Military Slang

[Matt Wiser]

Aviation slang from the U.S. and NATO:

Fox one: Radar-guided missile fired (AIM-7, Sky Flash, Aspide)

Fox two: Heat-seeking missile fired: (AIM-9, ASRAAM, IRIS-T, Magic,etc)

Fox three: Active Radar Missile fired: (AIM-120, Meteor, MICA, Derby)

Fox four: Guns fired

Rifle: AGM-65 Maverick launch

Magnum: Antiradar missile launch (HARM, ALARM, Shrike, ARMAT)

Bingo: fuel state requires return to base

Jolly Greens: USAF Search and Rescue Helos (originally meant to be the HH-3 and HH-53 series)

Winchester: Out of ordnance

Chrome Dome: SAC airborne alert

Texaco (USN): Tanker aircraft

Splash: Enemy aircraft destroyed

Viper: Unofficial name for F-16s; pilots wanted this as the actual name instead of Fighting Falcon back in '79. Inspired by the Vipers in Battlestar Galactica. Also called Lawn Dart (for what happens when an F-16 loses its engine...)

Albino Eagle: F-15A/C; air-to-air only F-15s.

Beagles: F-15E Strike Eagles; Bomber Eagles...(WARNING: any derogratory use of either one is a good way to start a fight)

Bug: F/A-18A/B/C/D

Super Bug: F/A-18E/F; also known as Rhino (a name previously used for the F-4)

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's one I remembered because of a post I made in a different thread:

MacGuyver: to jury-rig something (as in, "I don't know how to do it either! MacGuyver it!")

[pmulcahy11b]

Here was a common nickname we used for the Chinook helicopter: S**thook, because it can haul a lot of s**t.

[pmulcahy11b]

Aviation slang from the U.S. and NATO:

Fox one: Radar-guided missile fired (AIM-7, Sky Flash, Aspide)

Fox two: Heat-seeking missile fired: (AIM-9, ASRAAM, IRIS-T, Magic,etc)

Fox three: Active Radar Missile fired: (AIM-120, Meteor, MICA, Derby)

Fox four: Guns fired

Here's one I've heard pilots jokingly use: Fox Five, for when you take the guy down by slamming your plane into his...

That reminds me of a joke I heard Senator McCain use during the campaign: "I once used my plane to shoot down a SAM. I thought it was a good shot..." I might not like his politics, but he does have a good sense of humor.

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's one I heard recently:

Unobtanium: A weapon or piece of equipment you need badly, but can't get your hands on.

[Matt Wiser]

A few more:

Double-Ugly: F-4 Phantom

Scooter: A-4 Skyhawk

SLUF (Short Little Ugly F*&^#$) A-7 Corsair II

BUFF (Big Ugly Friendly F*&^#$) B-52

Bone: B-1B Lancer

Warthog (or just plain Hog): A-10

Ardvark (or plain Vark) F-111

Spark Vark: EF-111

Queer Bird (don't ask me how this one got started): EA-6B Prowler

Growler: EA-18G

Be careful, Paul: the Russians still taught the Taran (aerial ramming) as a last resort....so there is a Fox Five call.

[TiggerCCW UK]

I've also heard the A4 referred to as the Fart Cart. For interest sake, is anyone still flying Skyhawks Saw one at the Air and Space in DC when I was there, liked the look of it.

[Mohoender]

I think that Argentina, Brazil and Israel are still using them.

Not long ago Indonesia and Malaysia were still using them but it seems that they have been retired. From what I know they are still held in reserve.

I don't know what happened to the one that were in service in New Zealand. They have been retired as the RNZAF doesn't retain any offensive capability. They were on the market for sale but I don't know if they have been sold, scrapped or if they remain in storage somewhere.

[pmulcahy11b]

I think that Argentina, Brazil and Israel are still using them.

Not long ago Indonesia and Malaysia were still using them but it seems that they have been retired. From what I know they are still held in reserve.

I don't know what happened to the one that were in service in New Zealand. They have been retired as the RNZAF doesn't retain any offensive capability. They were on the market for sale but I don't know if they have been sold, scrapped or if they remain in storage somewhere.

I know the Brazilians are still using them -- I saw on MSNBC some landing on one of our carriers as part of a joint exercise. Apparently they do that a lot, as it keeps up relations with Brazil and the Brazilians don't get to do a lot of real carrier landings.

As for the RZNAF: I gotta ask, why even have an Air Force if none of aircraft have any offensive capability Are they all SARbirds or something (Hey wait, that's another piece of military slang -- SARbird, a search-and-rescue aircraft.)

[Matt Wiser]

A-4s are still operated by Argentina (AF), Brazil (Navy: these are the ex-Kuwaiti Skyhawks that survived the First Gulf War), Israel (being retired-used as fighter and attack trainers nowadays), The Malaysian and Indonesian Skyhawks have all been retired, and the ex-RNZAF birds are up for sale. FYI, Paul, the RNZAF has no combat-capable aircraft any more, unless you count P-3s for ASW and anti-surface warfare.

[pmulcahy11b]

FYI, Paul, the RNZAF has no combat-capable aircraft any more, unless you count P-3s for ASW and anti-surface warfare.

Another one of those military decisions that makes no damn sense...I guess the military is the same all over when it comes to that sort of thing!

[Matt Wiser]

The decision wasn't the military's from what I understand: if our Aussie friends on the board can add to it, feel free to do so, but my understanding is that the RNZAF was going to buy 18 F-16s that had been built for Pakistan, but embargoed in the early '90s. However, before the planes could be refurbished and delivered, there was an election down there, and the new govt., looking to save money, canned the buy and disbanded the one remaining A-4 squadron. The USN wound up getting the F-16s and the Strike Warfare Center at NAS Fallon has 'em for DACT. When the embargo was lifted after 9-11 and before OEF got going, the PAF simply decided to order brand new Block 52 F-16s.

[Targan]

My mum's little sister is the (civilian) personal assistant to the head of the RNZAF so I could ask her the specifics but I think the way Matt Wiser described things was about right.

I'll shoot off an email to my aunt right now and ask what happened to the Kiwi Skyhawks.

[pmulcahy11b]

Isn't the Gripen cheaper than a new Block 52 or 60 F-16 The Gripen is a damn capable aircraft as well. If the Polish can afford them, I would think the RZNAF could too.

[Targan]

Isn't the Gripen cheaper than a new Block 52 or 60 F-16 The Gripen is a damn capable aircraft as well. If the Polish can afford them, I would think the RZNAF could too.

What is a Gripen