 Stratolifter – Boeing
- KC-135 Stratotanker – Boeing
C-136 – Fairchild
C-137 Stratoliner – Boeing
- C-138 – reserved for Fokker F27, but never assigned
C-139 – Lockheed
C-140 Jetstar – Lockheed
C-141 Starlifter – Lockheed
C-142 – Vought
- C-143 – reserved for what would become the X-19, but never officially assigned
C-143 MRC2A – Bombardier Challenger CL-604 for US Coast Guard Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft^[3]
C-144 Ocean Sentry – CASA CN-235 300CG for US Coast Guard Medium Range Surveillance Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MRS MPA)^[3]
C-145 Skytruck - PZL M28 for special operations.
C-146 - Dornier 328 for special operations.

Drone

Culver PQ-8A

Aerial Target

1922–1935

GL-1 Unmanned Coastal Artillery Target Glider - McCook Field Engineering Section
GL-2 Manned Aerial Target Glider - McCook Field Engineering Section
GL-3 Unmanned Aerial Target Glider (also known as "G-3") - McCook Field Engineering Section

1940–1941

A-1 – Fleetwings
A-2 – Radioplane
A-3 – Curtiss
A-4 – Douglas
A-5 – Boeing
A-6 – Douglas
A-7 Airacobra – Bell
A-8 Cadet – Culver

1942–1948

PQ-8 Cadet – Culver
PQ-9 – Culver
PQ-10 – Culver
PQ-11 – Fletcher
PQ-12 – Fleetwings
PQ-13 – ERCO
PQ-14 Cadet – Culver
PQ-15 – Culver

Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942–1948

Radioplane OQ-2A

OQ-2 – Radioplane
OQ-3 – Radioplane/Frankfort
OQ-4 – Brunswick-Balke-Collender
OQ-5 – contractor unknown
OQ-6 – Radioplane
OQ-7 – Radioplane
OQ-11 – Simmonds Aerocessories
OQ-12 – Radioplane
OQ-13 – Radioplane
OQ-14 – Radioplane/Frankfort
OQ-16
OQ-17 – Radioplane
OQ-18
OQ-19 Quail – Radioplane

Controllable bomb, 1942–1945

BQ-1 – Fleetwings
BQ-2 – Kaiser-Fleetwings
BQ-3 – Fairchild
BQ-3 – Fairchild
BQ-4 – Interstate
BQ-5 – Interstate
BQ-6 – Interstate
BQ-7 Aphrodite – Boeing
BQ-8 Liberator – Consolidated^[4]

Target Control, 1942–1948

CQ-1 – Fletcher
CQ-2 – Stinson
CQ-3 Expeditor – Beechcraft
CQ-4 Flying Fortress – Boeing

Unified sequence, 1948–1962

Q-1 – Radioplane
Q-2 Firebee – Ryan
Q-3 – Radioplane
Q-4 – Northrop
Q-5 Kingfisher – Lockheed
Q-6 – Wright Air Development Center
- Q-7 – skipped: request for redesignation of QB-17 not approved
Q-8 Cadet Culver
- Q-8 – request for redesignation of QF-80 not approved
Q-9 – WADC
Q-10 – Radioplane
Q-11 – WADC
Q-12 – Beechcraft
Q-14 Cadet – Culver

Glider

Assault Glider, 1942–1944

AG-1 – Christopher
AG-2 – Timm

Bomb Glider, 1942–1944

BG-1 – Fletcher
BG-2 – Fletcher
BG-3 – Cornelius

Cargo Glider, 1941–1948

Waco CG-4A

CG-1 – Frankfort
CG-2 – Frankfort
CG-3 – Waco
CG-4 Hadrian – Waco
CG-5 – St. Louis
CG-6 – St. Louis
CG-7 – Bowlus-DuPont/Douglas
CG-8 – Bowlus-DuPont/Douglas
CG-9 – AGA Aviation
CG-10 Trojan Horse – Laister-Kauffman
CG-11 – Snead
CG-12 – Read-York
CG-13 – Waco
CG-14 – Chase
CG-15 Hadrian – Waco
CG-16 – General Airborne Transport
CG-17 – Douglas
CG-18 – Chase
CG-19 – Douglas
CG-20 – Chase

Fuel Glider, 1930–1948

FG-1 – Cornelius

Powered Glider, 1943–1948

PG-1 – Northwestern
PG-2 – Ridgefield
PG-3 – Waco

Training Glider, 1941–1948

Schweitzer TG-3A

TG-1 – Frankfort
TG-2 – Schweizer
TG-3 – Schweizer
TG-4 – Laister-Kauffman
TG-5 Grasshopper – Aeronca
TG-6 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
TG-7 Orlik – Kocjan
TG-8 Grasshopper – Piper
TG-9 – Briegleb
TG-10 – Wichita Engineering
TG-11 – Schempp-Hirth
TG-12 – Bowlus-DuPont
TG-13 – Briegleb
TG-14 – Stiglmeier
TG-15 – Franklin-Stevens
TG-16 – Schultz
TG-17 – Franklin
TG-18 – Midwest Sailplane
TG-19 – Jacobs-Schweyer
TG-20 – Laister-Kauffman
TG-21 – Notre Dame
TG-22 – Mehlhose
TG-23 – Harper-Corcoran
TG-24 – Bowlus-Dupont
TG-25 Plover – Wolcott
TG-26 – Universal
TG-27 – Schneider
TG-28 Hawk Junior – Haller
TG-29 – Volmer Jensen
TG-30 Bluebird – Smith
TG-31 – Aero Industries
TG-32 – Pratt-Read
TG-33 – Aeronca

Unified sequence, 1948–1955

G-2 – Ridgefield
G-3 – Waco
G-4 Hadrian – Waco
G-10 Trojan Horse – Laister-Kauffman
G-13 – Waco
G-14 – Chase
G-15 Hadrian – Waco
G-18 – Chase
G-20 – Chase

Sailplane, 1960–1962

S-1 – Schweizer
S-2 – Schweizer

Gyroplane, 1935–1939

G-1 – Kellett
G-2 – Pitcairn

Liaison, 1942–1962

L-1 Vigilant – Stinson
L-2 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft
L-3 Grasshopper – Aeronca
L-4 Grasshopper – Piper
L-5 Sentinel – Stinson (redesignated as U-19 in 1962)
L-6 Grasshopper – Interstate
L-7 – Universal
L-8 Cadet – Interstate
L-9 – Stinson
L-10 – Ryan
L-11 – Bellanca
L-12 Reliant – Stinson
L-13 – Stinson/Convair
L-14 Cub – Piper
L-15 Scout – Boeing
L-16 Champion – Aeronca
L-17 Navion – North American/Ryan (redesignated as U-18 in 1962)
L-18 Super Cub – Piper
L-19 Bird Dog – Cessna (redesignated as O-1 in 1962)
L-20 Beaver – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as U-6 in 1962)
L-21 Super Cub – Piper (redesignated as U-7 in 1962)
L-22 Navion – Ryan
L-23 Seminole – Beechcraft (redesignated as U-8 in 1962)
L-24 Courier – Helio (redesignated as U-24 in 1962)
L-25 – McDonnell (redesignated as XH-35, then XV-1)
L-26 Commander – Aero Design (redesignated as U-4 and U-9 in 1962)
L-27 – Cessna (redesignated as U-3 in 1962)
L-28 Super Courier – Helio (redesignated as U-10 in 1962)

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948–1962

P-3 Hawk

Designated P- for "pursuit" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained.

P-1 Hawk – Curtiss
P-2 Hawk – Curtiss
P-3 Hawk – Curtiss
P-4 – Boeing
P-5 Hawk – Curtiss
P-6 Hawk – Curtiss
P-7 – Boeing
P-8 – Boeing
P-9 – Boeing
P-10 – Curtiss
P-11 Hawk – Curtiss
P-12 – Boeing
P-13 Viper – Thomas-Morse
P-14 – Curtiss
P-15 – Boeing
P-16 – Berliner-Joyce
P-17 Hawk – Curtiss
P-18 – Curtiss
P-19 – Curtiss
P-20 – Curtiss
P-21 – Curtiss
P-22 Hawk – Curtiss
P-23 Hawk – Curtiss
P-24 – Lockheed
P-25 – Consolidated
P-26 Peashooter – Boeing
Boeing P-26
P-27 – Consolidated
P-28 – Consolidated
P-29 – Boeing
P-30 – Consolidated
P-31 Swift – Curtiss
P-32 – Boeing
P-33 – Consolidated
P-34 – Wedell-Williams
P-35 – Seversky
P-36 Hawk – Curtiss
P-37 – Curtiss
P-38 Lightning – Lockheed
P-39 Airacobra – Bell
- P-400 - Royal Air Force Airacobra put into U.S. service before export
P-40 Warhawk – Curtiss
P-41 – Seversky
P-42 – Curtiss
P-43 Lancer – Republic
P-44 Rocket – Republic
P-45 – Bell
P-46 – Curtiss
P-47 Thunderbolt – Republic
P-48 – Douglas
P-49 – Lockheed
P-50 – Grumman
P-51 Mustang – North American
P-51H Mustang
P-52 – Bell
P-53 – Curtiss
P-54 Swoose Goose – Vultee
P-55 Ascender – Curtiss
P-56 Black Bullet – Northrop
P-57 Peashooter – Tucker
P-58 Chain Lightning – Lockheed
P-59 Airacomet – Bell
P-60 – Curtiss
P-61 Black Widow – Northrop
P-62 – Curtiss
P-63 Kingcobra – Bell
P-64 – North American
P-65 – Grumman
P-66 Vanguard – Vultee
P-67 Bat – McDonnell
P-68 Tornado – Vultee
P-69 – Republic
P-70 Nighthawk – Douglas
P-71 – Curtiss
P-72 – Republic
P-73 – Hughes (officially never assigned)
P-74 – skipped
P-75 Eagle – Fisher
P-76 – Bell
P-77 – Bell
P-78 – North American
P-79 – Northrop
F-80 Shooting Star – Lockheed
P-81 – Convair
F-82 Twin Mustang – North American
P-83 – Bell
F-84 Thunderjet – Republic
F-85 Goblin – McDonnell
F-86 Sabre – North American
F-86F Sabre
F-87 Blackhawk – Curtiss
F-88 Voodoo – McDonnell
F-89 Scorpion – Northrop
F-90 – Lockheed
F-91 Thunderceptor – Republic
F-92 – Convair
F-93 – North American
F-94 Starfire – Lockheed
F-95 – North American
F-96 – Republic
F-97 Starfire – Lockheed (redesignated as F-94C Starfire)
F-98 Falcon – Hughes (redesignated as GAR-1, then AIM-4)
F-99 BOMARC – Boeing (redesignated as IM-99, then CIM-10)
F-100 Super Sabre – North American
F-101 Voodoo – McDonnell
F-102 Delta Dagger – Convair
F-103 – Republic
F-104 Starfighter – Lockheed
F-105 Thunderchief – Republic
F-106 Delta Dart – Convair
F-107 – North American
F-108 Rapier – North American
F-109 – designation was reserved for the X-13 Vertijet, F-101B,^[5] and Bell D-188A, but never officially assigned
F-110 Spectre – McDonnell Douglas (redesignated as F-4 in 1962)
F-111 Aardvark – General Dynamics
General Dynamics F-111
Unofficial designations YF-112 and up were later assigned to "black" projects – see Fighter series in Unified System.

Fighter, Multiplace

FM-1 Airacuda – Bell
FM-2 – Lockheed

Pursuit, Biplace

PB-1 – Berliner-Joyce
PB-2 – Consolidated
PB-3 – Lockheed

Observation

Observation, 1924–1942

O-1 Falcon – Curtiss
O-2 – Douglas
O-3 Mohawk – Dayton-Wright
O-4 – Martin
O-5 – Douglas
O-6 – Thomas-Morse
O-7 – Douglas
O-8 – Douglas
O-9 – Douglas
O-10 – Loening
O-11 Falcon – Curtiss
O-12 Falcon – Curtiss
O-13 Falcon – Curtiss
O-14 – Douglas
O-15 – Keystone
O-16 Falcon – Curtiss
O-17 Courier – Consolidated
O-18 Falcon – Curtiss
O-19 – Thomas-Morse
O-20 – Thomas-Morse
O-21 – Thomas-Morse
O-22 – Douglas
O-23 – Thomas-Morse
O-24 – Curtiss
O-25 – Douglas
O-26 – Curtiss
O-27 – Fokker
O-28 Corsair – Vought
O-29 – Douglas
O-30 – Curtiss
O-31 – Douglas
O-32 – Douglas
O-33 – Thomas-Morse
O-34 – Douglas
O-35 – Douglas
O-36 – Douglas
O-37 – Keystone
O-38 – Douglas
O-39 Falcon – Curtiss
O-40 Raven – Curtiss
O-41 – Thomas-Morse
O-42 – Thomas-Morse
O-43 – Douglas
O-44 – Douglas
O-45 – Martin
O-46 – Douglas
O-47 – North American
O-48 – Douglas
O-49 Vigilant – Stinson (redesignated as L-1 in 1942)
O-50 – Bellanca
O-51 Dragonfly – Ryan
YO-51 Dragonfly
O-52 Owl – Curtiss
O-53 Havoc – Douglas
O-54 – Stinson
O-55 – ERCO
O-56 Ventura – Lockheed
O-57 Grasshopper – Taylorcraft (redesignated as L-2 in 1942)
O-58 Grasshopper – Aeronca (redesignated as L-3 in 1942)
O-59 Grasshopper – Piper (redesignated as L-4 in 1942)
O-60 – Kellett
O-61 – Pitcairn
O-62 Sentinel – Stinson (redesignated as L-5 in 1942)
O-63 Grasshopper – Interstate (redesignated as XL-6 in 1942)

Observation amphibian, 1925–1948

OA-1 – Loening
OA-2 – Loening
OA-3 Dolphin – Douglas
OA-4 Dolphin – Douglas
OA-5 – Douglas
OA-6 – Consolidated
OA-7 – Douglas
OA-8 – Sikorsky
OA-9 Goose – Grumman
OA-10 Catalina – Consolidated
OA-11 – Sikorsky
OA-12 Duck – Grumman
OA-13 Goose – Grumman
OA-14 Widgeon – Grumman
OA-15 Seabee – Republic

Reconnaissance

Photographic reconnaissance, 1930–1948 / Reconnaissance, 1948–1962

F-1 – Fairchild
F-2 Expeditor – Beechcraft
F-3 Havoc – Douglas
F-4 Lightning – Lockheed
F-5 Lightning – Lockheed
F-6 Mustang – North American
F-7 Liberator – Consolidated
F-8 Mosquito – de Havilland
F-9 Flying Fortress – Boeing
F-10 Mitchell – North American
F-11 – Hughes
F-12 Rainbow – Republic
F-13 Superfortress – Boeing
F-14 Shooting Star – Lockheed
F-15 Reporter – Northrop
R-11 – Hughes
R-12 Rainbow – Republic
R-16 Stratofortress – Boeing^[6]

Reconnaissance-strike, 1960–1962

Both of the following aircraft are numbered in the B- (bomber) sequence.

RS-70 Valkyrie – North American
RS-71 Blackbird – Lockheed

Rotary wing 1941–1948 and helicopter 1948–present

In 1941, the category letter R- was allotted for "rotary wing" aircraft, and this designation was used until the founding of the United States Air Force in 1947, at which point the category letter was changed to H-, for "helicopter". However, the original numbering sequence was retained.

In 1962 when the Unified Designation System was adopted, six former Navy and Army types received new designations in the H-1 to H-6 series, which can be found here. However, the original sequence was also continued, and remains in use to the present, with the next designation available being H-73.

R-1 – Platt-LePage
R-2 – Kellett
R-3 – Kellett
R-4 Hoverfly – Sikorsky
R-5/H-5 Dragonfly – Sikorsky
R-6 Hoverfly II – Sikorsky
R-7 – Sikorsky
XR-8 Kellett
R-9/H-9 – Firestone
R-10/H-10 – Kellett
R-11/H-11 – Rotorcraft
R-12/H-12 – Bell
R-13/H-13 Sioux – Bell
R-14 – Firestone
R-15/H-15 – Bell
R-16/H-16 – Piasecki
XR-17/XH-17 – Hughes/Kellett
YH-18 – Sikorsky
H-19 – Sikorsky
XH-20 Little Henry – McDonnell
H-21 – Piasecki
H-22 – Kaman
OH-23 Raven – Hiller
YH-24 – Seibel
H-25 – Piasecki
XH-26 Jet Jeep – American Helicopter
YH-27 Transporter – Piasecki
XH-28 – Hughes
H-29 – McDonnell
YH-30 – McCulloch
YH-31 – Doman
YH-32 – Hiller
XH-33 – Bell (redesignated as XV-3)
H-34 Choctaw – Sikorsky
XH-35 – McDonnell (redesignated as XV-1)
H-36 – reserved for secret project LONG EARS
H-37 Mojave – Sikorsky
H-38 – reserved for secret project SHORT TAIL
XH-39 – Sikorsky
XH-40 – Bell
YH-41 Seneca – Cessna
XH-42 – Hughes
H-43 Huskie – Kaman
H-44 – reserved for secret project BIG TOM
H-45 – reserved for secret project STEP CHILD
H-46 Sea Knight – Boeing Vertol
H-47 Chinook – Boeing Vertol
XH-48 – Bell (redesignated as UH-1F)
XH-49 – Boeing Vertol (redesignated as XCH-46B)
H-50 DASH – Gyrodyne

Lockheed XH-51

XH-51 – Lockheed
H-52 Sea Guard – Sikorsky
H-53 – Sikorsky
- MH-53 Pave Low
- CH-53E Super Stallion
  - CH-53K Super Stallion^[3]
H-54 Tarhe – Sikorsky
H-55 Osage – Hughes
H-56 Cheyenne – Lockheed
H-57 Sea Ranger – Bell
H-58 Kiowa – Bell
XH-59 – Sikorsky
H-60 Black Hawk – Sikorsky
- SH-60 Seahawk
- HH-60 Pave Hawk
- HH-60 Jayhawk
YH-61 – Boeing Vertol
XH-62 – Boeing Vertol
YH-63 Kingcobra – Bell
H-64 Apache – Hughes
H-65 Dolphin – Aérospatiale
H-66 Comanche – Boeing/Sikorsky
H-67 Creek – Bell
H-68 Stingray – Agusta^[3]
H-69 – skipped
H-70 – Bell^[3]
H-71 Kestrel – Lockheed Martin^[3]
H-72 Lakota – Eurocopter^[3]

Supersonic/special test, 1946–1948

XS-1 – Bell
XS-2 – Bell
XS-3 Stiletto – Douglas
XS-4 Bantam – Northrop
XS-5 – Bell
- This series was continued as the X (Experimental) series after 1948 – see X-series in Unified System.

Trainer

Advanced Trainer, 1925–1948

AT-1 – Huff-Daland
AT-2 – Huff-Daland
AT-3 – Boeing
AT-4 Hawk – Curtiss
AT-5 Hawk – Curtiss
AT-6 Texan – North American (redesignated as T-6 in 1948)
AT-7 Navigator – Beechcraft (redesignated as T-7 in 1948)
AT-8 Bobcat – Cessna
AT-9 Jeep – Curtiss-Wright
AT-10 Wichita – Beechcraft
AT-11 Kansan – Beechcraft (redesignated as T-11 in 1948)
AT-12 Guardsman – Republic
AT-13 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-14 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-15 Crewmaker – Boeing
AT-16 – Noorduyn
AT-17 Bobcat – Cessna
AT-18 Hudson – Lockheed
AT-19 Reliant – Stinson
AT-20 Anson – Avro/Federal
AT-21 Gunner – Fairchild
AT-22 Liberator – Consolidated
AT-23 Marauder – Martin
AT-24 Mitchell – North American

Basic Combat, 1936–1940

BC-1 – North American
BC-2 – North American
BC-3 – Vultee

Basic Trainer, 1930–1948

BT-1 – Douglas
BT-2 – Douglas
BT-3 – Stearman
BT-4 – Curtiss
BT-5 – Stearman
BT-6 – Consolidated
BT-7 – Consolidated
BT-8 – Seversky
BT-9 – North American
BT-10 – North American
BT-11 – Aircraft Research
BT-12 – Fleetwings
BT-13 Valiant – Vultee
BT-14 – North American
BT-15 Valiant – Vultee
BT-16 Valiant – Vultee
BT-17 – Boeing-Stearman

Primary Trainer, 1925–1948

PT-1 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-2 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-3 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-4 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-5 Trusty – Consolidated
PT-6 – Consolidated
PT-7 Pinto – Mohawk
PT-8 – Consolidated
PT-9 – Stearman
PT-10 – Verville
PT-11 – Consolidated
PT-12 – Consolidated
PT-13 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-14 – Waco
PT-15 – St. Louis
PT-16 – Ryan
PT-17 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-18 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman
PT-19 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-20 – Ryan
PT-21 Recruit – Ryan
PT-22 Recruit – Ryan
PT-23 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-24 Tiger Moth – de Havilland
PT-25 – Ryan
PT-26 Cornell – Fairchild
PT-27 Kaydet – Boeing-Stearman

Unified sequence, 1948–present

The AT-6 Texan, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan, were retroactively given T- designations. The new sequence began at 28, continuing the "PT-" numbering sequence.

T-6 Texan – North American
T-7 Navigator – Beechcraft
T-11 Kansan – Beechcraft
T-28 Trojan – North American
T-29 Flying Classroom – Convair
T-30 – Douglas
T-31 – Fairchild
T-32 – Convair
T-33 Shooting Star – Lockheed
T-34 Mentor – Beechcraft
T-35 Buckaroo – Temco
T-36 – Beechcraft/Canadair
T-37 Tweet – Cessna
T-38 Talon – Northrop
T-39 Sabreliner – North American
T-40 Jet Star – Lockheed
T-41 Mescalero – Cessna
T-42 Cochise – Beechcraft
T-43 – Boeing
T-44 Pegasus – Beechcraft
T-45 Goshawk – McDonnell Douglas/BAE Systems
T-46 – Fairchild
T-47 – Cessna
T-48 – Cessna
T-48 MPATS^[3]
T-49 – Boeing^[3]
T-50 Golden Eagle – Korean Aerospace Industries (designation reserved, none procured)^[3]
T-51 – Cessna^[3]
T-52 – Diamond Aircraft^[7]
T-53 – Cirrus

Convertiplane, 1952–1962

Sequence	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/notable variants
V-1	McDonnell Aircraft	14 July 1954	Formerly XL-25 Formerly XH-35
V-2	Sikorsky Aircraft	–	project cancelled before prototype built
V-3	Bell Helicopter	11 August 1955	Formerly H-33

Army, 1956–1962

AO-1 Mohawk

In 1956, the U.S. Army adopted a new, and relatively simple, designation system for its aviation assets. Aircraft were divided into three different types – 'A' for fixed-wing aircraft, 'H' for helicopters, or 'V' for V/STOL aircraft, and then were given a mission modifier, which, unlike the USAF system, came after the type code: 'C' for transports, 'O' for observation and reconnaissance aircraft, 'U' for utility types, and 'Z' for experimental aircraft. Aircraft types designated in this system were numbered sequentially.^[8]

Airplane, Cargo, 1956–1962

AC-1 Caribou – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as CV-2 in 1962, then C-7 in 1967)
AC-2 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (redesignated as CV-7 in 1962, then C-8 in 1967)

Airplane, Observation, 1956–1962

AO-1 Mohawk – Grumman (redesignated as OV-1 in 1962)
AO-2 Inflatoplane – Goodyear
AO-3 Inflatoplane – Goodyear

Airplane, Research, 1956–1962

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Image	First flight	Notes/notable variants
AZ-1	Marvelette	Mississippi State University		16 November 1962

Flying Platform, 1955–1956

HO-1 Pawnee – Hiller (redesignated as VZ-1 in 1956)
HO-2 – de Lackner Helicopters (redesignated as HZ-1 in 1956)

Helicopter, Cargo, 1956–1962

HC-1A Sea Knight (redesignated as CH-46C in 1962)
HC-1B Chinook (redesignated as CH-47A in 1962)

Helicopter, Observation, 1956–1962

HO-1 – Sud-Ouest
HO-2 – Hughes
HO-3 – Brantly
HO-4 – Bell (redesignated as OH-4A in 1962)
HO-5 – Fairchild Hiller (redesignated as OH-5A in 1962)
HO-6 – Hughes (redesignated as OH-6A in 1962)

Helicopter, Utility, 1956–1962

HU-1 Iroquois – Bell (redesignated as UH-1 in 1962)

Helicopter, Experimental, 1956–1962

HZ-1 Aerocycle – de Lackner Helicopters

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956–1962

VZ-9 Avrocar

VZ-1 Pawnee – Hiller
VZ-2 – Vertol
VZ-3 Vertiplane – Ryan
VZ-4 Convertiplane – Doak
VZ-5 Fledgling – Fairchild
VZ-6 – Chrysler
VZ-7-Curtiss-Wright
VZ-8 Airgeep – Piasecki
VZ-9 Avrocar – Avro Canada
VZ-10 Hummingbird – Lockheed (redesignated as XV-4 in 1962)
VZ-11 Vertifan – Ryan (redesignated as XV-5 in 1962)
VZ-12 Kestrel – Hawker Siddeley (redesignated as XV-6 in 1962)

Unified System, 1962–present

Airborne Laser

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Image	Notes/Notable Variants
AL-1		Boeing		^[9] Airborne Laser Testbed

Airship

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
Z-1		Goodyear	^[9]
Z-2	Sentinel	Westinghouse Airships
Z-3		American Blimp	^[3]

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
S-1			Skipped
S-2	Tracker	Grumman Aircraft	Formerly S2F
S-3	Viking Shadow	Lockheed Corporation

Attack

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/notable variants
A-1	Skyraider	Douglas	(formerly designated AD)
A-2	Savage	North American	(formerly designated AJ)
A-3	Skywarrior	Douglas	(formerly designated A3D)
A-4	Skyhawk	Douglas	(formerly designated A4D)
A-5	Vigilante	North American	(formerly designated A3J)
A-6	Intruder	Grumman	(formerly designated A2F)
A-7	Corsair II	Ling-Temco-Vought
A-9		Northrop	Losing contender for the AX competition
A-10	Thunderbolt II	Fairchild Republic	Winning contender for the AX competition
A-12	Avenger II	McDonnell Douglas / General Dynamics	cancelled
F/A-18C/D	Hornet	McDonnell Douglas	^[10]
F/A-18E/F	Super Hornet	Boeing	^[10]
A-26	Invader	Douglas	(redesignated back to WW II-era designation, from B-26 in 1966)
A-29	Super Tucano	Embraer
A-37	Dragonfly	Cessna	(originally designated AT-37)

Bomber

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Image	Notes/Notable Variants
B-1	Lancer	Rockwell International
B-2	Spirit "Stealth Bomber"	Northrop Grumman

Cargo

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable variants
C-1	Trader	Grumman	(formerly designated TF)
C-2	Greyhound	Grumman
C-3	Martin 4-0-4	Martin	(formerly designated RM-1Z) Martin 4-0-4 airliners for use by the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard
C-4	Academe	Gulfstream	Used for training A-6 Intruder Naval Flight Officers.
C-5	Galaxy	Lockheed
C-6	Ute	Beechcraft	Beechcraft 90 King Air, re-designated U-21 Ute
C-7	Caribou	de Havilland Canada
C-8	Buffalo	de Havilland Canada
C-9	Nightingale	McDonnell-Douglas
C-10	Jetstream	Handley Page	USAF 68-10378/10388 (were to be offset purchase for RAF F-111K – both cancelled)
C-10		McDonnell-Douglas	Winner of the KC-X competition (after cancellation of C-10 Jetstream, C-10 designation re-used)
C-11	Gulfstream II	Gulfstream
C-12		Beechcraft
C-14		Boeing	AMST contender
C-15		McDonnell-Douglas	AMST contender
C-17	Globemaster III	Boeing
C-18	Boeing 707–320	Boeing
C-19	Boeing 747–100	Boeing
C-20	Gulfstream III	Gulfstream	C-20A / B / C / D / E
C-20	Gulfstream IV	Gulfstream	C-20F / G / H / J
C-21	Learjet 35	Learjet
C-22	Boeing 727	Boeing	Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau personnel transports
C-23	Sherpa	Shorts	Military logistics transports for use in Europe and the US by the US Air Force and US Army
C-24	DC-8F-54	Douglas	A single DC-8-54F used for avionic trials as the EC-24A
C-25	Boeing 747-200	Boeing	Presidential VIP transport
C-26		Fairchild
C-27	Spartan	Alenia
C-28	Titan	Cessna
C-29	B Ae 125-800	British Aerospace	Airways and navaid checker
C-32	Boeing 757-200	Boeing	VIP transport
C-35		Cessna
C-37	Gulfstream V	Gulfstream
C-38	Gulfstream G100	Gulfstream	(formerly IAI Astra SPX)
C-40	Boeing 737-700c	Boeing	(replacement for the C-9A Nightingale in USAF and C-9B Skytrain II in USN)
C-41	C-212 series 200 Aviocar	Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA	^[3]
C-45		EADS	Losing K-X contender^[3]
C-46		Boeing	Winner of the K-X competition over the EADS KC-45
KC-767		Boeing	Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- Multi-Role Tanker Transports exported to Japan and Italy^[3]
UC-880		Convair	Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- A single Convair 880 converted to tanker to support trials from the NATC at Patuxent River^[11]

Drone

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
Q-1	Predator Warrior	General Atomics	^[3] MQ-1C Warrior
Q-2	Pioneer	AAI Corporation Israel Aircraft Industries
Q-3	Dark Star	Lockheed Martin Boeing
Q-4	Global Hawk	Northrop Grumman
Q-5	Hunter	Israel Aircraft Industries
Q-6	Outrider	Alliant Techsystems
Q-7	Shadow	AAI Corporation
Q-8	Fire Scout	Northrop Grumman
Q-9	Reaper Altair	General Atomics	Originally "Predator B"
Q-10	SnowGoose	MMIST
Q-11	Raven	AeroVironment
Q-12			Requested for Q-1C – Skipped
Q-13			Skipped
Q-14	Dragon Eye	AeroVironment
Q-15	Neptune	DRS Technologies
Q-16	T-Hawk	Honeywell
Q-17	SpyHawk	MTC Technologies
Q-18	Hummingbird	Boeing
Q-19	Aerosonde	AAI Corporation	^[3]
Q-20	Puma	AeroVironment
Q-21	Integrator	Boeing Insitu
Non-sequential designations
Q-170	Sentinel	Lockheed Martin

Electronic Warfare

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
E-1	Tracer	Grumman Aircraft	Formerly WF
E-2	Hawkeye	Grumman Aircraft	Formerly W2F
E-3	Sentry	Boeing
E-4	"Nightwatch"	Boeing
E-5	Eagle	Windecker Industries
E-6	Mercury	Boeing	TACAMO
E-7			Designation proposed for EC-18B
E-8	Joint STARS	Northrop Grumman
E-9	Widget	de Havilland Canada
E-10	MC2A	Boeing Northrop Grumman
E-11		Bombardier Northrop Grumman	Battlefield Airborne Communications Node platform
E-767		Boeing	Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- AEW&C aircraft for the Japanese Self-Defence Forces^[3]

Experimental, 1948–present

In addition to aircraft intended to support military operations, the armed forces of the United States have also supported efforts to push the boundaries of aeronautical and aerospace knowledge. Some of the best-known of these projects are the aircraft designated in the "X-series", which led them to become known as "X-planes".

Name	Manufacturer Agency	Maiden flight	Notes/Notable Variants
X-1	Bell Aircraft USAF, NACA	January 19, 1946	High-speed and high-altitude testing. First aircraft to break the sound barrier. Proved aerodynamic viability of thin wing sections.^[12]
X-2 "Starbuster"	Bell Aircraft USAF	June 27, 1952	High-speed and high-altitude testing. First aircraft to exceed Mach 3.^[13]
X-3 Stiletto	Douglas Aircraft USAF, NACA	October 27, 1952	Titanium alloy construction; low aspect ratio wings. Planned to test long-duration high-speed flight. Incapable of reaching design speed, but Provided insights into inertia coupling.^[14]
X-4 Bantam	Northrop USAF, NACA	December 15, 1948	Evaluated handling characteristics of tailless aircraft in the transonic speed region.^[15]
X-5	Bell Aircraft USAF, NACA	June 20, 1951	First aircraft to fly with Variable-sweep wing wings.^[16] (many other aircraft had previously flown with variable geometry wings, but none with variable sweep wings)
X-6	Convair USAF, AEC	Not flown	Modified Convair B-36 for study of Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion; not built. NB-36H testbed tested reactor.^[17]
X-7 "Flying Stove Pipe"	Lockheed Tri-service	April 1951	High-speed testbed for ramjet engines.^[18]
X-8 Aerobee	Aerojet NACA, USAF, USN		Upper air research vehicle and sounding rocket.^[19]
X-9 Shrike	Bell Aircraft USAF	April 1949	Guidance and propulsion technology testbed. Assisted development of GAM-63 Rascal missile.^[20]
X-10	North American Aviation USAF	October 13, 1953	Testbed for SM-64 Navajo missile.^[21]
X-11	Convair USAF	June 11, 1957	Testbed for SM-65 Atlas missile.^[22]
X-12	Convair USAF	July, 1958	Advanced testbed for SM-65 Atlas missile.^[23]
X-13 Vertijet	Ryan Aeronautical USAF, USN	December 10, 1955	Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) testbed. Evaluated tailsitting configuration for VTOL flight.^[24]
X-14	Bell Aircraft USAF, NASA	February 19, 1957	VTOL testbed. Examined the vectored thrust configuration for VTOL flight.^[25]
X-15	North American Aviation USAF, NASA	June 8, 1959	Hypersonic (Mach 6), high-altitude (350,000 feet (110,000 m)) testing. First manned hypersonic aircraft; capable of suborbital spaceflight.^[26]
X-16	Bell Aircraft USAF	Never flew	High-altitude reconnaissance aircraft project.^[27] "X-16" designation used as cover story.^[28]
X-17	Lockheed USAF, USN	April 1956	Tested the effects of high Mach number reentry.^[29]
X-18	Hiller Aircraft USAF, USN	November 24, 1959	VTOL/Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) testbed. Evaluated the tiltwing concept for VTOL flight.^[30]
X-19	Curtiss-Wright Tri-service	November 1963	Tandem tiltrotor VTOL transport testbed.^[31] XC-143 designation proposed.^[32]
X-20 Dyna-Soar	Boeing USAF	Never built	Reusable spaceplane for military missions.^[33]
X-21	Northrop USAF	April 18, 1963	Boundary layer control testbed.^[34]
X-22	Bell Aircraft Tri-service	March 17, 1966	Quad ducted fan tiltrotor STOVL testbed.^[35]
X-23 PRIME	Martin Marietta USAF	December 21, 1966	Maneuvering atmospheric reentry effects testbed.^[36] Note: Designation never officially assigned.^[37]
X-24	Martin Marietta USAF, NASA	August 1, 1973	Low-speed lifting body handling testbed. Lifting body aerodynamic shape trials.^[38]
X-25	Bensen USAF	December 6, 1955	Light autogyro for emergency use by downed pilots.^[39]
X-26 Frigate	Schweizer DARPA, US Army, USN	1967	Training glider for yaw-roll coupling Quiet observation aircraft testbed.^[40]
X-27	Lockheed	Never flew	High performance fighter prototype.^[41]
X-28 Sea Skimmer	Osprey Aircraft USN	August 12, 1970	Inexpensive aerial policing seaplane testbed.^[42]
X-29	Grumman DARPA, USAF, NASA	1984	Forward-swept wing testbed.^[43]
X-30 NASP	Rockwell NASA, DARPA, USAF	Never built	Single stage to orbit spaceplane prototype.^[44]
X-31	Rockwell DARPA, USAF, BdV	1990	Thrust vectoring supermaneuverability testbed. ESTOL testbed.^[45]
X-32	Boeing USAF, USN, RAF	September 2000	Joint Strike Fighter prototype.^[46]
X-33 Venture Star	Lockheed Martin NASA	Prototype never completed	Half-scale reusable launch vehicle prototype.^[47]
X-34	Orbital Sciences NASA	Never flew	Reusable unmanned spaceplane testbed.^[48]
X-35	Lockheed Martin USAF, USN, RAF	2000	Joint Strike Fighter prototype.^[49]
X-36	McDonnell Douglas/Boeing NASA	May 17, 1997	28% scale tailless fighter testbed.^[50]
X-37	Boeing USAF, NASA	April 7, 2006 (drop test) April 22, 2010 (orbital flight)	Reusable orbital spaceplane.^[51]
X-38	Scaled Composites NASA	1999	Lifting body Crew Return Vehicle demonstrator.^[52]
X-39	Unknown USAF	Unknown	Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements (FATE) program.^[53] Note: Designation never officially assigned.^[37]
X-40	Boeing USAF, NASA	August 11, 1998	80% scale Space Maneuver Vehicle testbed. X-37 prototype.^[54]
X-41	Unknown USAF	Unknown	Maneuvering re-entry vehicle.^[55]
X-42	Unknown USAF	Unknown	Expendable liquid propellant upper-stage rocket.^[56]
X-43 Hyper-X	Microcraft NASA	June 2, 2001	Scramjet hypersonic testbed.^[57]
X-44 MANTA	Lockheed Martin USAF, NASA	Cancelled	F-22-based Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft thrust vectoring testbed.^[58]
X-45	Boeing DARPA, USAF	May 22, 2002	Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator.^[59]
X-46	Boeing DARPA, USN	Cancelled	Naval UCAV demonstrator.^[60]
X-47A Pegasus X-47B	Northrop Grumman DARPA, USN	February 23, 2003	Naval UCAV demonstrator.^[61]
X-48	Boeing NASA	July 20, 2007	Blended Wing Body (BWB) testbed.^[62]
X-49 Speedhawk	Piasecki Aircraft US Army	July 29, 2007	Compound helicopter Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) testbed.^[3]
X-50 Dragonfly	Boeing DARPA	24 November 2003	Canard Rotor/Wing testbed.^[63]
X-51 Waverider	Boeing USAF	26 May 2010^[64]	Hypersonic scramjet demonstrator.^[65]
X-52	Number skipped to avoid confusion with B-52.^[37]
X-53	Boeing Phantom Works NASA, USAF	November 2002	Active Aeroelastic Wing testbed.^[66]
X-54	Gulfstream Aerospace NASA	Future	Supersonic transport testbed.^[3]
X-55	Lockheed Martin Skunk Works USAF	June 2, 2009	Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA). Molded composite fuselage and empennage testbed.^[67]

Fighter

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
F-1	Fury	North American	(previously designated FJ-2, FJ-3 & FJ-4)
F-2	Banshee	McDonnell	(previously designated F2H)
F-3	Demon	McDonnell	(previously designated F3H)
F-4	Phantom II	McDonnell Douglas	(previously designated F4H and F-110)
F-5	Freedom Fighter	Northrop
F-6	Skyray	Douglas	(previously designated F4D)
F-7	Sea Dart	Convair	(previously designated F2Y)
F-8	Crusader	Vought	(previously designated F8U)
F-9	Cougar	Grumman	(previously designated F9F-6)
F-10	Skyknight	Douglas	(previously designated F3D)
F-11	Tiger	Grumman	(previously designated F11F)
F-12		Lockheed	Two-seat Fighter version of the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft
F-14	Tomcat	Grumman
F-15	Eagle	McDonnell Douglas
F-16	Fighting Falcon	General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin	Winning contender in the LWF contest
F-17	Cobra	Northrop	Losing contender in the LWF contest, developed into the F/A-18 Hornet
F-18A/B/C/D	Hornet	McDonnell Douglas	Developed from the YF-17 as a shipboard fighter Attack aircraft
F/A-18E/F	Super Hornet	Boeing	Enlarged F/A-18 with bigger everything^[3]
F-20	Tigershark	Northrop	The ultimate Tiger development powered by a single F404 afterburning turbofan, but no production
F-21	Kfir C-2	Israel Aircraft Industries	Kfir C2 aircraft for US Navy dissimilar combat training and aggressor training
F-22	Raptor	Lockheed Martin	^[3]
F-23	Black Widow II	Northrop / McDonnell Douglas	Lost out to the F-22 in competition
F-35	Lightning II	Lockheed Martin	Production version of the X-35, winner of the JSF competition^[3]
YF-110	MiG-21s	Mikoyan-Gurevich	Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[68] Designation used for captured MiG-21s and new-build J-7s^[69]
YF-112	Su-22	Sukhoi	Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[68] – obtained from Egypt or Allegedly used for captured MiGs^[69]
YF-113	MiG-23s	Mikoyan-Gurevich	Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[68] – Designation used for captured MiG-17s and^[68]^[69]
YF-114	MiG-17	Mikoyan-Gurevich	Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[68] – Designation used for captured MiG-17s^[69]
F-117	Nighthawk	Lockheed	Production version of the HAVE BLUE experimental stealth aircraft
F-117D Tacit Blue	TACIT BLUE		A stealth experimental aircraft^[69]

- F-13 – skipped
- F-19 – officially skipped; rumored to be still classified
- YF-24 – (fictional?) Classified project^[69]^[70]
- YF-113G – possible USAF "black project"^[69]
- YF-121 Rumored "black project"^[69]

Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.^[68]

- YF-115 – Rumored designation of captured Su-7
- YF-116 – Rumored designation of captured MiG-25
- YF-118 – Rumored designation of MiG-29

Glider

Sequence	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
TG-1	Schweizer
TG-2	Schweizer
TG-3	Schweizer^[71]
TG-4	Schweizer^[71]
TG-5	Schweizer
TG-6	Schweizer
TG-7	Schweizer^[71]
TG-8	Schweizer
TG-9	Schleicher^[71]
TG-10	Let^[3]^[71]
TG-11	Stemme^[71]
TG-12	Caproni Vizzola^[3]
TG-13		Skipped
TG-15	Aeromot^[3]
TG-15	Schempp-Hirth^[3]
TG-16	DG Flugzeugbau

Helicopter

Unlike most other categories of aircraft, the introduction of the tri-service designation system in 1962 did not result in a wholesale redesignation of helicopters. While six types received new designations in the unified, "re-started" sequence, the original "H-" series of designations that started in 1948 was also continued, and no further types of rotorcraft have been designated in the "post-1962" system.

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
H-1 Iroquois	Iroquois Huey	Bell Helicopter	22 October 1956	Formerly H-40 Formerly HU-1 UH-1N Twin Huey UH-1Y Venom
H-1 Cobra	Cobra SeaCobra SuperCobra Viper	Bell Helicopter		Formerly AH-1 Cobra AH-1 SuperCobra AH-1Z Viper
H-2 Seasprite	Seasprite	Kaman Aircraft	2 July 1959	Formerly HU2K SH-2G Super Seasprite
H-3 Sea King	Sea King "Jolly Green Giant"	Sikorsky Aircraft	11 March 1959	Formerly HSS-2 CH-/HH-3 Sea King
H-4		Bell Helicopter	8 December 1962	Formerly HO-4
H-5		Fairchild Hiller	21 January 1963	Formerly HO-5
H-6 Cayuse	Cayuse Little Bird	Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Boeing Helicopters	27 February 1963	Formerly HO-6 MH-6 Little Bird AH-6

Observation

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
O-1	Bird Dog	Cessna Aircraft	14 December 1949	Formerly L-19
O-2	Skymaster	Cessna Aircraft	January 1967
O-3	"Quiet Star"	Lockheed Missiles & Space	1969
O-4		Wren Aircraft	1963 (Wren 460)	Not proceeded with.
O-5	ARL	de Havilland Canada	27 March 1975 (DHC-7)	Formerly RC-7
O-6	ARL	Bombardier
OV-10	Bronco	North American Aviation	16 July 1965

Patrol

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
P-1	Skipped
P-2	Neptune	Lockheed Corporation	17 May 1945	Formerly P2V
P-3	Orion ARIES	Lockheed Corporation	25 November 1959	Formerly P3V WP-3D Orion EP-3 Aries
P-4	Privateer	Consolidated Aircraft	1943	Formerly PB4Y-2K / P4Y-2K)
P-5	Marlin	Glenn L. Martin Company	30 May 1948	Formerly P5M
P-6	Skipped – presumably because of Martin P6M which was canceled a few years previously
P-7		Lockheed Corporation	–	Long-Range Air ASW-Capable Aircraft Not built
P-8	Poseidon	Boeing	25 April 2009	^[3]

Reconnaissance

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
R-1	Dragon Lady	Lockheed Corporation	August 1981
R-2	Skipped
R-3				Possibly assigned to a Black Project Speculated: TR-3 Black Manta Speculated: SR-3 Blackstar

Spaceplane

The only designation in the "Spaceplane" series, the MS-1A shares a designation letter with the anti-submarine warfare category, and is perhaps unique among MDS identifiers as being assigned to a future, and currently not wholly defined, concept, as opposed to a specific project.^[3]^[72]

Tanker

No specialised types have been acquired to receive a stand-alone 'K for Tanker' designation; for aircraft modified for use as tankers, see the parent aircraft in the proper sequence.

Trainer, 1962, 1990–present

Despite the adoption of the unified Mission Designation System in 1962, only two aircraft were designated in the new series, both former Navy types. The old series continued in use until 1990, at which point a new series was started over at T-1, with the previous T-2 still being in use. However, the old series has still seen new designations being assigned. The next designation available in the 'T' series is T-52 or T-7, depending on which series is continued.

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
1962 Sequence
T-1	SeaStar	Lockheed Corporation	15 December 1953	Formerly T2V.
T-2	Buckeye	North American Aviation	31 January 1958	Formerly T2J.
1990 Sequence
T-1	Jayhawk	Raytheon Hawker Beechcraft
T-2	Skipped			T-2 Buckeye was still in service.
T-3	Firefly	Slingsby Aviation	1991
T-4	Skipped
T-5	Skipped
T-6	Texan II	Hawker Beechcraft	July 1998	Named in honor of AT-6 Texan

Utility, 1955–present

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	Notes/Notable Variants
U-1	Otter	de Havilland Canada
U-2	Dragon Lady	Lockheed Corporation
U-3	Blue Canoe	Cessna
U-4	Aero Commander	Aero Design
U-5	Twin Courier	Helio
U-6	Beaver	de Havilland Canada
U-7	Super Cub	Piper
U-8	Seminole	Beechcraft
U-9	Aero Commander	Aero Design
U-10	Super Courier	Helio
U-11	Aztec	Piper
U-12			Skipped
U-13			Skipped
U-14			Skipped
U-15			Skipped
U-16	Albatross	Grumman
U-17	Skywagon	Cessna
U-18	Navion	North American/Ryan
U-19	Sentinel	Stinson
U-20		Cessna
U-21	Ute	Beechcraft
U-22		Beechcraft
U-23	Peacemaker	Fairchild Hiller/Pilatus
U-24	Courier	Helio
U-25	Guardian	Dassault-Breguet
U-26	Super Skywagon	Cessna
U-27	Caravan	Cessna
U-28		Pilatus^[3]
U-38	Twin Condor	Schweizer

Vertical and Short Take-off and Landing Aircraft

Sequence	Name	Manufacturer	First flight	Notes/Notable Variants
V-1	Mohawk	Grumman Aircraft	14 April 1959	Formerly AO-1
V-2	Caribou	de Havilland Canada	30 July 1958	Formerly AC-1 Redesignated as C-7
V-3		Bell Helicopter	11 August 1955	Formerly H-33 Formerly V-3 in Convertiplane series
V-4	Hummingbird	Lockheed Corporation	7 July 1962	Formerly VZ-10
V-5	Vertifan	Ryan Aeronautical	25 May 1964	Formerly VZ-11
V-6	Kestrel	Hawker Siddeley	7 March 1964	VZ-12 was used for the P.1127 development model, but these were never delivered. XV-6A used for the six evaluation aircraft supplied by the UK.
V-7	Buffalo	de Havilland Canada	22 September 1961	Formerly AC-2 Redesignated as C-8
V-8	"Fleep"	Ryan Aeronautical	1961	Designation later reused.
V-8	Harrier	Hawker Siddeley	28 December 1967	AV-8B Harrier II McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace
V-9		Hughes Helicopters	5 November 1964
V-10	Bronco	Rockwell International Boeing	16 July 1965
V-11	Marvel	Parsons Corporation	1 December 1965
V-12		Parsons Corporation	1961 (Turbo-Porter)	Cancelled, designation reused.
V-12		Rockwell International	1978 (tethered hover)
V-13	not used
V-14	not used			Skipped to avoid confusion with X-14.^[73]
V-15		Bell Helicopter	3 May 1977
V-16	Advanced Harrier	McDonnell Douglas British Aerospace	–	Not built; developed into AV-8B
V-17	not used			Assigned to a U.S. Army project but not used.^[73]
V-18	Twin Otter	de Havilland Canada	20 May 1965 (DHC-6)
V-19	not used			Assigned to a U.S. Navy project but cancelled.^[73]
V-20	Chiricahua	de Havilland Canada	1979
V-21	PACES	Airship Industries	1983	Unconfirmed designation.^[73]
V-22	Osprey	Bell Helicopter Boeing Helicopters	19 March 1989
V-23	Scout	Dominion Aircraft	21 April 1975 (Skytrader)

Un-designated foreign aircraft operated by the United States

Airspeed Horsa – Airspeed Ltd
Airspeed Oxford – Airspeed^[74]
Bristol Beaufighter – Bristol Aeroplane Company
Boulton Paul Defiant – Boulton Paul Aircraft
CAC Wirraway – Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
de Havilland Dominie – de Havilland^[74]
de Havilland Moth Minor – de Havilland.
de Havilland Tiger Moth – de Havilland^[74]
Diamond DA20 – Diamond Aircraft
Hawker Hurricane – Hawker Aircraft^[74]
Heinkel HD 22 – Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
M28 Skytruck – PZL
Mil Mi-17 – Mil
Miles Master – Miles Aircraft Ltd^[74]
Morane-Saulnier MS-234^[75]
Percival Proctor^[74]
Supermarine Spitfire^[74]
Westland Lysander

References

Citations

↑ AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, BUWEPSINST 13100.7, "Designating, Redesignating, and Naming of Military Aircraft", 18 September 1962
↑ "Lockheed B-71 (SR-71)". National Museum of the United States Air Force. October 29, 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Parsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L"
↑ Andrade 1979, page 60
↑ "HazeGray.org". rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
↑ Andrade 1979, p. 162
↑ "Photo essay: Flight of a T-52A" U.S. Air Force.
↑ Chorney, Andrew. Systems of Designation, U.S. Army Aircraft, 1956–1962 System. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004
1 2 DOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles, Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (AT&L) (Defense Systems), May 12, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
1 2 Officially, the F/A-18 is designated in both the A-for-attack and F-for-fighter series.
↑ U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 5–7.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 8.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 9.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 10.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 11.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 12.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 13.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 14.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 15.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 16.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 17.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 18.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 19.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 20.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 21–22.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 23.
↑ "X-16". globalsecurity.org, accessed 11 May 2010.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 24.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 25.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 26.
↑ Baugher 2007
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 27.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 28.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 29.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 30.
1 2 3 Parsch 2009, "Missing Designations"
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 31–32.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 33.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 34.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 35.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 36.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 37.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 38.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 39.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 40–41.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 42.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 43.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 44-45.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 46.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 47.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 48.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 49.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 50.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 51.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 52.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 53.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 54.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 55.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 56.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 57.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 58.
↑ Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 60.
↑ "X-51 Waverider makes historic hypersonic flight". US AIr Force Public Affairs. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 Jul 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
↑ "X-51 Scramjet Engine Demonstrator – WaveRider" globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
↑ Jordan 2006
↑ Kaufman 2009
1 2 3 4 5 6 Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). "Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
↑ "Edwards AFB website". Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. Archived from the original on 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
1 2 3 4 5 6 94th Flying Training Squadron aircraft
↑ MS-1A, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
1 2 3 4 Parsch, Andreas. ""Missing" USAF/DOD Aircraft Designations". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Office of History, Headquarters Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe: Installations and USAAF Combat Units in the United Kingdom 1942–1945, Revised and Expanded Edition. October 1980; reprinted February 1985
↑ Baugher, Joseph F. 1930–1937 USAAS Serial Numbers

Sources

Books

Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 978-0-904597-22-6.
Fahey, James C. (1946). U.S. Army Aircraft 1908–1946.
Michael J.H. Taylor, ed. (1991). Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century. New York, NY: Mallard Press. ISBN 978-0-7924-5627-8.

External links

United States Armed Forces

Book
Portal
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- CG
Category
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- CG
- PHS
- NOAA
Navbox
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- CG

Leadership

Commander-in-chief: President of the United States
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Joint Chiefs of Staff:
- Chairman
- Vice Chairman
United States Congress: Committees on Armed Services:
- Senate
- House
Active duty four-star officers
Highest ranking officers in history
National Security Act of 1947
Goldwater–Nichols Act

Organization

Service departments	Department of Defense (Secretary): Army (Secretary) Navy (Secretary) Air Force (Secretary) Department of Homeland Security (Secretary): Coast Guard

Branches	Army (Chief of Staff) Marine Corps (Commandant) Navy (Chief of Naval Operations) Air Force (Chief of Staff) Coast Guard (Commandant)

Other uniformed services	Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (Surgeon General) NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (Director)

Reserve components	Reserves: A MC N AF CG National Guard: A AF Naval militias State defense forces

Civilian auxiliaries	Military Auxiliary Radio System Merchant Marine Civil Air Patrol Coast Guard Auxiliary

Unified Combatant Command	Northern Central European Pacific Southern Africa Special Operations Strategic Transportation

Structure

United States Code
- Title 10
- Title 14
- Title 32
- Title 50
The Pentagon
Installations
Units:
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- CG
Logistics
Media

Operations and history

Personnel

Training	MEPS ASVAB Recruit training: A MC N AF CG Officer candidate school: A MC N AF Warrant: A MC Service academies: A (prep) N (prep) AF (prep) CG Merchant Marine PHS Junior/Reserve Officers' Training Corps: A: MJC/SMC MC/N AF Medical Other education

Uniforms	Uniforms: A MC N AF CG Awards & decorations: Inter-service A MC/N AF CG PHS NOAA Foreign International Devices Badges: Identification A MC N AF CG

Ranks	Enlisted: A MC N AF CG Warrant officers Officer: A MC N AF CG PHS NOAA

Other	Oath: Enlistment Office Creeds & Codes: Code of Conduct NCO A MC N AF CG Service numbers: A MC N AF CG Military Occupational Specialty/Rating/Air Force Specialty Code Pay Uniform Code of Military Justice Judge Advocate General's Corps Military Health System/TRICARE Separation Veterans Affairs Conscription Chiefs of Chaplains: A MC N AF CG

Equipment

Land	Individual weapons Crew-served weapons Vehicles (active)

Sea	All watercraft Ships: A N (active) AF CG MSC NOAA Weapons: N CG Aircraft: N CG NOAA Reactors

Air	Aircraft World War I active Aircraft designation Missiles Helicopter arms

Other	Electronics (designations) Flags: A MC N AF CG Ensign Jack Guidons Food WMDs: Nuclear Biological Chemical

Legend: A = Army; MC = Marine Corps; N = Navy; AF = Air Force; CG = Coast Guard; PHS = Public Health Service; NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; MSC = Military Sealift Command

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 22, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.