A
Aardvark General Dynamics F-111
Because of its long nose.

Able Dog Douglas AD Skyraider
For AD.

Aerobee Aerojet General X-8
All Three Dead Douglas A3D Skywarrier
There was virtually no escape possibility for the three-man crew in case of a crash.

Aluminium Overcast Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Aluminium Overcast Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Aluminium Overcast Douglas C-124 Globemaster
Often used for large aircraft.

Ambar ("Barn") Beriev MBR-2
For MBR.

Angel Lockheed U-2
Because it flies so high. Also, 'Angel' is a height unit.

Anton Messerschmitt Bf 109A
German phonetic alphabet: A-Anton.

Anushka Antonov An-2
Anushka Polikarpov Po-2
Ass-Ender Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
This was an experimental fighter with a pusher engine and canards.

Awful Terrible Six North American AT-6 Texan
A trainer which wasn't too easy to fly.


B
Baltimore Whore Martin B-26 Marauder
A play on its small wings: It had 'no visible means of support'.

Bamboo Bomber Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
Banjo McDonnell F2H Banshee
Bantam Bomber Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
A lightweight attack aircraft.

Barge Douglas SBD Dauntless
Bat Plane Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
Beast Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Because of its nasty flying characteristics.

Beast Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Bee Tee Vultee BT-13 Valiant
Bent-Wing Bird Vought F4U Corsair
Had an inverse gull-wing.

Beule (Boil) Messerschmitt Bf 109G
This model of the Bf 109 had two large 'boils' on the engine cowling, covering the cowl gun mechanisms.

Blackfish Fairey Swordfish
If built by Blackburn.

Black Shark Kamov Ka-50
Blechesel Junkers J I
Tin Donkey. One of the first all-metal combat aircraft.

Bloody Paraliser Handley Page 0/400
Largest British bomber of WWI.

Biff Bristol F.2B
Short for 'Bristol Fighter'.

Big Bird McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Big Stick Convair B-36 Peacemaker
President Theodore Roosevelt's famous advice for foreign politics: 'Speak softly, but carry a big stick.' The B-36 was the main bomber of SAC. Also, its fuselage is long and cylindrical.

Billy's Bomber North American B-25 Mitchell
Named in honour of Billy Mitchell.

Blackbird Lockheed SR-71
Because of the black (or very dark blue) paint.

Black Jet Lockheed F-117
Because of the black paint, but also a 'black' (secret) development program.

Bleed-Air Blimp Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Bob Hopes V-2
Bone Rockwell B-1 Lancer
"B-one".

Boomerang Northrop B-2 Spirit
A flying wing design.

Brisfit Bristol F2B
Short for "Bristol Fighter".

Britschik Bell P-39 Airacobra
"Little Shaver"

Bruno Messerschmitt Bf 109B
German phonetic alphabet: B-Bruno

Bucon Hispano HA 1112K
Budget Bomber Northrop B-2 Spirit
Because of its high cost.

Buff Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Big, Ugly Fat F*****.

Buff Sikorsky H-53 Stallion
Big, ugly Friendly Fellow

Bug Smasher Beech C-45 Expeditor
Bumble Bee McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
Because of its small size, egg-shaped fuselage, and small flying surfaces.

Buzz Bomb V-1
Refers to the noise of its pulse jet engine.


C
Cadillac Northrop M2
This was a lifting body prototype with 'tailfins' just like an old car.

Cadillac Boeing B-52H Stratofortress
The B-52H with its TF33 turbofan engine was quieter than earlier models.

Caesar Messerschmitt Bf 109C
German phonetic alphabet: C-Caesar

Canuck Curtiss JN-4D
Catfish Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
Cee One-Oh-Boom Consolidated C-109 Liberator
Centipede Tupolev Tu-142 'Bear-F'
The first batch of Tu-142s had twelve-wheel main gear bogies for operations from dirt strips. Later batches reverted to four-wheel bogies.

Chaika (Gull) Beriev Be-12 'Mail'
Gull wing.

Chaika (Gull) Polikarpov I-153
Gull wing.

Chickenhawk Cessna T-41 Mescalero
Chipmunk Boeing RC-135C
This model has large "cheek" bulges for its radars.

Clunk Douglas SBD Dauntless
Coconutknocker Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
It was assumed that because of its poor bombing accuracy, most bombs hit (coconut?) trees. Also 'Monkeyknocker'.

Connie Lockheed Constellation
Convertor Cessna T-37
Cradle Fairchild PT-19
Cranberry Martin B-57 Canberra
Crane Sykorsky CH-54 Tarhe
A flying crane helicopter.

Crapaud de Havilland Vampire
Nickname in French service.

Crash Hawk Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
Because of a series of crashes in its early career, due to a failing stabilator.

Crouze Vought F-8 Crusader
Nickname of the F-8 in French service.

Crowd Killer Fairchild C-87 Packet
Crowd Killer Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

D
Dagger Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
Dakelton Douglas DC-3
After the SAAF retired its Shackletons, a number of Dakotas were used in the maritime patrol role.

Dart Convair F-106 Delta Dart
Delta Queen Convair B-58 Hustler
Large delta-wing bomber.

Deuce Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
Deuce Sikorsky CH-37C Mojave
Dinosaur Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar
Dogship Grumman A-6 Intruder
Dollar Nineteen Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Doodlebug V-1
Dora Messerschmitt Bf 109D
German phonetic alphabet: D-Dora

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
Even uglier than the basic A-6, and with twice the crew.

Dowager Ducchess Douglas C-47 Dakota
Dragon Lady Lockheed U-2
Dreamboat Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Dreifinger Junkers Ju 88
"Three fingers". Sleek fuselage and two long engine nacelles.

Droop Snoot Lockheed P-38 Lightning version
Version of the P-38 with a 'glass' nose, wich bulged downwards. Used as bombardment lead aircraft.

Drut Douglas F3D Skyknight
Duck Cessna O-2

E
Egg Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
Shape of its fuselage.

Electric Jet General Dynamics F-16
It has fly-by-wire controls.

Elephant Joyeux Sikorsky H-19
Happy Elephant.

Emil Messerschmitt Bf 109E
Ensign Eliminator Vought F4U Corsair
Etagere NC.1071
"Elevator". A rather ugly and clumsy twin-engined, twin-tail aircraft.


F
Faithfull Annie Avro Anson
Fat Albert Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Fertile Myrtle Grumman AF-2W Guardian
The W version looked 'pregnant' because of its radar radome.

Fifi Grumman F3F
Fliegende Auge Focke-Wulf Fw 189
Flying Eye. The tactical reconaissance aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Maybe also because of its 'insect eye' cockpit glazing.

Fliegender Bleistift Dornier Do 17
Flying Pencil. Because of the small cross-section of its fuselage.

Fliegendes Stachelschwein Short Sunderland
Flying Porcupine. Allegedly because of its heavy defensive armament.

Flying Banana Vertol CH-21 Workhorse
Tandem-rotor helicopter.

Flying Barn Door Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Because it very much looked like one... A very angular design.

Flying Bathtub Northrop M2F
Experimental flying body.

Flying Bedstead Rolls-Royce TMR
Experimental VTOL, just an open frame with jet engines and a seat.

Flying Carrot Westland Lysander
The shape of its fuselage.

Flying Chainsaw Piaggio P.166 Albtross
Because of the noise it makes.

Flying Cigar Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty'
Because of the shape of the fuselage and its inflammability.

Flying Coffin Airspeed Horsa
Wooden construction.

Flying Coffin Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
A number of accidents early in its career.

Flying Dump Truck Douglas AD Skyraider
Flying Edsel General Dynamics F-111
After a not very successful car made by Ford. The early career of the F-111 was inauspicious.

Flying Eggbeater Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly
Early helicopter.

Flying Gas Station Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Standard USAF tanker aircraft for many years.

Flying Panhandle Handley Page Hampden
Had a very deep front fuselage and a slender tailboom.

Flying Pencil Dornier Do 17
Because of its sleek lines.

Flying Prostitute Northrop T-38 Talon
Flying Prostitute Martin B-26 Marauder
A play on its small wings: It had 'no visible means of support'.

Flying Potato Martin-Marietta X-24A
Experimental lifting-body aircraft in its first configuration...

Flying Flatiron Martin-Marietta X-24B
...and in its later one, with a flat lower fuselage.

Flying Shithouse Kaman HH-43 Huskie
This helicopter had a box-like fuselage.

Flying Suitcase Handley Page Hampden
Had a narrow, very deep front fuselage.

Flying Speed Brake Lockheed Constellation
Flying Washboard Ford Trimotor
Corrugated metal construction.

FOD Vacuum Northrop F-89 Scorpion
FOD = Foreign object damage. It seems that the F-89 was prone to suck objects on the runway into its jet intakes.

Ford Douglas F4D Skyray
F-four-D.

Fork-tailed Devil Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The type was called 'Gabelschwanzteufel' by the Germans, referring to its twin-tail configuration.

FRED Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Fantastic Ridiculous Economic Disaster.

Fritz Messerschmitt Bf 109F
Frog Martin P5M Mariner
Frustrated Palm Tree Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly
Early helicopter.


G
Gabelschwanzteufel Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Fork-tailed devil.

Gator Boeing T-43
Gator Vought F8U Crusader
Geometric Giant Vickers Wellington
Because of the geodetic construction, designed by Barnes Wallis.

Go Get Him Fido AIM-120 AMRAAM
Active radar-homing missile.

Ghost Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
'Stealth' attack aircraft.

Ginnie Vickers Virginia
Gipsy Rose Lee Curtiss P-40L Warhawk
The P-40L was a 'stripped', lightweight version, with reduced armour. G.R.L. was a striptease dancer.

Gliding Electric Show Grumman EA-6B Prowler
An ECM aircraft loaded with enormous amount of electronics.

GLOB Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Ground Loving Old Bastard.

Gooney Bird Douglas C-47 Dakota
After a hypothetical species of bird, claimed to fly backwards so that it can see where it came from.

Gorbatyi Ilyushin Il-2
"Hunchback".

Grach Suchoi Su-25
Grand Old Lady Douglas C-47 Dakota
Ground Gripper De Havilland Trident
A bit underpowered, especially during take-off.

Ground Loving Whore Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Guppy Grumman AF-2W Guardian
Gustav Messerschmitt Bf 109G
Gutless Cutlass Vought F7U Cutlass
Dismissed by a senior US Navy official as 'The F7U was dangerous, period.'


H
Habu Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
After a snake.

Halibag Handley Page Halifax
Heinneman's Hot Rod Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Designed by Heinemann.

Helldiver Curtiss F8C
Used as dive bomber.

Herk 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 Nose Boeing RC-135M
Hoodoo Plane Lockheed P-38 Lightning
From a newspaper article on the crash of the prototype.

Hook Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Hookey Tooky Kaman HU2K Seasprite
Hoover Lockheed S-3 Viking
Becuase of the noise of its TF34 engines.

Hudoy Messerschmitt Bf 109
"Lean", Russian name for the Bf 109.

Huey Bell UH-1 Iroquois
Huey Cobra Bell AH-1 Cobra
Derivative of the UH-1.

HUM Tacit Blue
Highly Unstable Mother

Hummer Cessna T-37
Hummer Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
Hun North American F-100 Super Sabre
"Hundred".


I
Imp Aermacchi MB.326 Impala
Iron Annie Junkers Ju 52
Iron Butterfly Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Ironworks Grumman
Because of the enormous structural strength of Grumman's products.

Ishak Polikarpov I-16
"Jackass".


J
Jenny Curtiss JN
Jolly Green Giant Sikorksy HH-3
Rescue helicopter.

Jug Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Shorthand for 'Juggernaut'. Also referring to the shape of the fuselage.

Juggernaut Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
An unstoppable vehicle. (Actually a carriage that in ceremonies ritually crushed some of the followers of a religion.)

Jump Jet BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
VTOL aircraft.


K
Kaasjager North American F-86K Sabre
Cheese fighter, nickname of the aircraft in Dutch service. Because of the letter K, and the association of cheese with the Netherlands.

Katy Payen Pa 49
Katyusha Tupolev SB-2
Kanonenvogel Junkers Ju 87G
Cannon bird. Armed with two 37mm anti-tank cannon.

Kobry Bell P-39 Airacobra
Cobra.

Kraft Ei Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
Power egg. Small rocket powered fighter.

Kurfuerst Messerschmitt Bf 109K
German phonetic alphabet: K-Kurfuerst

Kukuruznik Antonov An-2
Little Hayseed. Because of its use in agriculture.


L
Lanc Avro Lancaster
Lapotnik Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
"Booter", because of it fixed landing gear. Also transliterated as "Lapetznhik". "Lapti" are birch shoes, as worn by Russian peasants.

Lawn Dart General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Lawn Dart Rockwell B-1 Lancer
Lawn Dart Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
"Lawn dart" is generally used for crash-prone aircraft.

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
'Lead Sled' refers to an unmanoeuvrable aircraft, possibly with a poor climb performance.

Lieutenant Eater Republic F-84 Thunderjet
Difficult to fly for a unexperienced pilot.

Linda Lovelace Lockheed C-5
Little Hummer General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Little Bird Hughes OH-6, MH-6, AH-6
Little Hummer Douglas A-26 Invader
Lizzie Westland Lysander
Loach Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
Derived from the project name LOH, Light Observation Helicopter.


M
Magnesium Overcast Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Variation on 'Aluminium Overcast.'

Malenkii Tu Tupolev Tu-124
Little Tu.

Man-Eater LTV A-7 Corsair II
Mattel Messerschmitt Hughes TH-55 Cayuse
Maytag Messerschmitt Ryan PT-22 Recruit
Meatbox Gloster Meteor
Mezek Avia S-199
Mule. This Czech version of the Bf 109 was powered by a not really suitable Junkers Jumo engine, and had poor handling qualities.

MiG Master Vought F8U Crusader
Mighty Iron Hardware Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Mighty Mite Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Monkeyknocker Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
It was assumed that because of its poor bombing accuracy, the only victims were innocent monkeys. Also 'Coconutknocker'.

Mos Neata I.A.R. 39
Geezer

Mosca Polikarpov I-16
Fly

Mossie de Havilland Mosquito

N
Nighthawk Lockheed F-117
Ninak De Havilland D.H.9A
North American Safety Jet North American T-2 Buckeye

O
Ol'Dumbo Curtiss C-46 Commando
Old Metuselah Douglas C-47 Dakota
Old Shaky Douglas C-124 Globemaster
Old Smokey McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The J79 engine had bad smoke trails.

Olive on a toothpick Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
Layout of egg-shaped fuselage and slender tail boom.

One-Oh-Wonder McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
Overcast North American B-70 Valkyrie

P
Panzerknacker Junkers Ju 87G
Anti-tank version of the Ju 87.

Pave Pig Sikorsky MH-3
Nickname given to the MH-3 when it was being replaced by MH-53J Pave Low and the MH-60G Pave Hawk.

Peacemaker Convair B-36
Pea Shooter Boeing P-26
Peter Dash Flash North American P-51 Mustang
Phrog Boeing Vertol CH-46E
Pinball Bell RP-63 Kingcobra
A manned aerial target version of the RP-63, with a reinforced skin. When it was hit (with special, frangible bullets) lights flashed...

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
Puff, the Magic Dragon Douglas AC-47
Pylly Walteri Brewster B-239 Buffalo
Bustling Walter. Nickname in Finland.


Q
Queen Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Q-bird Grumman EA-6B Prowler
The letter Q is used by the USN to identify electronic warfare squadrons.

Queer Grumman EA-6B Prowler

R
Radial Interceptor Beech T-34 Mentor
Rhapsody in Glue Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
Rhino McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Rodan McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

S
Sabre Dog North American F-86D Sabre
Scarier BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
Scooter Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Scrapper Grumman AF-2S Guardian
Seven Balls Two Convair XF-92
Shagbat Supermarine Walrus
Shar BAe Sea Harrier
Shithook Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Silber Messerschmitt Me 262
Silver.

Silver Bullet Convair XP-81
Silver Dollar North American F-100 Super Sabre
Silver Sow Boeing C-135
Six Convair F-106 Delta Dart
Six Douglas DC-6
Six Shooter Convair F-106 Delta Dart
This was the codename for the installation of the six-barrel 20mm Vulcan cannon in the F-106. It was later applied to the converted aircraft as well.

Skooter Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Skunk Works Lockheed's Burbank plant
After a 'factory' from a comic strip, and because its first location was in a smelly place.

Skycrane Sykorsky CH-54 Tarhe
A crane helicopter.

Skyhog Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
SLAT Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
Slow, Low Aerial Target.

Sled Lockheed SR-71
Slick Bell UH-1 Iroquois
Slick Chick North American RF-100A
Unarmed, high-speed photo-reconaissance version of the F-100.

Slow But Deadly Douglas SBD Dauntless
Slow Navy Bomber Beech SNB Kansan
Sluf LTV A-7 Corsair II
Short, little ugly fellah.

Snake Bell AH-1 Cobra
Snake Lockheed P2V Neptune
Son of a ***** 2nd Class Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Spad Douglas A-1 Skyraider
Spam Can North American P-51 Mustang
Because of a structure which was a bit too light and weak to resist the stress of combat. Too many were lost when flown outside design limits, also because of control problems.

Sparkvark Grumman EF-111 Raven
An electronic warfare version of the 'Aardvark'.

Speedy Three Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless
Because it was very, very slow...

Spit Supermarine Spitfire
Spooky Douglas AC-47
Often used as callsign

Squash Bomber Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Squirt Saro SR.A/1
Flying boat jet fighter.

Staggerwing Beech 17
Biplane with notable backstagger, i.e. the upper wing was set a bit behind the lower wing.

Superbolt Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The version with 'bubble' cockpit.

Super Hoover Lockheed S-3 Viking
Because of the noise of its TF34 engines.

Super Jolly Green Giant Sikorksy HH-53
Rescue helicopter that replaced the HH-3 "Jolly Green Giant".

Stanley Steamer Northrop F-89 Scorpion
Star Lizard Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
Steam Chicken Supermarine Walrus
Sterile Arrow Grumman EA-6B Prowler
"Sterile" because it was an unarmed version of the A-6.

Stoof Grumman S-2 Tracker
The original designation was S2F.

Stoof with a Roof Grumman E-1 Tracer
A derivative of the S-2 "Stoof" with a large radar dome on top. The name seems to have stuck to the E-2 Hawkeye as well.

Strat Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
Stratobladder Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Strike Pig Boeing T-43
Stringbag Fairey Swordfish
Stuka Junkers Ju-87
'Sturzkampfflugzeug', a generic German term for dive-bomber.

Super Bee Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
Super Hog Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
A development (sort of) of the F-84 'Hog'.

Super Shitter Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
Swinger General Dynamics F-111
Refers to its variable geometry wing.

Switchblade General Dynamics F-111
Refers to its variable geometry wing.

Swoose Goose Vultee XP-54

T
Tadpole Grumman A-6 Intruder
Because it looks like one: blunt front fuselage, slender tail.

Taivaan Helmi Brewster B-239 Buffalo
"Sky Pearl." Finnish.

Tank Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Tante Ju Junkers Ju 52/3m
Tausendfussler Arado Ar 232
Centipede. Because of the low multi-wheel gear that it used for (un)loading.

T-bird Lockheed T-33
T-bolt Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Tennis Court McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Because of its generous upper surface, and its enormous RCS (radar cross section).

Thud Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Thunder Piglet Fairchild Republic T-46A
The latest product of Republic, which traditionally gave aircraft names starting with 'Thunder'.

Thunderscreech Republic XF-84H
A Thunderstreak (F-84F) derivative with an extremely noisy turboprop engine.

Tin Goose Ford Trimotor
One of the first all-metal transport aircraft.

Tinker Toy Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Tin Mossie Vickers 432
Looked like the de Havilland Mosquito, but was of all-metal construction.

Torbeau Bristol Beaufighter TF.X
This version of the Beaufighter could carry a torpedo.

Tripehound Sopwith Triplane
Triple Threat Republic F-105 Thunderchief
It could bomb you, it could shoot you, and it could fall on you...

Tsetse De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.XVIII
A Mosquito with a larger cannon.

T-tailed Mountain Magnet Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
Tub Convair TF-102 Delta Dagger
Turkey Grumman F-14 Tomcat
Turkey Grumman TBF Avenger
Tweet Cessna T-37
Refers to whistling noise of its engines.

Tweety Bird Cessna T-37
Refers to whistling noise of its engines.


U
Ubiytsa Yakovlev Yak-3U
Killer. Popular interpretation of the version letter of this later version of the Yak-3.

Ultra Hog Republic F-105 Thunderchief
The F-84 was the Hog, the F-84F the Super Hog.

Useless 78 Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
Useless Deuce Lockheed U-2
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V
Velcro Hawk Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Because of the large number of add-ons.

Vercse Yakovlev Yak-9P
"Hawk". Name of the Yak-9P in Hungarian service.

Vibrator Vultee BT-13 Valiant
Vibrator Vought SB2U Vindicator
Viper General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
By reference to the spacefighters of the SF-series "Battlestar Galactica."

Vomit Comet Douglas DC-3
Voting Member F-16 pilot
Because the computers can override his commands, if they are outside the design envelope.


W
War Hoover Lockheed S-3 Viking
Because of the noise of its TF34 engines.

Warthog Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
It is ugly and a 'mud-mover', i.e. a ground support aircraft.

Weenie Wagon Douglas C-133
Because of the shape of its fuselage.

Whale Douglas F3D Skynight
Whale Douglas A3D Skywarrior
Whispering Death Bristol Beaufighter
Because of the typical sound of its sleeve-valve radial engines, less noisy than poppet-valve engines.

Whistling Death Vought F4U Corsair
Because of the whistling sound caused by its wing leading edge radiators. The name is attributed to the Japanese, but might as well be a propaganda effort.

Whistling Shitcan BAe/MDD AV-8 Harrier
Whistling Shitcan Douglas A3D Skywarrior
White Rocket Northrp T-38 Talon
Widow-Maker Martin B-26 Marauder
Because of a series of accidents in its early career. Pilots were not used to its high wing loading.

Willie the Whale Tacit Blue
Because of its inverted bath-tub fuselage shape and dorsal air intake.

Willy Fudd Grumman W2F
Wimpey Vickers Wellington
After the comic strip figure J. Wellington Wimpey.

Wind Indicator Vought SB2U Vindicator
Wobblin' Goblin Lockheed F-117
Wooden Wonder de Havilland Mosquito
Because of its wooden construction and its high performance.

World's Largest Dog Whistle Cessna T-37
Refers to whistling noise of its engines.


Y
Yastreb Polikarpov I-16
"Hawk."

Yastrebok Polikarpov I-16,
"Little Hawk." Also for other fighters.

Yellow Peril Stearman N2S / PT-17 Kaydet