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British Designations
Aircraft
The 1918 Designation system.
The 1918 system was based on the meaning of names as codewords.
It was used until 1927. Up to 1921 alliteration of aircraft name and manufacturer's name was obligatory; later this was often
continued. The following information is from an article in Aeroplane Monthly, November 1994:
Landplanes
Fighter Zoological, Vegetable, Mineral (terrestial)
Single-seater Insects, birds and reptiles
Two-seater Mammals
Three-seater Flowers
Four-seater Shrubs
Five-seater Trees
Over five seats Metals, Rocks
Bomber Geographical (inland)
Single-Seater Italian towns
Two-seater British towns
Three-seater French towns
More than 3, under 5 ton Towns in colonies and dependencies
5 to 10 tons Towns in Asia
10 to 15 tons Towns in Africa
Heavy Armoured Machines Proper Names (male)
Under 2 tons Mythological Greek
2 to 5 tons Mythological Roman
5 to 10 tons Mythological Eastern and Egyptian
10 to 20 tons Mythological Northern Europe
Seaplanes
Fighter Zoological (marine)
Single-seater River fish
Two-seater Saltwater fish
Three-seater Shellfish
Bomber Geographical (seaboard)
Single-Seater Italian towns
Two-seater British towns
Three-seater French towns
More than 3, under 5 ton Towns in colonies and dependencies
5 to 10 tons Towns in Asia
10 to 15 tons Towns in Africa
Patrol and anti-submarine Proper Names (female)
Under 2 tons Mythological Greek
2 to 5 tons Mythological Roman
5 to 10 tons Mythological Eastern and Egyptian
10 to 20 tons Mythological Northern Europe
The 1927 RAF Naming System
Category Names beginning with...
-------- -----------------------
1. Fighters, land F
2. Fighters, fleet N (maritime significance)
3. Bombers, single-engined P
4. Bombers, multi-engined B
5. Bombers, torpedo M (maritime significance)
6. Army co-operation A
7. Spotter & reconaissance S
8. Coastal reconaissance R
9. Troop carriers C
10. Training aircraft T
11. General Purpose Aircraft G
12. Fighter Reconaissance O (maritime significance)
The 1932 RAF Naming System
1. Fighters Speed, Activity, Aggressiveness
2. Bombers
(a) Day Animals (except felidae)
(b) Army co-operation Classical names
(c) Night Inland town of the Empire, or towns
associated with the RAF.
(d) General Purpose British historical names
(e) Transport General towns and seaports
of the British Empire.
3. Flying Boats Coastal towns and seaports
of the British Empire.
4. Fleet Air Arm
(a) Fighters Mythological names
(b) Fighter reconaissance Seabirds
(c) Torpedo Bombers Oceans, seas and estuaries
(d) Spotter reconaissance Marine animals
5. Trainers Tuition, or places of education
Emmanuel Gustin
gustin@uia.ua.ac.be
Military Aircraft Database . Index
