Aircraft Nickname Master List (2024)

There have been some conversations in the past about aircraft nicknames, their origins or the myths revolving around them. But there doesn't seem to be an actual thread devoted to trying to bring them all into one place.

Many years ago, I had started a list of as many as I could find. Some names ended up being the conventional assignment, some were very critical, several were repetitive and there were quite a few that were comical.

The list ended up being into the hundreds as time went by and covers a span reaching from modern times all the way back to WWI.

I'll post what I have here and of course, any and all contributions are welcome!

Due to it's size, well start with A through I

• Aardvark -- General Dynamics F-111
• Able Dog -- Douglas AD Skyraider
• Aerobee -- Aerojet General X-8
• All Three Dead -- Douglas A3D Skywarrier
• Aluminium Death Tube -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Aluminium Overcast -- Convair B-36 Peacemaker
• Aluminium Overcast -- Douglas C-124 Globemaster
• Ambar ("Barn") -- Beriev MBR-2
• Angel -- Lockheed U-2
• Anton -- Messerschmitt Bf109A
• Anushka -- Antonov An-2
• Anushka -- Polikarpov Po-2
• Ass-Ender -- Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
• Awful Terrible Six -- North American AT-6 Texan
• Badmash ("Hooligan") -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Baltimore whor* -- Martin B-26 Marauder
• Bamboo Bomber -- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
• Banjo -- McDonnell F2H Banshee
• Bantam Bomber -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Bara Volante ("Flying Coffin") -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Barge -- Douglas SBD Dauntless
• Bat Plane -- Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
• Beast -- Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
• Bee Tee -- Vultee BT-13 Valiant
• Bent-Wing Bird -- Vought F4U Corsair
• Bent-Wing Widow Maker -- Vought F4U Corsair
• Berta -- Messerschmitt Bf109B
• Blackfish -- Fairey Swordfish (built by Blackburn)
• Blechesel ("Tin Donkey") -- Junkers JI
• Bloody Paraliser -- Handley Page 0/400
• Biff -- Bristol F.2B
• Big Bird -- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
• Big Stick -- Convair B-36 Peacemaker
• Billy's Bomber -- North American B-25 Mitchell
• Blackbird -- Lockheed SR-71
• Black Jet -- Lockheed F-117
• Bleed-Air Blimp -- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
• blow j*b -- Messerschmitt Me262
• Bone -- Rockwell B-1 Lancer
• Boomerang -- Northrop B-2 Spirit
• Brisfit -- Bristol F2B
• Britschik ("Little Shaver") -- Bell P-39 Airacobra
• Buchon -- Hispano HA-1112-M1L
• Budget Bomber -- Northrop B-2 Spirit
• Buff ("Big Ugly Fat F**ker") -- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
• Bug Smasher -- Beech C-45 Expeditor
• Bumble Bee -- McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
• Buzz Bomb -- V-1
• Cadillac -- Northrop M2
• Caesar -- Messerschmitt Bf109C
• Canuck -- Curtiss JN-4D
• Catfish -- Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
• Cee One-Oh-Boom -- Consolidated C-109 Liberator
• Chaika ("Gull") -- Beriev Be-12 'Mail'
• Chaika ("Gull") -- Polikarpov I-153
• Chickenhawk -- Cessna T-41 Mescalero
• Chipmunk -- Boeing RC-135C
• Clunk -- Douglas SBD Dauntless
• Coconutknocker -- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
• Connie -- Lockeed Constellation
• Convertor -- Cessna T-37
• Cradle -- Fairchild PT-19
• Crashhawk -- Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
  
• Cranberry -- Martin B-57 Canberra
• Crane -- Sykorsky CH-54 Tarhe
• Crowd Killer -- Fairchild C-87 Packet
• Crowd Killer -- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
• Dagger -- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
• Dart -- Convair F-106 Delta Dart
• Delta Queen -- Convair B-58 Hustler
• Deuce -- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
• Die Beule ("The Bulge") -- Messerschmitt Bf109G-6
• Dinosaur -- Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar
• Dogship -- Grumman A-6 Intruder
• Dollar Nineteen -- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
• Doodlebug -- V-1
• Dora -- Focke-Wulf Fw190D
• Dora -- Messerschmitt Bf109D
• Dorito -- MDD A-12
• Double-Breasted Cub -- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
• Double Ugly -- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
• Double Ugly -- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
• Dowager Ducchess -- Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Dragon Lady -- Lockheed U-2
• Dreifinger ("Three Fingers") -- Junkers Ju88
• Droop Snoot -- Lockheed P-38 Lightning (glass nose)
• Eiko ("Glory") -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Egg -- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
• Electric Jet -- General Dynamics F-16
• Emil -- Messerschmitt Bf109E
• Erdnagel ("Ground Nail") -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Etagere ("Elevator") -- SNCAC NC.1071
• Faithful Annie -- Avro Anson
• Fat Albert -- Lockheed C-130T Hercules
• Fertile Myrtle -- Grumman AF-2W Guardian
• Fifi -- Grumman F3F
• Fliegandes Bleistift ("Flying Pencil") -- Dornier Do17
• Fliegandes Holzschuh ("Flying Clog") -- Blohm & Voss BV138
• Fliegendes Stachelschwein ("Flying Porcupine") -- Short Sunderland
• Flying Banana -- Vertol CH-21 Workhorse
• Flying Bathtub -- Northrop M2F
• Flying Bedstead -- Rolls-Royce TMR
• Flying Beer Tray -- Sach AS6
• Flying Carrot -- Westland Lysander
• Flying Coffin -- Airspeed Horsa
• Flying Dump Truck -- Douglas AD Skyraider
• Flying Edsel -- General Dynamics F-111
• Flying Eggbeater -- Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly
• Flying Flapjack -- Vought XF5U
• Flying Gas Station -- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
• Flying Pancake -- Vought V-173
• Flying Prostitute -- Martin B-26 Marauder
• Flying Potato -- Martin-Marietta X-24A
• Flying Flatiron -- Martin-Marietta X-24B
• Flying Sh*thouse -- Kaman HH-43 Huskie
• Flying Suitcase -- Handley Page Hampden
• Flying Speed Brake -- Lockheed Constellation
• Flying Washboard -- Ford Trimotor
• FOD Vacuum -- Northrop F-89 Scorpion
• Ford -- Douglas F4D Skyray
• Fork-tailed Devil -- Lockheed P-38 Lightning
• Friedrich -- Messerschmitt Bf 109F
• Frog -- Martin P5M Mariner
• Frustrated Palm Tree -- Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly
• Floh ("Flea") -- Messerschmitt Me163 Komet
• Gator -- Boeing T-43
• Ghost -- Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
• Ginnie -- Vickers Virginia
• Gipsy Rose Lee -- Curtiss P-40L Warhawk
• Gliding Electric Show -- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
• GLOB ("Ground-Loving Old Bastard") -- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
• Gooney Bird -- Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Grach ("Rook") -- Suchoi Su-25
• Grand Old Lady -- Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Ground Gripper -- De Havilland Trident
• Ground Loving whor* -- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
• Guppy -- Grumman AF-2W Guardian
• Gustav -- Messerschmitt Bf 109G
• Gutless Cutlass -- Vought F7U Cutlass
• Habu -- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
• Halibag -- Handley Page Halifax
• Heinneman's Hot Rod -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Helldiver -- Curtiss F8C
• Herk -- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
• Herky Bird -- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
  
• Hog -- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
• Hog -- Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
• Hog -- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
• Hog -- Bell UH-1 Iroquois
• Hog -- Vought F4U Corsair
• Hog Nose -- Boeing RC-135M
• Hook -- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
• Hoover -- Lockheed S-3 Viking
  
• Hose Nose -- Vought F4U Corsair
• Huey -- Bell UH-1 Iroquois
• Huey Cobra -- Bell AH-1 Cobra
• Hummer -- Cessna T-37
• Hummer -- Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
• Hun -- North American F-100 Super Sabre
• Iron Butterfly -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Ishak ("Jackass") -- Polikarpov I-16

J through Z continue on the following post...

Aircraft Nickname Master List (continued)

J through Z

• Jenny -- Curtiss JN
• Jug -- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• Jump Jet -- BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
• Kaasjager ("Cheese fighter") -- North American F-86K Sabre
• Katy -- Payen Pa49
• Katyusha ("Katherine") -- Tupolev SB-2
• Kanonenvogel ("Cannon Bird") -- Junkers Ju87G
• Kobry ("Cobra") -- Bell P-39 Airacobra
• Kraftei ("Power Egg") -- Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
• Kukuruznik ("Maize Duster") -- Antonov An-2
• Kurfurst -- Messerschmitt Bf109K
• Lanc -- Avro Lancaster
• Lawn Dart -- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• Lawn Dart -- Rockwell B-1 Lancer
• Lead Sled -- McDonnell F3H Demon
• Lead Sled -- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
• Lead Sled -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Lead Sled -- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
• Lead Sled -- Boeing RC-135U
• Leukoplastbomber ("Elastoplast Bomber") -- Messerschmitt Me323D
• Lieutenant Eater -- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
• Little Hummer -- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• Little Hummer -- Douglas A-26 Invader
• Little Racer -- Douglas A-26 Invader
• Lizzie -- Westland Lysander
• Loach -- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
• Magnesium Overcast -- Convair B-36 Peacemaker
• Man-Eater -- LTV A-7 Corsair II
• Maytag Messerschmitt -- Ryan PT-22 Recruit
• Meatbox -- Gloster Meteor
• Mezek ("Mule") -- Avia S-199
• MiG Master -- Vought F8U Crusader
• Mighty Iron Hardware -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Mighty Mite -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Mini Guppy -- Boeing C-97J
• Monkeyknocker -- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
• Mos Neata ("Geezer") -- I.A.R. 39
• Mosca ("Fly") -- Polikarpov I-16
• Nighthawk -- Lockheed F-117
• Ninak -- De Havilland D.H.9A
• North American Safety Jet -- North American T-2 Buckeye
• Old Metuselah -- Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Old Shaky -- Douglas C-124 Globemaster
• Old Smokey -- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
• Olive on a toothpick -- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
• One-Oh-Wonder -- McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
• Overcast -- North American B-70 Valkyrie
• Panzerknacker -- Junkers Ju87G
• Peacemaker -- Convair B-36
• Pea Shooter -- Boeing P-26
• Peshka ("Pawn") -- Petlyakov Pe-2
• Pig -- General Dynamics F-111C
  
• Pinball -- Bell RP-63 Kingcobra
• Placid Plodder -- Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Plastic Bug -- McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet
• Polecat -- Grumman X-29
• Porker -- Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
• Pregnant Beast -- Grumman TBF Avenger
• Pregnant Guppy -- Boeing C-97
• Puff the Magic Dragon -- Douglas AC-47
• Pylly Walteri ("Bustling Walter") -- Brewster B-239 Buffalo (Finnish)
• Queen -- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• Q-bird -- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
• Queer -- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
• Radial Interceptor -- Beech T-34 Mentor
• Rata ("Rat") -- Polikarpov I-16
• Rhapsody in Glue -- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
• Rhino -- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
• Sabre Dog -- North American F-86D Sabre
• Scarier -- BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
• Scrapper -- Grumman AF-2S Guardian
• Seven Balls Two -- Convair XF-92
• Seven Ton Milk Bottle -- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• Shagbat -- Supermarine Walrus
• Shar -- BAe Sea Harrier
• Sh*thook -- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
• Silver Bullet -- Convair XP-81
• Silver Dollar -- North American F-100 Super Sabre
• Silver Sow -- Boeing C-135
• Siipiorava ("Flying Squirrel") -- Polikarpov I-16
• Six -- Convair F-106 Delta Dart
• Six Shooter -- Convair F-106 Delta Dart
• Skooter -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Skycrane -- Sykorsky CH-54 Tarhe
• Skyhog -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• SLAT ("Slow Low Aerial Target") -- Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
• Sled -- Lockheed SR-71
• Slick -- Bell UH-1 Iroquois
• Slick Chick -- North American RF-100A
• Slow But Deadly -- Douglas SBD Dauntless
• Slow Navy Bomber -- Beech SNB Kansan
• SLUF ("Short LIttle Ugly Fellah") -- LTV A-7 Corsair II
• Snake -- Bell AH-1 Cobra
• Snake -- Lockheed P2V Neptune
• Son of a Bitch 2nd Class -- Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
• Spad -- Douglas A-1 Skyraider
• Spam Can -- North American P-51 Mustang
• Sparkvark -- Grumman EF-111 Raven
• Speedy Three -- Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless
• Spillone ("Hatpin") -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Spit -- Supermarine Spitfire
• Spruce Goose -- Hughes H-4
• Squash Bomber -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Staggerwing -- Beech 17
• Stanley Steamer -- Northrop F-89 Scorpion
• Star Lizard -- Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
• Sterile Arrow -- Grumman EA-6B Prowler
• Stoof -- Grumman S2F Tracker
• Strat -- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
• Stratobladder -- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
• Strike Pig -- Boeing T-43
• Stringbag -- Fairey Swordfish
• Stuka -- Junkers Ju87
• Superbolt -- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (bubble co*ckpit)
• Super Guppy -- Boeing C-97J
• Super Hog -- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
• Super Sh*tter -- Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
• Swinger -- General Dynamics F-111
• Switchblade -- General Dynamics F-111
• Swoose Goose -- Vultee XP-54
• Tadpole -- Grumman A-6 Intruder
• Taivaan Helmi ("Sky Pearl") -- Brewster B-239 Buffalo (Finnish)
• Tank -- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
• Tante Ju -- Junkers Ju52/3m
• Tausendfussler ("Millipede") -- Arado Ar232
• T-bird -- Lockheed T-33
• T-bolt -- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• Tennis Court -- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
• Thud -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Thunder Piglet -- Fairchild Republic T-46A
• Thunderscreech -- Republic XF-84H
• Tin Goose -- Ford Trimotor
• Tinker Toy -- Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Tin Mossie -- Vickers 432
• Torbeau -- Bristol Beaufighter TF.X
• Tripala -- Hispano HA-1112-K1L
  
• Tripehound -- Sopwith Triplane
• Triple Threat -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Tsetse -- De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.XVIII
• T-tailed Mountain Magnet -- Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
• Tub -- Convair TF-102 Delta Dagger
• Turbo -- Messerschmitt Me262
• Turkey -- Grumman F-14 Tomcat
• Turkey -- Grumman TBF Avenger
• Turkey Vulture -- Grumman TBF Avenger
• Tweet -- Cessna T-37
• Tweety Bird -- Cessna T-37
• Ubiytsa ("Killer") -- Yakovlev Yak-3U
• Ultra Hog -- Republic F-105 Thunderchief
• Useless 78 -- Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
• Useless Deuce -- Lockheed U-2
• Velcro Hawk -- Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
• Vibrator -- Vultee BT-13 Valiant
• Viper -- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
• Walfisch ("Whale") -- LFG Roland C.II
• Warthog -- Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
• Whale -- Douglas F3D Skynight
• Whale -- Douglas A3D Skywarrior
• Whispering Death -- Bristol Beaufighter
• Whistling Death -- Vought F4U Corsair
• Whistling Sh*tcan -- BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
• White Rocket -- Northrp T-38 Talon
• Widow Maker -- Martin B-26 Marauder
• Willy Fudd -- Grumman W2F
• Wimpy -- Vickers Wellington
• Witwenmacher ("Widowmaker") -- Lockheed F-104
  
• Wobblin' Goblin -- Lockheed F-117
• Wobbly Goblin -- Lockheed F-117
• World's Largest Dog Whistle -- Cessna T-37
• Yellow Peril -- Stearman N2S/PT-17 Kaydet
• Zip-104 - Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
  
• Zipper -- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

And there we have it (so far)!

Denniss said:

Anton -- Messerschmitt Bf109A
-> remove from list. Anton = german phonetic alphabet for "A"
Same with Berta, Cäsar, Dora, Emil etc
You don't name F-16 A to D as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta
Ha-1112 M1L = Buchon, not Bucon and not Ha-1112K
Fat Albert = name of Blue Angels C-130 but no general nickname
Fliegender Bleistift = Do 17, not 217
Who named the Me 163 Floh ?=

Click to expand...

If you don't like the list, remove yourself from the thread...

Regarding the Flea, look up 2./Jg400 and their unit emblem: "Wie Ein Floh Aber Oho!"

The Buchon, typos...easily fixed.

The Europeans have different naming conventions than the U.S., the Japanese even used an entirely different method, assigning production model names based on their Imperial calendar, then applied a form of poetic (almost Haikku) names to the aircraft.

The C-130 picked up "Fat Albert" in Vietnam with the U.S. Marines - the name has become more widely known as the support ship for the Blue Angels, which, by the way, is flown by a USMC crew.

Chatted with a former F-100 pilot who said that the F-100 was nicknamed "Hun"
Zipper for Lockheed F-104

Eagledad

The Germans never called the P-38 the Fork Tailed Devil, or are you saying that it was believed so because of Allied dissemination?

Who nicknamed the Me 262 the "blow j*b". I have never heard that. Not saying it is not true, just that I am not aware.

I know German pilots nicknamed it "Turbo"...

Edit: Just did some reading. Allied pilots called it the "blow j*b". Interesting. Learn something new every day. Thanks...

Here is a few more...

UH-60 Blackhawk - Crashhawk (usually by jealous crews of other aircraft...)

C-130 - Herky Bird

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:

The Germans never called the P-38 the Fork Tailed Devil, or are you saying that it was believed so because of Allied dissemination?

Who nicknamed the Me 262 the "blow j*b". I have never heard that. Not saying it is not true, just that I am not aware.

I know German pilots nicknamed it "Turbo"...

Edit: Just did some reading. Allied pilots called it the "blow j*b". Interesting. Learn something new every day. Thanks...

Click to expand...

blow j*b is not very flattering, is it?

Fork-Tail Devil is what the U.S. pilots called it, my Uncle included. The Germans simply called it the "Lightning".

I think the "Teufel" legend is the work of Cadin, as the Fork-Tail Devil name was common among the US pilots to the point where it ended up in later publications of the U.S. P-38 Pilot's Training manual.

fubar57 said:

Nice Dave. All Three Dead -- Douglas A3D Skywarrier - how cheerful. Well, staying with that; LaGG-1 - Mortician's Friend
Wasn't the SB Viking called "Hoover"?

Click to expand...

I think it was the LaGG-3 that had that distinction, let me check. They also say that LaGG stood for Laquered, Varnished Coffin - In Cyrillic, of course!
Good One for the S-3, added it, thanks!

Wildcat said:

Nice list Dave. The F-111 was nicknamed the pig in RAAF service.

Click to expand...

Cool, got the F-111G added, thanks!

eagledad said:

Chatted with a former F-100 pilot who said that the F-100 was nicknamed "Hun"
Zipper for Lockheed F-104

Eagledad

Click to expand...

The Hun was alread on the list, but not the Zipper...added it! Thanks!

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:

Here is a few more...

UH-60 Blackhawk - Crashhawk (usually by jealous crews of other aircraft...)

C-130 - Herky Bird

Click to expand...

Ahh...I haven't heard Herky Bird in ages, literally!
Added them both, Thanks!

DerAdlerIstGelandet said:

*SNIP*

Who nicknamed the Me 262 the "blow j*b". I have never heard that. Not saying it is not true, just that I am not aware.

I know German pilots nicknamed it "Turbo"...

Edit: Just did some reading. Allied pilots called it the "blow j*b". Interesting. Learn something new every day. Thanks...

Click to expand...

Had an uncle in the 8th that used that term once regarding the 262, I don't know if it was widely used at the time but he used it in a conversation about chasing one with a Mustang.

Oops, sorry, just saw your edit, ah well...

Hello
I missed the fact that Hun was on the list (My eyes see what they want).
Peanut Special for the Brewster F2A
Silver Hawk for the Nieuport 17
V-Strutter for the Albatros DIII/DV/DVa
Haifisch (Shark) for the LFG Roland DII
Ensign Eliminator for the Vought F4U

Eagledad

De Havilland Beaver, known as the Flying Jeep or during the Korean conflict, the Generals Jeep. Not to be confused with the Hafner Rotabuggy, also known as the Flying Jeep...

Denniss said:

Anton -- Messerschmitt Bf109A
-> remove from list. Anton = german phonetic alphabet for "A"
Same with Berta, Cäsar, Dora, Emil etc
You don't name F-16 A to D as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta

Click to expand...

And yet I have heard, first hand, former LW pilots refer to the 109E as the "Emil" and the 109G as the "Gustav".

T!

Token said:

And yet I have heard, first hand, former LW pilots refer to the 109E as the "Emil" and the 109G as the "Gustav".

T!

Click to expand...

What's so hard to understand they just used the german phonetic (spoken) alphabet so E became Emil. That's no referral to the Bf 109, just to the subversion E. Same with Friedrich, Gustav for F/G etc.
See also my example with F-16 - if you call something Alpha it does not automatically refer to a F-16A