United States of America military aircraft designation systems

The United States Military Aircraft Designation System was first designed in 1919 when the US Army's Aeronautical Division became the United States Army Air Service.

History

• 1920 to 1947 the United States Army Air Service / United States Army Air Corps / United States Army Air Force used a designation system based on mission category, with each model in a category numbered in turn.
• 1922 to 1962 the United States Navy (including United States Marine Corps) used a completely separate designation system, based on both mission and manufacturer.
• 1947 to 1962 the United States Air Force used a mission-based system different to, but derived from, the 1920-1947 system. For instance, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Pursuit) was re-designated as F-80 (Fighter), but the Convair B-36 bomber kept its previous designation.
• 1962 to now a joint system of mission-based designations was used, with most of these re-starting from 1. Various previously-designated models (such as the F-111) were not re-designated, however.

A comprehensive explanation can be found at Systems of Designation.

Individual System Pages

• 1919 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system
• 1924 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system also applied to aircraft of the United States Army Air Corps, United States Army Air Force and United States Air Force
• 1948 United States Air Force aircraft designation system
• 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system (includes United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard aircraft)
• 1956 United States Army Air Forces aircraft designation system
• 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system

See also

• Military aircraft

External Link

• US Designations